Rogelio Delgado

🎉 Two New Career Resources Just Landed on Our Community Site - With Huge Thanks to Scott Millard and Tim C.! https://lnkd.in/d3z__2sV If you’ve ever wanted to understand how video game publishing actually works - not the surface-level stuff, but real, on-the-ground global strategy - you now have one of the best free guides in the world, permanently, thanks to Scott Millard. Scott is a veteran industry leader, best known for his time as Managing Director of Bandai Namco Southeast Asia and Korea. He helped launch Tekken, Dragon Ball Z, and even brought Skyrim to market in the region. His publishing knowledge spans regions, formats, and decades - and he’s gifted our community his Guide to Video Game Publishing for all to access at Amir Satvat's Games Community. Also, I’m thrilled to welcome Tim Cullings as a contributor - someone I’ve admired for years. You may know Tim from his leadership at Global Game Jam, Seattle Indies, or his earlier work with Oculus VR and in engineering. He’s kicked things off by sharing a curated list of top game dev events and jams - something many have requested. But this is just an amuse bouche. Tim has big ideas, and we’re excited to build this space with him and for him. We’ve heard your feedback loud and clear - you want more Tim in the community, and so do we. 🔹 In sharing these, I also want to recognize the 20 amazing individual contributors behind the career resources on our site, in addition to our Discord moderators and 2,400+ community coaches. I’m proud to say that 10 of the 20 are female - 50%, which is double industry gender representation. And we’re equally proud of the diversity across many other dimensions, which we take seriously in every aspect of our work. Here they are - please join me in thanking them: • Sarah Thomson (Mentorship Guide) • Alex Gombos (Interview Guide) • Jasmine Coppin (Art Portfolio Review Guide) • Hailey Rojas (#OpenToNetwork) • Mayank Grover (New Games Roles Partnership) • Eva Tucker (Support Your Indies) • Alexander Rehm (MVP Resources) • Johnathan Vance (Indie Marketing Guide) • Aïda Figuerola (Early Career Guide Lead) • Ali Farha (Early Career Guide Lead) • Chris Mayne (Games Art Resources) • Seth S. (Guide To Games Startups) • Corey Neuman (Homelessness Resources) • Michelle Fuzari (Mental Health Resources) • Jessica Lindl (Career Resources Suite) • Renee Gittins (Game Dev Foundry - External Resource Partnership) • Lex Parisi (Ask Lex Career Questions) • Tim W. (LinkedIn Premium Trials Resource Ownership) • Tim C. (Events And Jams; And More To Come) • Scott Millard (Guide To Video Game Publishing) • Thank you also to Fitzgerald Lewis, Tim Wood, Will Morgan, Max Bowser, Alex Gombos, and Michelle Voillot for their contributions to the Early Career Guide 💙 Never forget - this is a total team project of 10,000+ lifetime contributors. "We Help Gamers Get Hired. Zero Profit, Infinite Caring."

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🎯 Applying for a role in games? I have received hundreds of inquiries over the past several weeks and months asking how to get your resume noticed. I cannot respond to every inquiry as much as I try, so I wanted to make sure I am setting you up for success. Here are a few resume tips that can help your application stand out — and actually get seen: First: We don’t use AI parsers or keyword-scanning tools to filter resumes — every resume is reviewed by hand. So it is important to keep it simple, clear, and accessible. ✅ Put your best stuff first Lead with your most relevant work experience or education (whichever is stronger) — don’t make the reviewer dig for it. There is a growing trend of listing oldest experience first, but unless there’s a strategic reason for it, keep your most recent work at the top. ❌ Skip the photos & QR codes Photos are more suited for CVs — and unless you’re applying for a modeling or acting role, they’re just not needed. If you must include one, make it a professional headshot (not a selfie from your last con — as cool as those are). And QR codes? These are often used with in lieu of a URL or Portfolio link. with rising identity theft risks, many people will not scan them. 🎨 Creative role? Include a working portfolio Applying for a creative position? A portfolio is a must. Double-check that your hyperlinks work and passwords (if needed) are included. Broken links = missed opportunity. 📝 Cover letters or summaries =🥇 Especially if you're changing industries, applying for something niche, or your background isn’t a perfect match. It’s your chance to showcase transferable skills, industry knowledge, or simply share your why. Pro tip: I read them all. 📄 Word vs. PDF? Go PDF. Word docs are fine, but in 2025, saving your resume as a PDF (File > Save As > PDF) protects your formatting and info. I won’t hold it against you either way — but some recruiters and hiring leaders will. 📁 Name your file like a pro Avoid submitting files titled just resume.docx. Use your name — it’s a small thing that makes a big difference when sharing with teams: Example: JoshuaForrest_Resume_2025.pdf The job hunt isn’t always easy — but small details can make a big impact. You've got this! 🎮 #ResumeTips #GamingJobs #CreativeCareers #GameIndustry #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #RecruiterTips

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🧮 De-mystifying the Pixel Processor in Substance Designer Chapter 2: Grid Generation Recreating a grid like the Tile Generator can do inside the Pixel Processor is a great practice to understand fundamentals of image processing. By scaling your UVs and taking the fractional part, you repeat a pattern across the surface. Then, by centering and stepping the result, you get a clean, evenly spaced grid, fully controllable in both X and Y. 🧱 Horizontal? Vertical? Brick layout? No problem. However how to get there with different shapes is going to be a different chapter. #madewithsubstance #substance3d #substancedesigner #pixelprocessor

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🎮 Gaming is for everyone. Always. 💙♿ Long before “#inclusiveDesign” became an industry buzzword, #Nintendo quietly created something extraordinary: the Hands-Free Controller for the NES. Released in 1989, this device was developed in partnership with Seattle Children's Hospital, designed specifically for gamers with limited or no hand mobility. It strapped around the player’s chest, used a chin-operated joystick for movement, and even featured sip-and-puff controls to press buttons. Nintendo didn’t mass-market it. Instead, they sold it at cost through customer service, because the mission wasn’t profit—it was access. Today, when we celebrate advancements like the #XboxAdaptiveController or ongoing strides in #accessibility across the #gamingindustry, it’s worth remembering: • Accessibility is not new—it has always been part of the gaming journey. • Inclusion comes from listening to real users and building with empathy. • Small steps toward equity can create ripples that last for decades. It reminds us that gaming should be for everyone, always. Accessibility isn’t an add-on. It’s the heart of play. #GamingForEveryone #VideoGames #GamIndustry #RetroGaming #Inclusion #AdaptiveTech #HumanCenteredDesign #TechForGood

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Taking a bit of inspiration from my contact Matt Barney here and his Gear Grind.... If an employer posts any type of flashy "We are Hiring" post/messaging or even job listings, but then later in said post/jobs listing/application has any messaging about the job being "volunteer" or (you are aware that this is a non payment role)in any way...YOU ARE NOT HIRING and are being dishonest to job seekers looking to actually be hired. To me, this is a major red flag. As defined in the Oxford dictionary hire: verb Definition: 1) employ (someone) for wages. noun: Definition: 1) the action of hiring someone or something. 2) North American - a person who is hired; an employee. employee: noun Definition: 1) a person employed for wages or salary, especially at nonexecutive level. volunteer: verb Definition: 1) freely offer to do something noun: Definition: 1)a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task. When you say you are hiring, there is an expectation of wages by definition. If there are no wages, you are not hiring some you are seeking volunteered services. I personally don't care if you ask for volunteer work as that is completely up to individuals to give their time for free, but to lure people in with the lie of "hiring" that's just knowingly being dishonest. As and employer, you know if the job is paying or not. But that's just my opinion 🤷.

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The AAA Job Standard: Unrealistic, Hypocritical, and Outdated Can we get away from the AAA vs. AA standards that are expected on almost every single job application? For years, AAA studios have set an industry standard for job applications that demand near-impossible levels of experience, skill, and specialization. Job postings regularly ask for 5+ years in a role that barely existed five years ago, mastery of multiple complex tools, shipped titles that meet arbitrary criteria, and—of course—a "passion for games" that somehow justifies long hours and unstable job security. Yet, what have we seen over the past few years? Massive layoffs across the biggest names in gaming. Thousands of talented developers let go despite meeting those rigorous hiring requirements. The very companies that demand loyalty, dedication, and excellence from applicants have shown that they don’t provide the same in return. The irony is, these same AAA studios often claim they "can't find qualified candidates," when in reality, their own impossible expectations filter out incredible talent. Meanwhile, they are proving they offer no more job security than smaller AA studios—despite the illusion of prestige. The result? A cycle of gatekeeping that prioritizes inflated resumes over actual ability, all while the industry becomes more volatile than ever. It's time for studios—AAA, AA, and indie—to rethink what really matters in hiring. Talent isn't just measured in shipped titles or years worked at a prestigious company. It's in the creativity, problem-solving, and adaptability of developers. And if the last few years have proven anything, it’s that the AAA job standard isn’t just unrealistic—it’s hypocritical. #GameIndustry #AAA #GameDev #Hiring #Layoffs

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I was recently honored to be asked to do a talk with the IGDA Neurodivergent in Game Development SIG. While I was going to do a writeup of what was discussed, Monica Fan did a much better job of it than I did so I'm going to copy her notes shamelessly and share here with a few extra notes. The group has monthly discord meetups, so if you're interested, msg Monica for an invite to the next one! ⭐ Networking is important, but it can take years for friends to turn into opportunities. People prefer helping others they trust and like. So, trying to rush for a job during the networking event can have the opposite effect. The best network is always with people who have worked with you, or know you, in some capacity, so be kind and uplift people around you, this can go a long way. Additionally, don't wait to start networking when you need something. You can't go out to a barren patch of dried dirt and expect tomatoes the next morning. Networking is like tending a garden. Those who water it daily, or at least regularly, yield the best results. ⭐ Network with people who are in the position you want, who are in a similar career stage. A game director at a major studio will likely have much wisdom and can be a good ally, but they also may not be the most helpful in finding you an entry-level job. ⭐ In-person interaction is still more effective than online networking. If online is the only choice you have, you need to work extra hard to maintain connections. Being proactive will get you the best results here. Unfortunately humans still fall victim to proximity bias. ⭐ Follower/connections numbers don't mean too much if there is no interaction and conversation. Knowing who your ally is is more effective than having the bigger number for a game dev career (if your goal is to be an influencer, this doesn't apply, of course). ⭐ Find events that fit your niche, where you can be comfortable being authentic and shine. If you are prone to sensory overload, avoid the clubs and large parties at conferences. There's now an upswing in smaller, cozier meetups. Seek them out! ⭐ The higher you go in a company hierarchy, the more important it is to establish trust with your team above and below. If you're looking for your first role in a position of leadership, you will need allies currently in the company. ⭐ Companies hiring usually have a hole they are trying to fill. If you can find out the shape of the hole, you would have a huge advantage during the application. ⭐ Do you know most people like food? A food service gift card can be a good replacement if inviting out for coffee is not an option. I've bought people UberEats/DoorDash/etc. cards to "buy them lunch" as a thank you for their time.

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Layoffs, studio closures and cautious publishing pipelines have dominated headlines (and conversations at GDC this year). But behind the doomscrolling, the last 12 months have quietly seen billions of dollars flow into gaming from VCs, government programs, crowdfunding campaigns and corporate deals. 🎮 Venture funds are still backing early-stage devs. 🏛️ Governments are doubling down on creative sector grants. 💡 Accelerator programs are popping up globally. 💰 Crowdfunding is booming again (especially for tabletop and indie). 🤝 And the biggest publishers and platforms are still making big bets. That makes me optimistic. I’m not blind to the challenges but convinced that the next wave of breakout studios are already being built. Here’s a snapshot of recent funding and investments that caught my eye… Play Ventures – Fund III – $140M – Announced Nov 2024 Kickstarter – Games crowdfunded – $270M+ in 2024 BITKRAFT Ventures – Fund III target – $275M – Apr 2024 Griffin – Fund III target – $500M – Jun 2024 Transcend. – Fund II – $60M – Nov 2023 A16Z GAMES – Games Fund II – $600M – Apr 2024 a16z speedrun – Accelerator – $1M per startup – 2024–25 cohorts UK Games Fund – Grants up to £150k – £5.5M committed for 2025-26 Canada Media Fund – Game project grants – C$7.8M – Aug 2024 Creative Europe – Game development funding – €5M annual call Screen Australia – Indie game grants – AU$1.6M – Mar 2024 Saudi Arabia / Merak Capital – Exel by Merak – $81M fund – Nov 2024 Tencent Venture Lab – Indie support program – Ongoing Scopely acquires Niantic, Inc. - $3.5B - Mar 2025 Playtika acquires SuperPlay – $2B deal – 2024 EQT Group acquires Keywords Studios – $2.8B – 2024 Miniclip acquires Easybrain – $1.2B – 2024 CVC Capital acquires Jagex – $1.1B – 2024 Modern Times Group MTG AB acquires Plarium – $820M – 2024 Just in those points above that’s $13.5B and I’ve certainly missed a ton. If you're building, job searching or fundraising don’t lose heart! There’s capital out there and plenty of people still backing bold creative bets. 📧 joe@play.vc

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Did you know that environments account for nearly 80% of a player's first interactions in modern video games? When designing environments, there are countless things to consider, but today I want to quickly highlight one: 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 When concepting an environment, start with the big shapes. ⏱️ 𝑌𝑜𝑢 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 3 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠. That’s how long it takes for those shapes to make an emotional impact. Before your audience even begins to analyze the details, they’ll 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 something. That emotional read should immediately clarify what the space is and how it feels. Is it safe? Mysterious? Powerful? Inviting? 🎨 To support that emotional impact, pay close attention to your use of color, silhouette, and lighting. These elements work together to reinforce the mood and guide the player's perception. So when you're designing, ask yourself: 𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑚 𝐼 𝑡𝑟𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑣𝑜𝑘𝑒? Once you’ve sketched something out, share it with a few friends. See if they feel what you intended. Feedback is gold. Great environments don’t just look good—they 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦. 👉 Check out a few stunning examples from the WoW: Dragonflight Art Blast https://lnkd.in/gARkdUg8

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Soft skills turn solid renders into shippable work... especially in US and Canada studios where teams move fast and expect clarity, reliability, and ownership. - Communication: pitch your lighting intent in 1–2 lines so art/tech/production align before you place a single light. Why? It prevents rework. In Top 1% lighting artist program, we practice concise briefs and feedback loops live. - Collaboration: turn critique into 3 action items, then share annotated before/after frames. Why? Reviews become momentum, not friction. And we run structured peer reviews. - Problem Solving: test, document the fix. Why? You unblock yourself under deadlines. We model this method live. - Adaptability: update references, goals, and tone mapping. Why? Pipelines evolve weekly. - Time management: deliver a “good today” pass before “perfect next week” using checkpoints. Why? Milestones matter. We use weekly deliverables and checklists. Salary snapshot (ranges vary by city/seniority): - Canada: Lighting Artist average around C$64.8k; Vancouver averages near ~US$79k/yr equivalent; UE Artist rates in Ontario/Toronto ~US$59–62/hr. - United States: Game Artist averages ~US$70k nationally, with top states exceeding US$100k+; senior UE developers can reach US$150k. Build these skills alongside real UE5 lighting craft in the live 6‑week program: - Live sessions + full recordings - 1:1 mentorship and feedback - Community, challenges, and job‑focused support - Six projects + graduation piece (AAA‑ready) Physically Based Lighting workflow (EV100, tone mapping, Lumen, intentional fake lights) Leave a comment to get dates, pricing, and how to enroll.

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When studios close, sourcers should be the first responders. News broke this week that The Outsiders, the studio behind Metal: Hellsinger, is shutting down after parent company changes. For the developers, designers, and artists impacted, it’s a tough moment. For TA leaders, it’s also a moment of truth. Whenever there’s a sudden shock - whether in gaming, tech, finance, aviation, or energy - hundreds of highly skilled people hit the market at once. And here’s the reality: only companies with modern, proactive sourcing pipelines will be positioned to catch them. I learned this the hard way when I built a global sourcing function at Keywords Studios. The sourcers who thrived weren’t the ones chasing reqs after the fact. They were the ones who kept “warm nets” in place; tracking talent communities, nurturing conversations, and knowing where the skill clusters lived before the layoffs. This applies far beyond game dev: 🧑‍💻 Tech startups: when funding dries up, engineers and PMs scatter. Are you already connected to them? 🛬 Aviation: route closures or MRO downsizing create rare windows to hire certified specialists. Do you have them mapped? 💲 Finance: regulation shifts often trigger sudden exits of risk & compliance staff. Is your sourcing team on top of it? In the GCC, the opportunity is even bigger. As global firms set up in the UAE and the broader region, the TA teams who already have sourcing networks in niche domains will massively outperform those who try to start from scratch. So here’s the question I’d love to throw out: 👉 If your company went under today, how would you want other orgs to “rescue” you, and where would you expect them to source you from? #TalentAcquisition #StrategicSourcing #GamingIndustry #GCC #FutureOfWork #TalentSourcing #Recruitment

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The game and VFX industry are fucked. Massive layoffs, canceled projects, and burnout are hitting teams everywhere. Microsoft cut 9,000 jobs. Unity has laid off more than 3,200 people since 2022. Epic, EA, Sony, and countless VFX studios are all downsizing. Still, there’s this persistent belief: “Big studios are struggling, but indies and small teams are thriving.” How true is that? Some recent examples suggest there’s real momentum in the indie scene: - Balatro, Animal Well, and Manor Lords have all found massive success without AAA budgets. - Innersloth (creators of Among Us) launched Outersloth, a fund supporting small creative teams to avoid the traditional exploitative publishing route. - The Guardian and FT both highlighted how smaller, focused projects are making a bigger impact than bloated blockbusters. So.. what is it? :/ I would like to hear your opnion. I dont know anymore what to advice my students to do, focus on AAA or become a generalist on a small studio. Sources: 1. Wired – Layoffs, Game Cancellations Hit Xbox as Microsoft Cuts 9,000 Jobs https://lnkd.in/gx98M78j 2. Wikipedia – 2022–2025 Video Game Industry Layoffs https://lnkd.in/gcG2v88U 3. Financial Times – Small Teams Are Taking Over Gaming as Blockbusters Struggle https://lnkd.in/gw66EmGM 4. The Guardian – Pushing Buttons: What PlayStation Layoffs Say About the Industry’s Future https://lnkd.in/gD8Vu5xd 5. The Guardian – These Games Were Indie Smash Hits. But What Happened Next? https://lnkd.in/g98kM_6w 6. Wired – Outersloth Is Innersloth’s Bold New Plan to Keep Indies Alive https://lnkd.in/gKUAKNBX

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Most designers wait for the interview to get ready. But by then, it’s too late. Here's why: I’ve always loved this phrase, "Luck is just where opportunity meets preparation." I was clear I wanted to get into game design, so I flew out to Southern California, crashed in a hammock on a friend’s porch, and sent a cold email to Blizzard design leads. Two weeks later, I got the interview and earned the job by sticking to my opinions in a tough design discussion. Most people forget the preparation part. That means: • Leveling yourself up • Play games and talk about them • Know what the industry needs right now • Be warm, curious, and interested in what others care about Here's what worked for me back then, which can work these days as well: I kept a giant Excel sheet. It was a list of all the people I knew with what they're currently doing in life, what they wanted to do, one hobby, and ideally, their birthday. When their birthday rolled around, I sent them an article on something that they were interested in, or things like that. No big ask. Just, I thought of you. That’s how you make people remember you. Remember:  You just need a few of the right conversations and to be ready when they show up. That’s what preparation actually looks like.

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