Victor Ramirez

Hello friends. Last month, I was looking for more work and finally secured some on Reddit from a guy who needed help with preproduction on his Tabletop RPG / Card Battler. After a meeting with him, he showed me what he had and it was quite impressive. He had a prototype of a card-battler using a tabletop RPG battle system, but he had little to no documentation or planning—he's been chiseling away at his game for a few months in his spare time after work. I suggested that before I dive into art, we flesh out the game design and the rest of the game up to around an 80% mark and let the last 20% be changes, additions, and that sort. As your game evolves, it'll come into it's own and you'll find things that need changed or added, this accounts for that. He agreed and I asked if I could work on all this since I did that with my game Alligori and lead the team from start to finish with our vertical slice, and I know tabletop RPGs very well. He agreed and we did the whole song and dance with paperwork, and he sent over a retainer and I began work the following Monday. Three weeks go by and we're working great together. I'm fleshing out his game, adding some meat to the backbone of his prototype with classes, abilities, etc. My goal was to write out as much as possible and then trim content to fit it into a 1-year development cycle. So I flesh a bulk of his game out, and then categorize it more into a game design document that clearly conveys concepts, ideas, and mechanics. Catching up, last week was the final week of my first month and payment was due. He just up and disappears like a fart in the wind, I have no idea if he's alive, incarcerated, on vacation, or what. He didn't remove me on Discord, so I don't entirely suspect malicious intent, but he gave no notice. That's the risk you run with working 1-on-1 with a client remotely, one day they can just up and disappear. I do have paperwork, so I may pursue legal action. If he doesn't log on by Friday, I'm going to publicly release all my documentation and the GDD I wrote on here.

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How to accelerate your career in game development? Think "one level higher." 🔹 If you're a junior or mid-level:  -- Consider how your task affects the team's work. 🔹 If you're a lead or senior:  -- Focus on how your team's work impacts the entire project. 🔹 If you're a producer, director, or PM:  -- Think about how your project fits into the company's strategy. 🔹 If you're a CEO or executive:  -- Ensure the company's results align with stakeholder interests. 🔹 If you're a stakeholder:  -- Align your assets with market interests. Always try to understand the bigger picture.

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Legendary Shout-Out to these amazing Gaming Recruiters who helped out Games For Love new interns with an amazing Resume Review Session this evening! Your dedication and support will mean the world to the upcoming interns who are helping save lives through Games For Love charity organization ❤️ Some Key takeaways from the event: ✅ It's okay to have more than 1 page resume, especially in Tech and Gaming, focus on boosting your resume as much as possible ✅ Boring Chronological Black and White resumes are still king, it helps with standard compatibility issues and makes it easier for recruiters to read, bonus points for PDF resumes ✅ #ABN Always Be Networking, don't just reach out to Recruiters, reach out to peers and ask for advice, more than likely those peers in that dream company will be more willing to respond faster and more often than recruiters, ask for the mentorships ✅ Be a sponge, even when you land that job or even become a senior level, there is always stuff you can learn from your peers and mentors, never stop learning Shoutouts: Ted Oh, CSM Viviana Baldarelli Tia LaRue Luke Davis and thank you Nathan "Jetti" Blair for inviting me to the event, your selfless crusade to help save kid's lives in hospitals through gaming is a blessing If anyone is interested in helping GFL or wish to volunteer please check out GamesForLove [dot] Org #Gamesforlove #charity #helpingkids #recruiters #volunteers #thankyou

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At Uncapped Games I'm helping to develop my favorite game I've ever worked on professionally by far... and surprisingly it's an RTS. This is surprising because I (unlike nearly the whole team who are RTS powerhouses), have basically no RTS experience at all. Fire up Super Smash Bros and I may have a shot to impress, but RTS has been a huge - and fun - mental shift for me! ...and somehow, I've gotten pretty good! (At our game at least 😅). Very excitingly, we're on the schedule to say more about our game at SGF ( https://lnkd.in/e5uDTwZp ) in June, but now, kicking things off so to speak, we've put out a really cool documentary that explains some of our philosophies, hopes, and goals. If you're an RTS nerd - or just curious to learn more, check it out: https://lnkd.in/eQpxP3WZ

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Another stack of resources and layoff support compiled by the incredible Mayank Grover! If you need support or have some to offer, connect and boost that vis so every ship can benefit from the tide. 🙌🌊🙌 #gamedev #games #layoff #support #job #resources #mentors

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TONIGHT AT 6:30 PM join us for an improvised version of PVP Circuit and help us rebuild our local community brick by brick. I still can't believe I get to work in the video game industry. My 6-year-old would laugh, and then cry once she realized what it means to work in the creative technology sector. That's why IMO everyone could use some levity during these unprecedented times. Join us for a fun evening to raise funds for the Trevor Project. Event link >>> https://lnkd.in/g7tBuP6d Frequently Asked Questions: What if I can't attend the event? - If you can't make it, please consider purchasing a ticket to help us raise money for charity or get one on behalf of someone impacted by layoffs. What if I want to join but can't justify the cost? - If you want to join but find the cost prohibitive, DM me and we'll make it happen (see point above). Do I have to pitch at the event? - No, you don't have to pitch if you prefer to observe. It’s a great way to see how it's done. Will there be another event like this? - We plan to host our community again, but I can't specify if this event will be the focus. #gamesindustry #event #comedy <3

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The more studios get closed, the more I think about how there's nothing quite seeing your whole Industry falling apart to be honest. None of my friends with "normal" jobs walk around seeing job offers and are like "Hey if this whole Video Game thing doesn't end well, I could do that", but I've done it more times than I can count at this point and it's exhausting. Librarian? If the whole video game thing falls apart, could be nice. Bus driver? If the whole video game thing falls apart, could be nice. Professional wall painter? If the whole video game thing falls apart, could be nice. Desk attendant at the airport? Meh, if the whole video game thing falls apart, could be nice. Gouv Clerk? At this point, if the industry dies before it comes back from ashes, sure, why not! The industry is in shambles and sometimes, it do be hard to feel secure because even those who did feel secure could have the grass cut from under their feet. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I feel for each individual in the same or in a worst position, because it's not because we have a job now that we aren't looking at the future with uncertainty 🫂

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I was in a 1:1 today where I mentioned that I wanted to do away with our weekly defect status reports. Why? Because no one likes a wall of text that has a bunch of risks and call outs. Folks get blind to the things that really matter and they become bogged down by repeated pings in the same spots. Our solution: Use the triage sessions to delegate status. Ping only the most important action items in the big channel. Make sure ownership is felt and not just seen.

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Tip for publishing consideration submission to Midwest Games... tldr - Send info through our portal (https://lnkd.in/gWtKgpuU), not through email (or LI). I get that it's a little counter-intuitive...you might think you want to put your info right in front of the sourcing decision influencers' faces. But it's actually a disadvantage - especially those of you who are agents throwing multiple titles at us at once. The submission portal goes right to our database, and that database is there for a reason: to keep an organized and consistent record of all submissions in one place. I look through there all the time. I'm reminded of titles I may have overlooked or need to go back to consider as circumstances change all the time. We rarely, if ever, make immediate decisions or even quick deep review/consideration. Our factors for consideration shift regularly. I do not review your particular email regularly, or at some point even remember you sent one. I go to the database. Connection via other channels is good. Discussion about your game over other channels is good. But having your core game info in those channels is not good. Please use the submission portal!

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Truly sad news: as reported by many outlets this morning, Take-Two Interactive is closing Kerbal Space Program 2 developer Intercept Games as part of a plan announced earlier this month aimed at reducing the publisher's total workforce by 5%. Roll7, the developer of the OlliOlli games and Rollerdrome, is also being closed according to the report. To those affected by this closure, please find a comprehensive list of resources, below: 🥇First, Discipline Games Jobs Resources: Over the past weeks I have created nine Games Jobs Resources to find jobs in a wide range of disciplines: 🎨 Art, Animation, VFX and UI: This resource contains around 1,000 jobs worldwide across all links. Link: https://lnkd.in/eu2bjadW ⚙ Engineering and Programming This resource lists just over 1,800 jobs worldwide across all links. It also talks about interview tips and questions to practice. Link: https://lnkd.in/eYdxANFM 🕹 Quality Assurance: This resource lists over 450 QA jobs worldwide. This post also talks about the craft of QA and contains tips and interview practice. Link: https://lnkd.in/dwwVjZuc 📑 Game Production: This resource lists around 400 jobs worldwide. It also contains info about game production as a whole and GDC talks. Link: https://lnkd.in/gxDvFM-Z 📢 Marketing & Community: This resource lists around 400 jobs worldwide. It also gives an intro into game marketing and community management. Link: https://lnkd.in/e5MuViug 🎶 Audio and Sound Design: This resource lists around 190 jobs worldwide. Link: https://lnkd.in/eSkPSsWf 📠 Studio Support, HR, Recruitment and BizDev: This resource lists around 290 jobs worldwide. Link: https://lnkd.in/ePG57_7v ⚙ IT, Helpdesk and DevOps: This resource lists around 140 jobs worldwide. Link: https://lnkd.in/e8ZsuiZh 🎮 Game Design: This resource lists around 520 jobs worldwide: Link: https://lnkd.in/dtVmGR-t 🥈 Second, the Ultimate list of Video Games Career Resources: This should be your one-stop shop for all information. My dear friend Amir Satvat maintains these documents, he is a legend for doing this - please check them out: https://amirsatvat.com/ 🥉 Third, If you have worked in publishing, please message me. I am looking for quite a few roles right now! ⬅ 🎖 Finally, do not give up. Ever. No matter how dark things may look right now, I KNOW you will get through this, you have got this! 👊 Remember you are not alone. If you need help, advice, or even an ear to listen, we're here for you. Always! ➡ A request to my community, please can I ask you to repost this post to your colleagues and friends, so that we can get as many into jobs as possible! And please comment if you or your studio are currently hiring - let's help each other! Much love ❤️ #layoffs #gamesindustry #jobsingames #roll7 #interceptgames

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Try as I might it's not going to get easier to say this, so I won't spend any more time wordsmithing: after 7 incredible years working with the best team I have ever seen in game dev, my time at Fire Hose Games is at an end. I won't try to sugarcoat it: this sucks. Anything else I say would be a lie. But it sucks for the best possible reason: my years at Fire Hose were incredible, and I wouldn't trade them for the world. I am so, so proud of the team we assembled while I was there, and of the games we made together. We created experiences that were uplifting and fun, and we had fun doing it. There isn't a person I worked with who I wouldn't run through a brick wall for, and wherever they end up next will be all the better for it. If I know you and you are thinking about hiring an ex-Fire-Hose dev, hit me up. You are about to make the best decision of your professional life, and I cannot wait to give you a preview of the good times that await. From a professional standpoint, these have been the best 7 years of my career. I did my best work and had the best work-life balance I've ever found. We built a studio where respect and kindness were the rule, and every single day I went to work with people who made me laugh even as they pushed me to be better. In particular I'm so proud of Techtonica. It's a gem of a game that isn't quite like anything else out there, and that I believe stands head-to-head with the best work of studios several times our size. Making video games is hard, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something (probably video games). One of the things I tell people contemplating getting into this business is that it's easy to go broke making bad games, and it's just as easy to go broke making good ones. I've been incredibly lucky in my career to have only experienced the latter, and I say that with complete sincerity. A lot of these "today is my last day at GameCorp, and I'm thankful for the opportunity" posts have the quality and cadence of a hostage video. If you read between the lines of all the professionally-acceptable sentiments that folks are supposed to type at a moment like this, you can practically see the writer blinking out morse code for "screw this place, I'm done." This isn't one of those posts. Working at Fire Hose rocked, and my only sadness is that, for now, it's over. Endless love and gratitude to my fellow ex-Fire-Hosers, and I sincerely hope folks who haven't yet taken Techtonica for a spin will give it a try. You've got a good time waiting for you. 💙

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👶 Game producers = great parents… ? 🎮 Problem-Solving: Working with different partners/audiences with varying comm methods. 💬 Empathy/Sympathy: Seeing the world through other viewpoints. Interpreting signals! 🧘‍♂️ Stress Management: Resilience in the face of constant pivots & uncertainty… Are you a creating clarity or chaos when having to clean 💩? 📅 Organization: Scheduling routines and adjusting when your plan goes south. Have a mitigation? That helps! Game production = solid parenting prep! 🌟👾🍼 #parenting #chaos💩 #empathy

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Awful news today with Skydance Interactive having gone through a round of layoffs last week. My dear friend Scott Fine announced the news today, sharing the news and the profiles of those affected in a heartfelt post: https://lnkd.in/ex4BnyrX To those impacted please check out the following resources: 🥇First, reach out to us at People Can Fly Studio, we have many roles open right now in Canada, the UK, Ireland and Europe, please check them out here: https://lnkd.in/eWpV5PbA 🥈Next, Discipline Games Jobs Resources: Over the past months I have created 9 (at time of writing) Games Jobs Resources to find jobs in a wide range of disciplines, and I would urge you to check them out, if anything just to see what would be available to you: https://lnkd.in/epvmzDW6 You can find over 6,300 jobs there. 🥉 Third, the Ultimate list of Video Games Career Resources: This should be your one-stop shop for all information. My dear friend Amir Satvat maintains these documents, he is a legend for doing this - please check them out: https://amirsatvat.com/ I urge you to check out the areas in particular about CV support and mentoring, as these will help you no matter what industry you are hailing from or are looking into going next. 🎖 Finally, do not give up. Ever. No matter how dark things may look right now, I KNOW you will get through this, you have got this! 👊 Remember you are not alone. If you need help, advice, or even an ear to listen, we're here for you. Always! ➡ A request to my community, please can I ask you to repost this post to your colleagues and friends, so that we can get as many into jobs as possible! And please comment if you or your studio are currently hiring - let's help each other! Much love ❤️ #skydanceinteractive #layoffs

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[10/09 - edited for flow] Very few things have annoyed me as much as "bad data comparisons". Just the other day, I saw an image where someone broke down [the most used retention mechanics]*, and in it, they had grouped "limited time rewards" alongside things like "treasure hunt" and "puzzles" (and others) in separate categories.** Now, I don't know if this was some attempt to rile up people like me so that they'd end up buying the report or sharing the post, but I certainly had questions - Were there no puzzle-based time-limited events found in their research/survey? Alternatively, if a game mechanic featured both, did they count them twice or err to the side that had lower representation? This may seem like an argument in semantics, but when looking at data, being unable to tell when you're comparing apples to oranges is the gateway to bad conclusions. The report neglects to differentiate between a "content distribution system" and an actual "mechanics"; while the differences may seem small, the conclusions you can derive from them are very different. Worth mentioning as well, the post neglects to acknowledge the effort needed to develop/produce each of those mechanics, or the suitability of those mechanics as tools for engagement for the games' target markets; as an example, would a daily login system that provided tickets to access a time-limited puzzle game work to help engagement/retention for an FPS like CounterStrike? Without being able to identify the contributors to the data, it makes the posts' conclusions little more than a nifty bit of industry trivia at best, and discussing it as anything but is painfully counter-educational. Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! *The data was sourced from a paid report, so I don't have access to it. Can't seem to retrace my steps to find it again either. :( **Paraphrased.

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The Art of Appointment Mechanics in Gaming 🎮⏰ Lately, I’ve noticed a trend: fewer games are intentionally using appointment mechanics, opting instead assuming that more familiar timer mechanics like limited events or daily login calendars will do the trick to keep players engaged. Have we lost the elegant art of getting our players to think about our games even when they’re not playing? 🤔 What are Appointment Mechanics? Essentially, these are game systems (often tied to timers) that encourage players to return after specific intervals. They act as habit-forming tools, integrating games into players' daily routines. Different audiences respond to different timing gaps, making it a nuanced art. 🎯 While many associate appointment mechanics with simple push notifications that nudge players to get back into the action, this is just one small part of what well thought-out appointment mechanics can do for your game. The real impact comes when these basic mechanics are paired with CONTEXT and GOAL-SETTING. 🌟 ✨ Imagine getting a player to not only return to your game when you send them a reminder, but to have them constantly thinking about what they will do next in your game when they do come back, whether that be: reaching new milestones, unlocking specific rewards, or just anticipation for another exciting session. A Few Personal Favourites: Clash Royale: The dynamic chest-cooking mechanics were revolutionary when this game launched. Players found themselves strategically planning their day around min/maxing these chests, even coordinating it with lunch breaks (or bathroom breaks) to ensure there was always a chest in the process of opening! 📦🕒 Shop Titans: Truly a master class in appointment mechanics. The game’s foundation lies in utilising these mechanics to fulfil the fantasy of owning a shop in an RPG. Players are constantly plotting their next craft and excitedly returning to collect completed gear. The game even ramps players up to longer breaks between sessions, initially getting players to return every minute or less. This is a great way to form a habit! ⚔️🏗️ Are appointment mechanics still on your radar when designing game experiences? How do you incorporate them effectively? I'd love to hear your thoughts and any examples you might have! 💬 #GameDesign #PlayerEngagement #Gaming #MobileGames #VideoGames #GameDevelopment #PlayerMotivation #GameMechanics #Innovation #HabitForming #TimelyReminders #GamingCommunity #GameTrends

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Come learn about Xsolla's strategies to improve your mobile games revenue.

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Crunch is not "passion."  Pay to win is not "engagement."  Shiny trailers are not "success."  Success in gaming is:  - Designing experiences that players truly connect with. - Fair monetization that values your audience.   - Work environments that sustain creativity and well being.  In other words:  - A game that players talk about a decade later.   - Microtransactions that feel like a choice, not a necessity.   - A team that loves the work because they’re treated with care.  Gaming isn’t about grinding hours or glossy trailers. It’s about how you make people feel.  PS. What do you think? What’s one gaming experience you’ll never forget?

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Over the past few weeks, I’ve been working on a game design document for a new DLC chapter for Elder Scrolls Online called Conquest. I wasn’t asked to do this—honestly, I doubt anyone at ZeniMax Online Studios even knows I exist, haha. But I’m passionate about the game, having played since beta, and with my background in game development, albeit as a lead 3D artist, I felt inspired to create something that could enhance the player's experience in an impactful and meaningful way. ESO’s PvP system is incredible—some of the most engaging combat since Funcom's Age of Conan—but two major issues stand out: Lack of PvP zones and options: Outside of Cyrodiil, Imperial City, and Battlegrounds, there’s a shortage of varied PvP content. The potential for expanding the system feels huge but underutilized. Conquest introduces a new (optional) PvP zone (In Hammerfell) where players can flag themselves for world PvP (on and off switch while in town), inspired by Blizzard Entertainment's Diablo 2s' hostile mechanic. It’s an optional experience that brings new incentives for both solo players and guilds to participate in PvP. This isn't meant to be a quick fix, but rather a revitalization of the existing systems, giving guilds more reason to engage together, and providing meaningful rewards for PvP participation. One of the core focuses of the design of this DLC chapter is to incentivize group play—especially within guilds. Guilds often have limited in-game reasons to interact beyond chat and trading, and running a trial (raid). My design offers new systems and incentives for guilds to run content together, utilizing existing mechanics like the Housing system to create features such as Guild Halls that further encourage community-driven gameplay. I know ZeniMax’s team is full of incredible talent with no shortage of amazing ideas. Conquest is simply a labor of love, aimed at addressing some of the game’s current issues, and introducing new, exciting content. I now release the document with the hope that they see value in it. Please be kind, I haven't shared my work with anyone before. Thank you for your time! https://lnkd.in/e3gfr2g9

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Today I want to tell a story. I've been holding onto it for a specific circumstance, but in case that doesn't happen, forgive the rough edges. For the longest time, I wanted to be a games journalist. I've known how to play games and deconstruct their mechanics ever since I spent many school summer holidays playing the same Playstation games over and over. I would be the kid that would read games magazines, mostly for the cheat codes, on occasion spotting an article about the next Pokemon game that I just had to tell my friends about. I was never taught or told that being a "critic" or "journalist" was a career, let alone in games. Media Studies wasn't even a subject my high school taught until sixth form options, so I'd have to get by with learning how to deconstruct the written word - often Shakespeare or "Of Mice and Men" - in English Literature class. Jump forward to 2014/5. I was in University, with the freedom to learn about "the media" and online video (YouTube) as I had experienced through college. Despite being on a TV Production course, and though we students all knew the influence social media was going to play in our careers, games were still part of my plan. Through friendships and unsuccessfully trying out for the Student Union's monthly news series as a "games correspondent", I was able to work on a project with a criminology student who also liked games. He ran his own YouTube channel, as I had done under many brands and guises over the years, but he was more consistent. I came on board as his camera operator during EGX Rezzed and we made a few interview videos together. One of which I want to bring to the attention of Hyper Luminal Games. Yes, happy birthday Hyper Luminal! 🎉 We've both changed since this video about Big Crown Showdown! Congrats on releasing Pine Hearts - a wholesome cosy game that is a love letter to the simple life in Scotland. I can't wait to play the full thing - Melissa kindly showed me it at WASD this year, it really was charming! Things have a weird way of coming back around. I don't believe in karma, but I've been watching the work of many studios that I admire and wondered where I fit, thinking maybe there are some answers in my previous work. So, this little story is tale of never forgetting your roots, and celebrating them where you can! Also, if I may be a bit cheeky: If you ever have the availability Hyper Luminal, I would love the chance to join your team! I can assure you my on-screen presence and ability to manage events & communities is far better than what I could manage 10 years ago. I'm happy to work on a relocation plan up to Dundee, be that to work for the core studio under Melissa's expert & bubbly guidance, or having the opportunity to scout for Little Nook's next great wholesome story to share. Here's to both our next chapters! Video:

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