Computer Gaming Industry is Maturing

The Canadian Press has published an article about how current salaries, entry requirements, and career opportunities in the video gaming industry suggest that the field is finally maturing.

“No longer are people coming in looking at (gaming) as a stepping stone to somewhere else. We have many employees who have 10 to 15 years experience here,” Sean Mullins, head of recruiting for EA in Canada, said in an interview from Burnaby.

“It’s an employees’ market right now. There’s a lot of talent but not many are actively looking.”

Mark Kluchky, human resources manager at BioWare studio in Edmonton, said he fields thousands of applications from North America as well as India, China, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand and South Korea.

“A post-secondary degree almost seems standard now,” said Kluchky.

Firms work to keep employees happy. EA in Burnaby has a soccer field for staff to recharge over the lunch hour. BioWare has a staff lounge with pinball and computer games, a pool table and a sun deck.

Propaganda offers social nights, special movie showings along with basketball, skiing and snowboarding.

I wonder who BioWare’s resident pool shark is.