Mazen Sukkar

Game Testing: All in One, 4th Edition is available now. This is a revised, updated, and classroom-friendly version of the leading textbook for game testers and test managers. Order your review copy at the link below: https://lnkd.in/gDhH8gsq #gamedev #QA #gametesting #testing #gamedesign

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Sad news this evening with Gameloft announcing that their studio in Cluj, Romania has been closed. To those impacted by this closure, please find a comprehensive list of resources, below: 🥇First, Discipline Games Jobs Resources: Over the past weeks I have created 9 (at time of writing) Games Jobs Resources to find jobs in a wide range of disciplines: 🎨 Art, Animation, VFX and UI This resource contains around 1,300 jobs worldwide across all links. Link: https://lnkd.in/eu2bjadW ⚙ Engineering and Programming This resource lists just over 1,700 jobs worldwide across all links. Link: https://lnkd.in/etPj22BE 🕹 Quality Assurance This resource lists over 440 QA jobs worldwide. Link: https://lnkd.in/dkiEy8da 📑 Game Production This resource lists around 400 jobs worldwide. Link: https://lnkd.in/d9qfQ5tg 📢 Marketing & Community This resource lists around 380 jobs worldwide. Link: https://lnkd.in/dc-PVb3h 🎶 Audio and Sound Design This resource lists around 180 jobs worldwide. Link: https://lnkd.in/dU8t6Esq 📠 Studio Support, HR, Recruitment and BizDev This resource lists around 300 jobs worldwide. Link: https://lnkd.in/dMdWv4xN ⚙ IT This resource lists around 100 jobs worldwide. Link: https://lnkd.in/df7d-KkR 🎮 Game Design This resource lists around 600 jobs worldwide. Link: https://lnkd.in/d2kKaw95 🥈 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 #gameloft #cluj

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I wish I had the tools available today when I joined gaming 12 years ago. Still, 3 sins can ruin your game production. (I must admit, I’ve committed all 3 sins) 1. "Why buy this tool? A weekend and energy drinks, and I'll make a new one. It'll even make coffee!" Avoid this because: • 61% producers aim for 1–2-week releases. • that's a lot of energy drinks. • not enough weekends. 2. “Our custom tool? It's so unique, only three people in the world understand it. Two of them just quit.” Avoid this because: • 53% longer to onboard with in-house tools • less focus in creating the game experience • the remaining one writes in hieroglyphs. 3. "This third-party AI pathfinding? My pet could write better algorithms. Hold my keyboard." Avoid this because: • 66% of development timelines fall short. • solving solved issues wastes resources. • wheel reinvention proves its necessity. "Okay, your idea, Sergei?" - I hear you ask. Your focus: content, not custom tech. 65% of all studios now prefer to 'buy vs build' their game technology. The game industry has matured, offering new, powerful solutions. Repost ♻️ This to help avoid the sins. P.S. Are you a 'buy' or a 'build' person? Src: Rendered Venture Capital & Griffin Gaming Partners.

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Celebrating two years at YAGER. Today marks a significant milestone in my professional journey. At YAGER I have transformed my professional journey in gaming. Even though I have been working within the gaming industry for around ten+ years, only in the last two of them I was able to deep dive in AAA game development. I never thought how awesome would be to learn more on how actually games are made rather than overseeing Publishing and Esports operations mainly. I’m super grateful to be part of #teamyager, a passionate team that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of video games. Also reflecting on these past two years, I thought of sharing a couple of insights I had: Build Trust as Your First Goal 🤝 Trust is the ground of any successful team. Establishing trust creates a foundation for open communication, collaboration, and mutual respect. It's not just about delivering results but also about being reliable, honest, and supportive. Avoid the Fixed Mindset Trap 💡 It’s easy to fall into the comfort zone of a fixed mindset, where you believe your abilities are static. However, embracing a growth mindset has been key to my development here. It’s about seeing challenges as opportunities to learn, being open to feedback, and constantly pushing your boundaries. The Act of Planning is Crucial 📅 While achieving every part of a plan is important, the act of planning itself holds even greater value. It allows you to think critically, anticipate challenges, and adapt to changes. A good plan provides direction, but the flexibility to pivot and learn from the process is where the real growth happens. I’m looking forward to many more years of being true to the game! #WorkAnniversary #GameDev #YAGER #TrueToTheGame #TeamYAGER

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Today on GamesIndustry.biz... (Friday, May 17th 2024) 1. The big news from last night was Take-Two's financial results, and the revelation that GTA 6 won't be arriving until Autumn 2025. Brendan spoke to Strauss Zelnick about both these topics and more https://lnkd.in/ehVtCC-X 1b. Meanwhile, Rebekah Valentine of IGN (and formerly of GI) asked Strauss about reports that Roll7 and Intercept Games have been shut down. The CEO said that Take-Two "didn't shutter those studios", but didn't deny the reports either. Try to get your head around that one: https://lnkd.in/evYDpr-K 2. In his column this week, Rob Fahey discusses Sony's shifting focus towards engagement time over units sold - and why this makes sense for PlayStation https://lnkd.in/eQD8_6WS 3. In This Week In Business, Brendan looks at the UK government's response to the Stop Killing Games campaign and why cooler screens offer an analogy for what's happening in the games industry https://lnkd.in/e-zQNFZP 4. There were multiple layoff stories today, with affected studios including Palia dev Singularity 6 (https://lnkd.in/evWT5GXG), Dauntless and Fae Farm studio Phoenix Labs (https://lnkd.in/eXz-z7Vn), and Player1 Events. 4b. Player1 Events is the organiser of Insomnia Gaming Festival, which is now said to be shut down after 25 years and more than 72 events. It's unclear what this means for Jagex's RuneFest, also run by Player1 Events. https://lnkd.in/exBMC3iZ 5. Geoff Keighley announced the line-up for this year's Summer Game Fest with 55 partners on board, many of which will be cramming game announcements into the usual two-hour showcase. Partners include Xbox, PlayStation, Epic Games, EA, Bandai Namco, Capcom, Sega, WB Games, and Ubisoft https://lnkd.in/eGQBNuKA 6. Airship Syndicate is making big changes to its latest title Wayfinder following the closure of the game's publisher last year. In a reverse of the usual trend, the game is dropping the free-to-play, online-only model (including all microtransactions) and becoming a premium single-player title with optional three-player co-op https://lnkd.in/eSaV7UYU 7. And Alan Wake 2 has won yet another award - this time, Game of the Year at the 2024 Finnish Game Awards https://lnkd.in/e5WZ2Aek Get even more news with the GI Daily: https://lnkd.in/eAkx_zen

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One of the new maps that players can find in the Elden Ring Shadow Of The Erdtree DLC is the Gravesite Plain map. It is actually the first map that can be unlocked within the Realm Of Shadow SEE ALSO Where To Find The Solitude Armor & Sword Set The Gravesite Plain Map In Shadow Of The Erdtree When you first discover a new location the map will seem a bit bare and, perhaps, even confusing. #EldenRingShadowOfTheErdtree #EldenRingShadowOfTheErdtreeGuides

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For this #ScreenshotSaturday.. There's many things we do in #GameDev to get quick (ofttimes dirty) results. Like, for example, hiding all the environment / world instead of "fading" the camera, so certain aspects can still be rendered! #SitTightGame #UE5 #UnrealEngine

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In recent discussions about alternatives for those seeking new roles in the games industry, a common suggestion is to band together and create your own studio. Here’s my perspective: Passion and Skill Development: If you're passionate about starting your own studio, absolutely go for it. Working on personal game projects is excellent for building skills, networking, and enhancing your CV. Many have successfully turned such projects into their main occupation. Reality Check: However, it's crucial to understand the reality of the funding landscape. From my personal and professional experience, and conversations with others, I've seen countless concepts, tools, and games pitched over the past few years. Only a small fraction - less than 1% - have secured sustainable funding. The criteria for funding are exceptionally tight, often mirroring the tightness of the labor market, if not more so. Encouragement with realism: I don't discourage pursuing your own studio, but I urge you to be realistic and have backup plans. Solving the employee challenges in our industry at scale will likely require either significant reforms or exploring opportunities in other industries or functions. It's all about the last leg: While it's relatively easy to gather a team, create a pitch, and develop branding, securing sufficient funding remains a formidable hurdle, much more formidable than many realize. The ideas and talent aren't the hard part; the funding is the hard part. Unfortunately, no matter what I say, most people don't realize that until the last leg. If you are professionalized when it comes to games financing or acquisition and see this day in and day out, you truly understand how tough it is, and wish it were easier.

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The gaming industry faces a new challenge as SAG-AFTRA, the actors' union, has initiated a strike against several major game companies. The primary point of contention is the use of generative AI in the creation and potential replacement of actors' voices and likenesses. Negotiations between the union and game companies, including Activision, Electronic Arts, and others, have broken down despite 18 months of talks. SAG-AFTRA expressed concerns over the exploitation of actors' work through AI technology, demanding clear and enforceable protections. During the strike, SAG-AFTRA members won’t work with game companies involved in the Interactive Media Agreement negotiations. The list of studios includes: - Activision Productions Inc. - Blindlight LLC - Disney Character Voices Inc. - Electronic Arts Productions Inc. - Formosa Interactive LLC - Insomniac Games Inc. - Llama Productions LLC - Take 2 Productions Inc. - VoiceWorks Productions Inc. - WB Games Inc. While both sides claim to have made significant progress on other contract terms, including wage increases and safety measures, the issue of AI remains a critical stumbling block. (source: https://lnkd.in/eyyYcsTq)

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I found some contradicting news on the web about Sony and free-to-play: At the end of May 📅 there were rumors that Sony was working on a new platform for “developing, publishing, and operating” F2P mobile games 📱(source in comments). It caught my attention because I would love to see what new F2P liveops and monetization ideas Sony can bring to the table! 😍 But a few days ago, another contradicting opinion emerged that Sony avoids F2P. The opinion was backed by 3 reasons: 1️⃣ Sony avoids F2P to reduce player churn and ensure that players who pay upfront are more committed and likely to stick with the game, reducing early-stage operational pressures on developers. 2️⃣ Implementing a payment barrier improves community behavior and reduces abusive behavior since banning a player from a paid game has more significant consequences compared to F2P games. 3️⃣ Sony leverages its PS Plus subscription service to periodically offer games for free, thus boosting player acquisition without the negative perception associated with transitioning to an F2P model. What are your thoughts? Sony free to play - “to be or not to be” ? #sony #freeToPlay #gamedev #sonyps #f2p #mobilegames

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"With big video games missing, indie games are filling the void". This the headline from a Bloomberg article a couple of weeks ago and I have to agree. 2024 is set to be a big year for small games studios. One of my favourite games of 2024 so far is Balatro, a solo developed poker-themed roguelike deck-building game. This game hit 1M sales in less than a month. And I must have talked about it so much that my pal 🐨 Rory Jennings got me a physical deck for my birthday (thanks friend!). Animal Well, another solo developed title, launched last month with a 91% Metacritic score. Palworld released in January with a production budget of $6.7M and sold 15M copies on Steam in its first month and broke a Game Pass record for third-party launches. Lethal Company, yet another solo developed game, launched in October 2023 and has surpassed $100M in sales. And the list goes on. I love that world class, memory making, art forming, industry disrupting games can be built from anyone anywhere. The craft is being democratised and that's down to the whole ecosystem opening up and enabling creators. Education, tools, infrastructure and publishing have all gone through major changes resulting in tearing down walled gardens. The only question is, what should I play next? 🤔

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Dear Hiring Managers, Don’t hunt for treasures. Cultivate your own gems! Last week, we finished our 2nd cohort of students for the Game LiveOps course at Wargaming Forge. Shaky headhunting → stable talent forge. It’s simple: it's a give-and-take process. 🤝 1. Create a Free Course: We spent 6 months crafting an online course, including our products examples. 2. Arrange Enrolment: Partnering with local universities, we got 700+ applications in 2 weeks. 3. Start 𝖤̶𝖽̶𝗎̶𝖼̶𝖺̶𝗍̶𝗂̶𝗈̶𝗇̶ Onboarding: Homework is challenging, with strict deadlines, like in real business. After three months of teamwork, 11 out of 15 students graduated. Welcome 11 future colleagues! 👋 Aleksandr Dutov Andrej Trezov Anna Song Daniil Varshaver Diačenko Emil Eugene Kozii Jan Potancok Marios Kitrou Milan Vukov Milan Stefanovic Ted Fristedt I want to help young talents succeed in gaming and achieve a fulfilling future. With that → ‘positive, real’ life. P.S. Where did your gaming career start? I’ll start with myself: 🌞 2012, Wargaming, World of Tanks Blitz.

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Wagering is the concept of calculated risk-taking in fields where individuals stake money on various outcomes of various events such as sports or casino gambling games. Recognizing wagering requirements, bonuses, strategies, and games with higher RTPs and lower house edges - all are key components for navigating the world of betting successfully. Discover how to raise your odds in our new post - https://lnkd.in/g4bgDadA

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Awful news again today, with us finding out about more layoffs in the games industry. This time it is affecting Mighty Kingdom: CEO David Yin announced in the early hours this morning that around 28% had to be laid off (you can find this post here: https://lnkd.in/eZhb3PwM) To those impacted by these layoffs, please find a comprehensive list of resources, below: 🥇First, Discipline Games Jobs Resources: Over the past weeks I have created 9 (at time of writing) Games Jobs Resources to find jobs in a wide range of disciplines: 🎨 Art, Animation, VFX and UI This resource contains around 1,300 jobs worldwide across all links. Link: https://lnkd.in/eu2bjadW ⚙ Engineering and Programming This resource lists just over 1,700 jobs worldwide across all links. Link: https://lnkd.in/etPj22BE 🕹 Quality Assurance This resource lists over 440 QA jobs worldwide. Link: https://lnkd.in/dkiEy8da 📑 Game Production This resource lists around 400 jobs worldwide. Link: https://lnkd.in/d9qfQ5tg 📢 Marketing & Community This resource lists around 380 jobs worldwide. Link: https://lnkd.in/dc-PVb3h 🎶 Audio and Sound Design This resource lists around 180 jobs worldwide. Link: https://lnkd.in/dU8t6Esq 📠 Studio Support, HR, Recruitment and BizDev This resource lists around 300 jobs worldwide. Link: https://lnkd.in/dMdWv4xN ⚙ IT This resource lists around 100 jobs worldwide. Link: https://lnkd.in/df7d-KkR 🎮 Game Design This resource lists around 600 jobs worldwide. Link: https://lnkd.in/d2kKaw95 🥈 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 #mightykingdom

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From the game development vault - placeholder VO. Last week, I shared a story about Chance cards in Monopoly Go!, one of the side points of which is "be careful what you put in as placeholder assets - they may ship!" That's not this story, but it is a good one. The Sum of All Fears was not a high-budget project. It was an opportunity play. The movie was coming out; we had a window, if we could hit it. Everything was scaled down to hit that target - the number of levels we could do, the number of characters and variants - it was a very schedule and budget driven project, even though it did eventually show up on console. Like a lot of small, scrappy teams, we did what we could to make the best game we could manage. While we were developing, we needed to test out our missions and our VO, but we weren't going to have budget for recording until the end of the project, so we had to find a workaround. Enter the "all Stelmack" VO set. We were lucky enough to have three Stelmacks at Red Storm - Greg Stelmack was the lead engineer for the Sum of All Fears; Diana Stelmack was doing programming on the Ghost Recon expansion packs, I think; and Gary Stelmack, who I've mentioned before, was making things awesome in combat all over the place. It just so happened that we needed two male and one female voice for the cast of characters we had, which lined up perfectly. One morning, they came in an hour before work usually started, sat in front of a computer with a microphone and recorded placeholder tracks for every voice cue. Now, each of them took a slightly different approach. Gary, the designer, gave a full-on voice performance - urgency, emotion, flavor. Greg, the engineer, read everything completely flat - no intonation, no variation, no emotion. Diana was almost conversational. Which made for a very weird experience when it was all cut up and in game. For a couple of months there, every time you tested a mission, it was this weird mix of over-the-top urgency, completely robotic acknowledgement, and pleasantly conversational follow-up. I don't think that ever made it to ship, because there were too many files and they took up too much space, but it was one of the weirdest ways to experience the Rainbow Six / Ghost Recon high-tension FPS. Ultimately, SoAF didn't get a lot of critical praise, but it did the job. We shipped over a million units. Everyone at the studio got bonuses that year. And the Stelmack VO set was part of the secret sauce.

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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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