Game Design Experience (Casual vs Core)

[warmhat]

Hi,

I am a game designer who has been working in the industry for over 4 years now, working on casual games and mobile games.

My long term goal has always been to work on core, high profile games.

The question I want to ask is, do my years of working on these casual and mobile games even count for anything when applying for game design jobs at larger companies?

I have a decent amount of experience and a very strong and diverse skill set, but am finding myself discouraged recently due to not getting a chance for any job interviews.

Anyone know for sure? Is casual/mobile game design experience worth anything?

[tsloper]

Hello Warm, you wrote:

1. do my years of working on these casual and mobile games even count for anything when applying for game design jobs at larger companies [that make core, high profile games]?
2. I have a decent amount of experience
3. and a very strong and diverse skill set
4. Anyone know for sure?
5. Is casual/mobile game design experience worth anything?

1. Some would say yes. Some would say no. So it depends on who you interview with, and what their needs are at the time.
2. I'm sure you do.
3. Good. That may be important.
4. No. Nobody possibly could give you a binary answer.
5. Yes. And no. Many people, if not most, are likely to pigeonhole you as a casual/mobile designer. I can only think of 3 ways you can break out of that pigeonhole:
a. By lucking into someone willing to hire you as a designer regardless of your casual stigma.
b. By starting over, in a different game job (based on your diverse skill set), and patiently watching for opportunities to help with small design tasks.
c. By risking a lot, quitting your job, and patiently chewing through the pigeonhole wall in the independent arena.

[warmhat]

Thanks a lot for the reply Tom.

You've confirmed some suspicions that I've had for a while. I am going to really take the time to think about what I want out of my career and make some decisions in the near future.