SE hiring for FFXIV GMs and testers?

[Mistress Stowastiq]

Took a look over at the NA side of things and it looks like they are looking for an MMO Community Manager, so it looks like they're starting the hiring processes now.

Yeah and also, the NA Quality Assurance Testers are temp jobs so maybe that is also a sign that it's possibly something new?

Still, looks like some cool jobs on both sites.

[Nynaeve]

I'm not sure if I should feel really skeptical or really happy to see this listed under main responsibilities:

Follow official and non-official websites and forums to stay informed about the community

And then this further down:

Knowledge of online community forums

GMs actually participating in the community and reading up would be a god send at this point. Is this is a sign they've learned something about customer service??

[isladar]

Get paid to read BG? Find out how!

[SephYuyX]

Is there a reason the Advanced XIV topic is closed?

[Hyan]

BG doesn't like pointless speculation? D:

[SephYuyX]

In that case most every thread here would be closed.

[Hyan]

Happens a lot in advanced iirc. Mostly to those mammoth threads with million pages though.

[xopher]

BG doesn't like pointless speculation? D:

Pointless speculation turned into trolling and WoW vs. FFXI part 4651357986.

That's why it was locked.

[Pyree]

Yeah and also, the NA Quality Assurance Testers are temp jobs so maybe that is also a sign that it's possibly something new?

There are very few testing positions anywhere that are not temp positions. And I'm sure that SE always has at least one game in the testing stage at all times, probably multiple games most of the time. It doesn't mean that it's something new. Testers are hired all the time and thrown into a project that's already been going for a while. Small games are usually tested for about a month, and more popular games will be tested for much longer. And because testing is a temp job, it's common for people to come and go at random times during that period.

[Yeager]

Can I get some clarification about this position below?? Basically, I'd like to know if someone from NA can apply for this position despite the fact it's based in London. Guess what I'm asking is, is it possibly a "work from home" type of position?

English/French/Italian/German/Spanish Localisation Testers

Job Description
- Game testing and proof-reading: identifying and reporting linguistic mistakes (spelling, punctuation, grammar etc.) as well as functional game defects
- General tasks related to the quality assurance (QA) process

Skills Required
- Excellent native-level British English, French, Italian, German or Spanish language skills with a keen eye for mistakes
- Good communication skills in English required for all applicants

Recommended
- Knowledge of Square Enix, role-playing and console games
- Interest in or enthusiasm for computing

Pluses
- Previous experience in video games localisation or QA

Rate of Pay: £6 per hour

Work Hours: 20 to 37.5 hours per week (flexible)

Holidays: 20 days per annum, pro rata

Contract Type: Casual (part-time/full-time possible)

Location: London, UK (please note that all positions are based in our London headquarters)

[Mistress Stowastiq]

There are very few testing positions anywhere that are not temp positions. And I'm sure that SE always has at least one game in the testing stage at all times, probably multiple games most of the time. It doesn't mean that it's something new. Testers are hired all the time and thrown into a project that's already been going for a while. Small games are usually tested for about a month, and more popular games will be tested for much longer. And because testing is a temp job, it's common for people to come and go at random times during that period.

OOO thank you for so much info! I had no idea about that. Very interesting to know. I am surprised the temp slots are not hired through some temp agency then. hmm.

[Keyln]

Can I get some clarification about this position below?? Basically, I'd like to know if someone from NA can apply for this position despite the fact it's based in London. Guess what I'm asking is, is it possibly a "work from home" type of position?

Two general rules of thumb about working in QA in the game industry.

#1 There is no such thing as "working from home" in the game industry. There are way too many sensitive material that game publishers don't want leaking out to the general public. If you do manage to get hired there, be prepared to work under lock and key, with limited access, and then a few months (six at most).

#2: Being out of town lowers your chance of being hired dramatically. QA people don't really get paid much (you'll be lucky to break 40k/year unless you're either a manager or have a CS degree working on white box (devbox) stuff). In general, because they don't get paid much, most companies prefer to hire local people as most companies don't offer any relocation services for the average QA tester.

And as far as I know about the NA QA stuff, I know that more and more companies are relying on temp agencies to hire QA staff. For example, SE relies more on Wired Talent for their temp staffing positions (such as QA and GMs). If you want to work at SE in QA, the best way to go is through a company like Wired Talent. But unless you live in southern California (like in the LA area), your odds will not be good.

[Falisa]

Well it seems hes asking about GMs specifically. There are several cases (well.. at SOE in particular) where GMs work from home, but this is only after they have worked at the company for several years and have been promoted etc. All of the ones I know of all have kids and the reason they work from home is so they can take care of the kids, and they have all worked here for many years. So..yeah most likely not going to happen.

I bet Square Enix wouldn't even allow long time employees to work from home, because I hear they're a very very strict work place. Cameras watching you work etc

[Yeager]

Two general rules of thumb about working in QA in the game industry.

#1 There is no such thing as "working from home" in the game industry. There are way too many sensitive material that game publishers don't want leaking out to the general public. If you do manage to get hired there, be prepared to work under lock and key, with limited access, and then a few months (six at most).

#2: Being out of town lowers your chance of being hired dramatically. QA people don't really get paid much (you'll be lucky to break 40k/year unless you're either a manager or have a CS degree working on white box (devbox) stuff). In general, because they don't get paid much, most companies prefer to hire local people as most companies don't offer any relocation services for the average QA tester.

And as far as I know about the NA QA stuff, I know that more and more companies are relying on temp agencies to hire QA staff. For example, SE relies more on Wired Talent for their temp staffing positions (such as QA and GMs). If you want to work at SE in QA, the best way to go is through a company like Wired Talent. But unless you live in southern California (like in the LA area), your odds will not be good.

Well, currently I live in Houston, TX, but I do have a place in Palm Springs, CA which is KINDA close-ish to the Los Angeles area.

Would take some major string pulling, but if I had to relocate to the Palm Springs area in order to take a job at SE in CA then I'd do it. Then once I'm allowed to "work from home" then I'd most likely return to Texas at that time....but meh...at the very least I'll take a look at Wired Talent. Do they have a website I can look up?

[Falisa]

Video Game Jobs, Staffing and Recruiting

Oh boy Wired Talent. My current employer

[Mistress Stowastiq]

Two general rules of thumb about working in QA in the game industry.

#1 There is no such thing as "working from home" in the game industry. There are way too many sensitive material that game publishers don't want leaking out to the general public. If you do manage to get hired there, be prepared to work under lock and key, with limited access, and then a few months (six at most).

#2: Being out of town lowers your chance of being hired dramatically. QA people don't really get paid much (you'll be lucky to break 40k/year unless you're either a manager or have a CS degree working on white box (devbox) stuff). In general, because they don't get paid much, most companies prefer to hire local people as most companies don't offer any relocation services for the average QA tester.

And as far as I know about the NA QA stuff, I know that more and more companies are relying on temp agencies to hire QA staff. For example, SE relies more on Wired Talent for their temp staffing positions (such as QA and GMs). If you want to work at SE in QA, the best way to go is through a company like Wired Talent. But unless you live in southern California (like in the LA area), your odds will not be good.

Wired talent is a really cool site. So are you saying that even though the SE site lists the temp jobs, those particular temp jobs are not through them?

Also for those looking to do so, another term used in the employment field for "Working at home" would be Telecommuting.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommuting

[Tubbers]

Indeed. It even happened to me the other day. Someone asked me what item you wager for the Illumina in the coliseum, and I told him the item was a rare drop from the equally rare Pink Puff encounter on the moon.

Man, I lol'd hard, then almost cried, because I know exactly what you're talking about, which two games those are (4 and 6), and what the answer actually is :/ (Ragnarok), and I also know the MP draining properties the Illumina has. The pink puff encounter is bullshit and isn't in the US release on the SNES, only the re-release.

[Shenrien]

You pass the course when the teacher asks if you understand and you tell him, "I don't know. I'll look into it."

fucking lol quoted for sig.

[Keyln]

Well, currently I live in Houston, TX, but I do have a place in Palm Springs, CA which is KINDA close-ish to the Los Angeles area.

Would take some major string pulling, but if I had to relocate to the Palm Springs area in order to take a job at SE in CA then I'd do it. Then once I'm allowed to "work from home" then I'd most likely return to Texas at that time....but meh...at the very least I'll take a look at Wired Talent. Do they have a website I can look up?

Seriously, I would get rid of the idea that you can somehow "work from home". It's not going to happen.

Anyway, if you REALLY want to work at SE, you would do best to establish a place of residency somewhere in the LA area. I'm not sure if Palm Springs is close enough to do it. It would also help to get some experience doing game testing. Texas has many game development studios as well as a few publishers. You would do well to start there and gain some EXP as a GTS (Game Tester) first, and then once you level up to 20, get an airship to LA and open a Mog House there.

Let me warn you that the path you choose isn't easy, but if this is something you REALLY want to do, I wish you the best of luck. Really.

Wired talent is a really cool site. So are you saying that even though the SE site lists the temp jobs, those particular temp jobs are not through them?

Also for those looking to do so, another term used in the employment field for "Working at home" would be Telecommuting.
Telecommuting - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As I said before, Telecommuting doesn't happen really often. I've only done it once in my career, and it was because of a few mitigating circumstances (I was an assistant QA lead who got mugged and my car got stolen (in the same week!), and at the time, we were just doing test cases, so it was just paperwork.), and even then it was very limited. Seriously, don't get this idea that you can somehow take games from work, test them at home, and then come back whenever. 99% of the QA done is on-site somewhere, and it is very hard and mind numbing work.

[Silenka]

At least regarding SE's way of doing things, I would like to clear up some misinformation in this thread...

And I'm sure that SE always has at least one game in the testing stage at all times

True!

probably multiple games most of the time.

Not so true.

Testers are hired all the time and thrown into a project that's already been going for a while.

BZZT. Nop.

Small games are usually tested for about a month, and more popular games will be tested for much longer.

Depends, on both counts. The latter is not always true. You'd think FFXI alone would be proof of that without having to think about it >.>;

And because testing is a temp job, it's common for people to come and go at random times during that period.

Not at all.

Dunno about the GMs being hired out from temp agencies, but people in general here have the wrong idea about SE QA.

And so...

http://palmgoon.com/wp-content/uploa..._you_know2.jpg