Nintendo Want to make the next Zelda?

[Demon_Skeith]

Nintendo has a level designer job listing for working on The Legend of Zelda series at their Kyoto headquarters in Japan.

The temp job entails working on dungeons, maps, cut scenes as well as designing enemies. Nintendo is looking for those with experience as game planners.

The listing is in Japanese and states that confidence in one’s Japanese ability is necessary due to the group work nature of the position.

This is not for permanent employment but is a contract position. Depending on successful applicants’ experience and abilities, the salary can range from $34,766 to $74,107. Nintendo will also pay a housing allowance, a moving allowance and daily transportation fees.


I don't think many of the GL members can take this, but would you want to take this job if possible?

 

[テクニカル諏訪子]

Are you crazy?
Work conditions at Nintendo seem like a nightmare according to former employees there! (´-﹏-`；)

【業務内容】
能力や適性に応じて、以下の業務を担当していただきます。
・ゲームイベント／ダンジョン／フィールドの企画立案、仕様作成と調整、実装までの一連の業務
・enemyの企画立案、仕様作成と調整、実装までの一連の業務

【Job contents】
Depending on your abilities and aptitude, you'll be in charge of the following duties:
・Game event / Dungeon / Field drafting, regulator of writing standards, implementation of sequence.
・Enemy drafting, regulator of writing standards, implementation of sequence.

【適性】
・ゲームプランナーとしてコンシューマーゲームの制作実務経験のある方
・共同作業に際し、日本語によるコミュニケーション力に自信のある方

【Aptitude】
・Apart from being a game planner, you must have work experience with consumer games.
・When working in a group, self confidence in Japanese communication skills are required.

The rest are things that apply to most big Japanese companies.
Though I should add that yes this is a 3 month contract work, but will be extended afterwards for as long as the development project doesn't end.

Another thing worth to note is that Japanese job openings usually put up doable work times and holidays, but in reality it's commonly not the case.
Overwork is being heavily encouraged by society, and taking days off is usually heavily discouraged unless everyone at the company does so.

In this sense if you want to work for a game company in Japan, it's better to work at a start up.
They're in huge quantities in most major cities, are more willing to hire people from overseas, and aren't too extreme about overwork and free days compared to traditional companies.
But the downside is that the pay is much lower, and things like covering commuting costs, housing costs, etc. aren't all that common.

 

[Demon_Skeith]

From what I understand its more of a national Japan thing that most big companies work their employees into the ground, where like the boss can't leave till everyone else is gone or something like that. It's a harsh lifestyle that I find hard to believe is still going.

 

[テクニカル諏訪子]

It's actually the opposite.
Employees can't leave until the boss leaves.
Bosses commonly stay really long, meaning that employees start really long too.

But this is much less the case with start up companies, which are usually more relaxed in that regard, bosses are generally younger and therefore less likely to stay longer at the company than necessary.
Even more true with companies led by foreign nationals, most of these are located in Tokyo though.

 

[Demon_Skeith]

Ahh, that sounds right. My bad.

Though I'm guessing the fact Nintendo has a new young president won't change much?

 

[テクニカル諏訪子]

Mr. Furakawa is 46, which is considered relatively young compared to the average age of the Japanese population, but it's not the younger generation I was talking about.

 

[Demon_Skeith]

Mr. Furakawa is 46, which is considered relatively young compared to the average age of the Japanese population, but it's not the younger generation I was talking about.

he could still uphold their ideals though.