Moving to another country

[Tisky]

Helloes. I recently decided that my love for game-development would never die so now i´m trying to become more updated with the techniques being used today, learning 3DS Max, UDK, CryEngine 3. I now know the basics of 3DS Max and UDK so i have to start working on some scenes, models etc, to get a portfolio good enough for the industry.

I live with my gf and 2 kids in southern Sweden and i hate living here. I don´t see friends anymore or the ones i see are still living like they are 15 despite they are 30. I just know i dont belong here. I need to get out sooner or later or i will probably regret it when i´m old. Anyways, my plan is to get a good portfolio and then apply for work. Somehow i´ve always wanted to live in Canada . Don´t ask me why, but i want to move there, preferably working in the gaming-industry. I´ve been thinkin alot and i have no clue how possible this is, or if im just chasing some stupid dream. My thoughts went to Mapcore, some of you here have actually moved, changed countries (Luka, HP, Mino, PhilK and so on), how was that for you? Can anyone give me a better insight for this? Please, just spill out some words on how it all went down and how you feel afterwards.

Please don´t think i´m wierd

[e-freak]

Like you said: Get a decent portfolio and apply for jobs Most companies will cover the re-location and help with settling.

[Tisky]

Thanks for an encouraging answer e-freak!

[Nysuatro]

I know for Canada they only take Senior people for helping oversea.

So you probably want to have some experience in Europe first.

Like e-freak said, you need a good portfolio. I am not sure for what function you want to go.

As an artist it is quite hard these days to get a job in an other country. But that does not mean you can not try!

And yes, if a company is big enough and wants to hire you, they most of the time help you with moving to their country.

So I would say, make your portfolio, ask feedback here on mapcore, listen to the feedback, and work some more on your portfolio till you got a job.

It is not going to be easy, but it is better to have a goal then just waiting for change.

So by posting here you already started good.

[e-freak]

If you're in sweden already at least you can apply for some of the studios there (Dice, Starbreeze, Imagination Studios, Massive, etc.). You can find a comprehensive list of studios here:

http://www.swedishgamesindustry.com/links.aspx

[Minos]

Check this out, it should answer all of your questions: http://www.hourences.com/the-hows-and-w ... try-about/

[Puddy]

Ye ask minos he moved all the way from Chile to pursue his dreams

[Steppenwolf]

If your portfolio is excellent it shouldn't be a problem to find a job in another country. A bit problematic could be that you already have a partner and two kids. Without lots of experience you will not get a senior position so could be hard to make enough money to support them, pay the rent for a bigger appartement etc. And when things go wrong (aka you get layed off) it makes you less flexible to deal with the situation.

[Tisky]

Yeah, the kids and all were also my main concern. I guess i should get that awesome portfolio and then just be happy IF i get a job anywhere for starters

Thanks for the great replys dudes, and Minos, can i borrow your copy?

[Puddy]

Thanks for the great replys dudes, and Minos, can i borrow your copy?

Well, now that he's already in the industry I don't think he brought it along when he left Argentina.

You can try asking his uncle though.

[Tisky]

Oh no sir! I owe his uncle benjamins so i rather not ask him.

[Rick_D]

problem is it's quite hard to leave the country without some experience, as companies aren't as willing to bring in someone for an entry-level position from outside the country - that's not to say that if you were to find a job and take care of all the moving costs and finding yourself housing that they won't employ you.

a friend of mine got a job in canada purely based on his portfolio and a bunch of phonecalls/emails. so there's not even the need to worry about flight costs etc.

my advice would be to get your portfolio in order, focus towards something specific: if you want to do art then make sure you do art (vehicles or levels or weapons, try and focus on, and get better at, one specific thing so you can make your portfolio really shine in that area). use a good engine to show off your work (i'd suggest cryengine), and start applying; it'd be a good idea to get some contacts from isnide to pass along your work, there's bound to be some people here who can help (dark, zombie, etc).

once you are in canada, there's a lot of studios so it's not a big problem if you lose a job or decide you want to switch studios.

also, there's a couple studios in an around stockholm - thought about trying to get an entry level position up here and moving? if your portfolio is good enough then it's easy to get a short contract - and even 6 months looks good on your resume and will help you get jobs elsewhere.

[Alf-Life]

Having moved to three different countries in the last 6-7 years (none of which I spoke the language of prior (and post )-move), I can tell you that [once you get the job ] you have nothing to worry about - the HR people I've dealt with have always been tremendously helpful, and since there are always people in the same boat (or who recently were in the same boat) you can really get lots of information and help.

I think in your particular case, what you have to consider is your family, which is a more personal matter. Can your partner work abroad? Does she want to? Do you want her to? Will she be happy there? Will you be able to afford it? These are only questions you (and she) can answer.

What I can answer in that regard is that because there are so few games companies, most are internationally-staffed, and there are tons of living examples for almost all walks of life; with many examples of people (with even more complicated circumstances) who have already done what you want to do.

[-HP-]

I absolutely endorse what Badowsky just said.

For you fortunately, you have a few good studios in Sweden, and you have zero professional experience, so why not just stick around there and gain experience first, than venture to something bigger?

But if you want to make the jump, don't worry, most studios pay for relocation, visas, whatever trips you need, housing for the first few months and even classes for the local language!

[Furyo]

I'll just echo what Martin and others have said, companies will do everything for you, they are the greatest help you can think of when you start there. It's a family issue for you and no one but your family should weigh in on that.

Get yourself some experience in Stockholm, no country will sponsor you for a visa yet with your lack of experience. Even within Europe.

With that said, I have moved 5 times internationally in the past 6 years, so you're welcome to ask me any question you might have on visas, relocation, customs, cultural aspects of Canada, the US, and western Europe if you so wish