VEN
VOCATIONAL ECOSYSTEM NAVIGATOR
A revolutionary platform
delivering unprecedented control over any career decision.
A revolutionary
platform delivering
unprecedented control over any career decision.
VEN takes you inside the reality of vocational choices with deep-dive interviews, and day-in-the-life profiles of real people doing the actual jobs you’re most interested in. Insights on the health (or otherwise) of your chosen industry; visualizations of career development over time, tied in with compensation expectations and the evolution of responsibilities and opportunities that can open up for you as you sculpt and optimize your ideal working life.
A new career planning paradigm for all
VEN is an intuitive, media-rich platform that revolutionizes how we understand and navigate our careers. It's an interactive tool designed to reveal the intricate network of today's vocation choices and their interdependencies in the modern world. Users can create a private, personalized profile and explore how the career that interests them aligns with their personality, interests, and goals, highlight the skills they already possess that are relevant to the field, and suggest areas where they might need further development. It can suggest how their belief system might intersect with industry practices, and how their geographical location might impact opportunities in that sector's field.
Take for instance, the field of GAME DESIGN. Users can explore every aspect of this broad and varied profession — from necessary qualifications and roles, to potential challenges and rewards. But the VEN extends well beyond the conventional job profile, it able to map each vocation's place and interdependencies within the broader vocational ecosystem. For example, it shows how Game Design connects with other professions such as freelance artist, software developers, marketers, project managers, and consumer behavior analysts. The Navigator offers insights into how changes in technology, consumer preferences, or market strategies impact the profession, and vice versa.
For career advisors, the Navigator becomes an invaluable tool. It equips them with comprehensive, up-to-the-minute data about various professions and the vocational ecosystem at large. The user-customizable profile feature allows advisors to offer more effective, personalized guidance, taking into account the unique attributes and goals of each client.
Now, VEN.
WORKING IN THE GAMING INDUSTRY
The anatomy of a Game Dev Team
It's not all play
Conceptualization and Planning: The day often begins with meetings involving the CEO, CCO/CDO, and VP/SVP of Development to discuss the overall vision for the game. Game Directors and Lead Game Designers are also present to contribute their ideas. They discuss the game's concept, mechanics, and design, as well as review progress and any necessary adjustments.
Creative and Design Teams: After the initial meeting, the Lead Game Designer collaborates with the Game Director, Lead Writer, and Art Director to refine the game's design and narrative elements. They might use design tools like Unity, Unreal Engine, or proprietary software to create mock-ups and prototypes for review.
Technical Development: Simultaneously, the Technical Director and Lead Programmers work with the Design and Creative Teams to ensure the technical feasibility of the game's features and mechanics. They collaborate on the implementation of gameplay systems, ensuring smooth and responsive interactions. Coding and debugging are part of their day-to-day tasks using programming languages like C++, C#, or Python.
Art and Animation: The Art Director oversees the artists responsible for creating characters, environments, and assets. The Lead Animator works with the Animation Team to create fluid and realistic character movements using software like Maya or Blender. Collaboration with the Design Team ensures that art assets align with the gameplay requirements.
Level Design: The Lead Level Designer coordinates with the Art and Game Design Teams to create engaging game levels. They work with level designers to craft layouts, challenges, and pacing, providing feedback and refining the level design iteratively.
Audio Integration: The Audio Director and Sound Designers collaborate with the Creative Team to develop music, sound effects, and voice-over that complement the game's atmosphere and narrative. They use audio software like Pro Tools or Wwise to implement sound into the game engine.
Project Management: Throughout the day, Producers and Project Managers oversee the project's progress, ensuring milestones are met, and resources are allocated efficiently. They schedule meetings, facilitate communication between teams, and address any challenges that arise during development.
Quality Assurance: The Lead QA Tester manages the QA team, identifying bugs and issues in the game and working closely with developers to ensure timely fixes. Testers may use bug-tracking software to log and prioritize issues.
Iterative Process: As the day progresses, teams have regular meetings to discuss progress, challenges, and feedback. The iterative nature of game development means constant revisions and adjustments based on feedback from playtesting and internal reviews.
Crunch Time: During critical development stages, teams may enter "crunch time," where they work longer hours to meet tight deadlines. This period can be intense, but it's essential to ensure the game's timely release.
Collaboration and Communication: Throughout the day, communication and collaboration are key. Cross-departmental coordination ensures that different aspects of the game harmoniously come together.
It's your very own Virtual Open House
Taylor Jones
Takes you trough a day in the life of a Level Designer for a AAA Games company, and discusses the educational and experiential path she followed to reach her specific position.
LEVEL DESIGNER
Parker Stuart
One of out best interviews, revealing the real-world life of a Game Designer working on world famous titles as part of a large team of creatives and developers.
Parker is a must-watch as he clearly and carefully illuminates the role.
GAME DESIGNER
Riley Jones
Responsible for the plotlines, characters, and dialogues, and figure out how to integrate narrative elements into the gameplay, this interview takes us on a deep dive into what this means on a day-today basis
NARRATIVE DESIGNER
Robert Harris
A System Designer focuses on designing and balancing complex game systems such as economy, progression, or combat systems. Robert Harris is a seasoned and eloquent Systems professional.
SYSTEMS DESIGNER
Just a few of our education partners
Partner
Partner
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Partner
Partner
The VEN process.
User Registration
- User signs up using email or social media account.
- User verifies their account through a confirmation link.
Profile Creation
- User is guided through a profile creation wizard.
- User inputs demographic information (age, location).
- User completes an interest and skills inventory, including existing skill sets,
personal interests, and career aspirations.
- User indicates their belief systems, personality type, and life goals.
Introduction to Platform
- User is guided through a tutorial or walkthrough of the platform features.
- User is shown how to navigate the platform, select a career to explore, and how to make use of the interdependency features.
Career Exploration
- User selects a career field to explore (e.g., Game Design).
- The Navigator presents detailed information about the chosen field, requirements, challenges, rewards, etc.
- The Navigator illustrates the interdependencies of the selected field with other professions.
Personalized Insights
- The Navigator analyzes the user's profile against the selected career's details.
- It provides personalized insights, such as how the user's skills align with the career, areas for development, and how the career aligns with the user's personality type and interests.
Career Path Suggestions
- Based on the user's profile and selected career, the Navigator suggests potential career paths.
- The Navigator outlines steps for achieving these paths, such as recommended education, skills to develop, and potential hurdles.
Resource Recommendations
- The Navigator suggests resources for further learning and skill development.
- The Navigator suggests networking opportunities, communities, and industry events.
User Engagement Features
- User can bookmark careers, resources, and paths for later viewing.
- User can set reminders or goals for themselves.
- User can provide feedback on the suggestions and information provided.
Profile Updates & Ongoing Learning
- User can update their profile as their skills, interests, or goals change.
- User can continue exploring other careers, receive updated suggestions, and track their progress towards their goals.
The VEN difference
The Vocational Ecosystem Navigator as it stands is a comprehensive tool that takes into account many facets of an individual's career choice and planning process. However, there are always ways to enhance such a platform. Here are some that we've incorporated.
AI-driven Career Matching
The platform includes an
AI-driven career matching algorithm that analyzes the user's profile and suggests vocations that could be a good fit. Includes machine learning to improve suggestions over time based on user feedback.
Real-time
Labor Market Data
The platform integrates
real-time labor market data to provide up-to-date information on job openings, industry growth, salary trends, and more. This gives users a realistic picture of job availability and earning potential.
User Community & Networking
Building a community within the platform where users can connect, network, and share experiences can add significant value, including forums, mentorship programs, and virtual networking events.
Collaborations with Education Providers
The platform collaborates with universities, online course providers, and vocational training institutes. This enables users to find relevant educational opportunities that can help them start out or transition to their desired careers.
Job Application and Tracking
VEN incorporates a job application feature that allows users to apply directly for jobs and internships from the platform Users can track their applications, follow up, and manage offers all in one place.
Continuous Learning & Skill Development
The platform suggests courses, webinars, or workshops for continuous learning and skill development. These recommendations are personalized based on the user's chosen career path and interests.
VEN takes you inside the reality of vocational choices with deep-dive interviews, and day-in-the-life profiles of real people doing the actual jobs you’re most interested in. Insights on the health (or otherwise) of your chosen industry; visualizations of career development over time, tied in with compensation expectations and the evolution of responsibilities and opportunities that can open up for you as your sculpt and optimize your ideal working life.