Profile Evaluation - Game Designer
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27 Aug 2014, 13:43
Hi. I'm targeting the 2016 admission class so this is a just a preliminary examination of where I stand and what I could do between now and then to improve my chances.
1) I'm a game designer with expertise in game economies and monetization. I guide a team of developers, artists, and QA technicians to implement design ideas and create mobile games. Currently I'm half the design team for a top 5 grossing game which has been featured on mainstream outlets like Time, Forbes, the Late Night Show, etc. It is the most successful title our company has ever released, grossing over half a million dollars in daily revenue at its peak.
2) 770.
3) The University of Toronto / 2.4 / Computer Science and Economics / 2011. My grades are low because I was a terrible student who spent all my time playing video games. I skipped two grades before starting university and never developed direction or motivation while there. I'm sure you hear this all the time, but it wasn't until after I tried several roles (software developer @ IBM / account manager @ a successful start-up / business analyst @ the Canadian version of AT&T) that I sat down to really evaluate what I wanted out of a career. But (and again I'm sure you hear this all the time) it's going really well now!
4) I volunteer at an animal shelter and am a mentor for students in their final year at the University of Toronto.
5) None, although I did complete the CFA level 1 many years ago.
6) I'm more or less targeting the best programs I might have a crack at. I feel like my current career trajectory is such that the opportunity cost of a MBA would not be worthwhile unless it is from a good program.
7) I'd like to apply in 2015. I'm not sure about the rounds. I'd like to start in 2016.
8) I have very good design acumen and I'd like to develop the business acumen to go with it. I feel that due to it's infancy, in the game industry these two are almost entirely disparate skill-sets. A lot of designers don't think enough about how to make more money and a lot of executives don't understand how to make a product that people want to buy. The opportunity for someone who sees the whole picture is tremendous.