At the news that I resigned from my job without first having found a new one, everyone was more or less worried (me included !). That ranged from “it’s usually advisable to..” to “are you nutsss ?!!!”.
I can’t help but thinking that those that were worried the most are also those that underestimate me the most. I’ve been told that I had balls/guts.. so I receive appreciation for being adventurous. That’s certainly a compliment, but it also sounds as if I’m not that good of a programmer, and that I could end up jobless.
That was never an issue, also because I have experience doing web development and everyone needs a web developer 8)

In any case, today I received an offer, I think.
I’m flattered and I really appreciate no-nonsense companies that get to the point. No need to keep one hanging for weeks.
There was some money talk and then an offer and it was all in Japanese. When it comes to talk about money I can’t find my way around in Italian.. much less so in Japanese.
I’m waiting for the details to be put in writing. But in general the feeling I got is that I won’t become rich as a game programmer anytime soon. This can be also related to the fact that for the past 5 years I couldn’t release any major product. Nothing that would resound on my resume, nothing that showcased any particular technology.

Basically, I’m good but not excellent..

And if I were considered excellent ? I’d get paid like anyone with a good experience programming Visual Basic, Excel and Oracle.

Polyphony Digital, the creator of Gran Turismo on the PlayStation, was offering (until the end of August) a maximum of 1 million yen/month. Being a hot programmer on the best selling racing game will give you more or less what any programmer will get in the finance business.
Stock traders instead make a lot more money. I hear that to become a trader one has to have balls, build experience in some place and and suck it up to his boss until he’s given the chance to become a trader.

I feel a bit cheated. I’m told that the gaming business is worth more than the movie business. As a programmer I’m supposedly at the heart of this business, and yet, if I want to be able to step up the social ladder, if I want to be able to enjoy more refined things in life.. I need to become somewhat of a merchant.

Anyhow, I’m fairly happy 8)
One of the very few companies I was really aiming for wants to give me a chance. It’s about developing rather popoular games, flexible work schedule with supposedly not so much overwork. I think that the company is cool, and it offers free (”call now the operators are standing by !!!”) Japanese courses on site, which is also convenient.

I’ll give it some time to see what others have to offer and then I’ll make a decision.

cool cool !

Posted by Davide Pasca in Society, Diary