SWOT Analysis and SMART Targets

What are SWOT analysis’?

SWOT analysis is a structured planning method used to evaluate the Strengths (characteristics that give an advantage over others), Weaknesses (characteristics that are a disadvantage), Opportunities (elements that can be used to an advantage) and Threats (things that could cause problems) involved in a project or business venture.

You should consider whether the objectives are attainable using the SWOT, and if they are not a different objective must be selected and the process repeated.
You must ask and answer questions that generate meaningful information for each categories to make the analysis useful.

The best way for you to conduct this is to bulletpoint ideas to capture factors that you believe are relevant in each of the four areas. Once you have finished this brainstorming, create a final, prioritized version of the SWOT analysis listing the factors in each category in order from the highest priority at the top, to the lowest at the bottom.

What are SMART goals?

SMART goals are things that fit the criteria of being Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time Based.
The best way to follow and reach these goals are to be honest in what you want to get out of this process, with a certain goal in mind. These must be measurable, with a definite improvement being reached as you progress, and achievable, as if you are working towards something you cannot complete you must repeat the process with more realistic goals. They must also be time based, in which you give yourself a specific time that you accomplish these goals by.

SPECIFIC

• What: What do I want to accomplish?
• Why: Specific reasons, purpose or benefits of accomplishing the goal.
• Who: Who is involved?
• Where: Identify a location.
• When: Identify time requirements and constraints.

MEASURABLE

• How Much?
• How Many?
•  How Will I Know When It Is Accomplished?

ACHIEVABLE

• How Can The Goal Be Accomplished?

REALISTIC

• Does This Seem Worthwhile?
• Is This The Right Time?
• Does This Match Our Other Efforts/Needs
• Are You The Right Person?
• Is It Applicable In Current Socio-Economic-Technical Environment

TIME BASED

• When?
• What Can I Do Six Months From Now?
• What Can I Do Six Weeks From Now?
• What Can I Do Today?

My SWOT Analysis

STRENGTHS

• Writing
• Story-telling, narrative, scripting
• Drawing
• Pencils, pens, charcoal
• Creativity
• Research

WEAKNESSES

• Lack of confidence
• 3D modelling
• Time management

OPPORTUNITIES

• PCAD, improve my skills with my weakness with 3D modelling
• Schedule specific times to conduct tasks and improve my time management at home

THREATS

• Poor organisation
• Health
• Lack of practice drawing, leading to un-honed skills.

Research on Games Companies For Possible Job Opportunities

Irrational Games – Founded in 1997

Ken Levine (former at Looking Glass Studios), owned by Take-Two Interactive, parent is 2K Games.

1999 – System Shock 2
2002 – Freedom Force
2004 – Tribes: Vengeance
2005 – Freedom Force vs the 3^rd Reich
2005 – Swat 4
2006 – Swat 4: The Stetchkov Syndicate
2007 – Bioshock
2013 – Bioshock Infinite

Studio location: 10 miles south of Boston and about 13 mile drive from Logan International Airport. Quincy Centre Station.
Irrational Games 
125 B Street 
Second Floor 
Boston, MA 02127

http://www.irrationalgames.com/

Art: Character Artist

AVAILABLE JOB – CHARACTER ARTIST

Award-winning studio Irrational Games, best known for its BioShock franchise, is looking for a talented Character Artist. Industry experience is not a prerequisite. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience with modeling, sculpting, and texturing a diverse range of characters, and be well versed in game art-production methodology.

QUALIFICATIONS
A comprehensive modeling and texturing portfolio showing a varied range of character art held to a very high standard.
Extensive experience using 3D Studio Max or Maya for modeling, and Photoshop for texturing.
Exceptional sculpting ability in ZBrush in relation to game art workflows.
An understanding of all current-generation production workflows as they pertain to character-art production.
A keen understanding of the human form/anatomy and structure/silhouette in respect to modeling.
A detail-obsessed eye for creating and manipulating texture maps, and an excellent understanding of the value of UV space.
A great team player: self-motivated, with good communication skills.
Accurately follow common goals and tasks while working under own initiative. Perform other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS
Have shipped relevant console titles as a Character Artist.
Strong traditional-art foundations, including but not limited to figure drawing, photography, and illustration.
An appreciation and understanding of fashion and street style.
To be considered for this position, you must submit your portfolio along with your résumé on the following page.

Rockstar Games

Founded in 1998, headquarters in New York City, Owned by Take-Two Interactive, President is Sam Houser and Vice President is Dan Houser.

Rockstar Leeds – 2004 – Present
– Based in Lower Wortley, Leeds. Created GTA: Liberty City Stories and Vice City Stories, Max Payne on the GBA, GTA: Chinatown Wars, Beaterator. Also Windows version of L.A. Noire.
Rockstar London – 2005 – present
– Took over development of Manhunt 2, portable version of Midnight Club: LA
Rockstar New England – 2008 – present
– Wii, XB360, PC port of Bully
Rockstar North – 1999 – present
– Edinburgh, Scotland. Famous for GTA and Manhunt, also original Lemmings games.
Rockstar San Diego – 2003 – present
– developed the RAGE engine, Red Dead Revolver and Red Dead Redemption, Smuggler’s Run series, first two Midtown Madness games and Midnight Club series.
Rockstar Toronto – 1999 – present
– The Warriors, PC/OS version of GTAIV and GTA: Episodes from Liberty City.

For use in future, use:

AMAQUIST.
GAMASUTRA.
GAMESINDUSTRY.BIZ
THE EDGE MAGAZINE.
READ.
MONSTER.

What Makes a Good Cover Letter?

Cover letter is simple, made sure to keep it formal and professional looking. Layout is in standard letter layout with personal information such as address, telephone number, email and name.
Include the date, name of person the letter is to, don’t simply put “dear sir/madam”, company name and address. Includes what the letter is for (ie job code or title). Finished formally and includes CV attached.  Make sure that it isn’t too dull and that some personality comes out in the letter, otherwise it will simply be overlooked due to it being too flat.
Simply laid out what the job is, why the person would be good for it and wants it, and why they are looking for a new job.

Make sure you only include relevant information, anything else will be in the cv anyway, don’t waffle on about things that aren’t important.
Also make sure the layout is correct and not poorly spaced, and that all spelling has been checked beforehand.

Don’t tell the employer what you want, tell them why they should want you. Be specific, but not annoyingly so. Tell them what you will bring to their company (or whatever) and how you can help them. Make yourself sound like a valuable resource that they need.
The cover letter is not designed to repeat what is on the cv, it’s to call attention to yourself, and separate yourself from other applicants.

Taylor a cover letter to the specific job, don’t write a generic one that covers everything.
Keep the cover letter short, you don’t want it being more than a page, and 200-250 words will suffice.

What Makes a Good CV?

In many instances, a bad CV is made from including too much unnecessary information. Potential employers will be looking through a large number of CV’s and including things such as the title (you don’t need a CV, they know what it is) and an address title are just not needed. Other basic things you should always be aware of are that you are spelling things correctly and have a reasonably professional email address for convenient contact. As you can see from the inclusion of the email “boozyfloozy” that this person is not selling themselves as a professional, if necessary it’s very easy to make an alternative email address. Also be sure to add the most pertinent information at the forefront, I.e. your most recent educational or work experience background, as it will give employers a more up-to-date idea of where you’re coming from.

As expected, presentation goes a long way in helping a future employee consider your CV at all. As with this example, each category is clearly separated to show education, work experience etc. In terms of interests the perspective employer is able to gain some ideas about the character of the person applying for the job, and while personally I wouldn’t use something that has “living life” as an example of a good CV, apparently the quality of the piece is more important than your need to sound professional. 

Researching Career Avenues

Narrative Designer

The narrative designer focuses on ensuring that the key elements of the player experience associated with story and story telling devices, script and speech are dynamic, exciting and compelling. Working collaboratively with other design oriented team members, the narrative designer is the primary contact with external writing resources for the duration of a production, and is responsible for ensuring they get the most out of those external resources.

Responsibilities involve:

• Act as the champion of the story, script and speech for the product.
• Act as the central resource for all things narrative related, as well as writing content and editing copy.
• Apply and adapt external written materials, as a representative of that writer's story vision, as it applies to the game.
• Understand story requirements and deliver on story/script goals.
• Manage own schedule to accommodate the deliverables of each project and propose solutions for conflicts that arise.
• Conduct research to obtain factual background information relevant to story/design goals.

Concept Artists

A concept artist is an individual who generates a visual design for an item, character, or area that does not yet exist. This includes, but is not limited to, film production, animation production and more recently video game production. A concept artist may be required for nothing more than preliminary artwork, or may be required to be part of a creative team until a project reaches fruition. While it is necessary to have the skills of a fine artist, a concept artist must also be able to work to strict deadlines in the capacity of a graphic designer. Some concept artists may start as fine artists, industrial designers, animators, or even special effects artists. Interpretation of ideas and how they are realized is where the concept artist's individual creativity is most evident, as subject matter is often beyond their control.