Bye bye microsoft
by Jason Swearingen · 03/01/2006 (9:34 am) · 18 comments
As some of you know, I've been working at Microsoft for the last 6 years, a fairly long time in IT years :)
Last week I gave my boss notice that I'm quitting, so I guess there is no turning back now :P
Some of my friends think I'm a bit crazy, as they rightly mention that a lot of people would kill for the job that I'm "throwing away", but we all should have asperations for greater things, mine just happen to not include msft :)
tgb
my work on a .NET wrapper of tgb (aka: "tgb.net") is being put on hold until my move (see last few blogs) is over, so my appologies to those dreaming of a nice .NET interface.
Currently tgb.net works, but is ported to only tgb v1.1a1, and is a straight-translation of the tgb torquescript interface, not a .NET conforming sdk. sexing it up is the work scheduled for later this year, after i hire a few people to help out with my projects :)
Last week I gave my boss notice that I'm quitting, so I guess there is no turning back now :P
Some of my friends think I'm a bit crazy, as they rightly mention that a lot of people would kill for the job that I'm "throwing away", but we all should have asperations for greater things, mine just happen to not include msft :)
tgb
my work on a .NET wrapper of tgb (aka: "tgb.net") is being put on hold until my move (see last few blogs) is over, so my appologies to those dreaming of a nice .NET interface.
Currently tgb.net works, but is ported to only tgb v1.1a1, and is a straight-translation of the tgb torquescript interface, not a .NET conforming sdk. sexing it up is the work scheduled for later this year, after i hire a few people to help out with my projects :)
About the author
#3
03/01/2006 (10:19 am)
So, where are you planning to work now?
#4
I wouldn't worry too much about your friends...
I believe there is a stigma we have been fighting against. In my experience there are very few people in the retail software market that understand or are even aware of the casual and indie game markets. Many hardcore gamers and developers have spent too much time looking down their noses at 'shareware' games to realize the potential of casual/indie games and online distribution. As the indie movement becomes more successful, established, and professional we are starting to earn peoples respect (or at least their attention).
The way I look at it, we don't really need to convince anyone that what we are doing makes sense. Leave the pitches to retail developers and their publishers market analysis. The trade off is that the responsability for the future of indie development falls on the shoulders of us indies. We have a grand vision but only time and effort will prove us out.
I was at the GDC some years ago where I heard these guys were leaving their publisher and taking their engine with them to sell for $100 a pop online to whoever wanted it. What a bunch of crazy bastages they were, eh?
-Unk
03/01/2006 (10:25 am)
Congrats on your new future Jason!I wouldn't worry too much about your friends...
I believe there is a stigma we have been fighting against. In my experience there are very few people in the retail software market that understand or are even aware of the casual and indie game markets. Many hardcore gamers and developers have spent too much time looking down their noses at 'shareware' games to realize the potential of casual/indie games and online distribution. As the indie movement becomes more successful, established, and professional we are starting to earn peoples respect (or at least their attention).
The way I look at it, we don't really need to convince anyone that what we are doing makes sense. Leave the pitches to retail developers and their publishers market analysis. The trade off is that the responsability for the future of indie development falls on the shoulders of us indies. We have a grand vision but only time and effort will prove us out.
I was at the GDC some years ago where I heard these guys were leaving their publisher and taking their engine with them to sell for $100 a pop online to whoever wanted it. What a bunch of crazy bastages they were, eh?
-Unk
#5
03/01/2006 (11:13 am)
Jason, I'm sure I missed something but exactly what are you planning on doing? Where are you going? And why? 
#6
- Melv.
03/01/2006 (11:30 am)
I admire anyone with a dream and are prepared to put their best foot forward and go for it; the best of luck for the future.- Melv.
#8
@ Jason: Ah I see. That's exactly what I figured you were doing. Well good luck to you man. I guess we'll be hearing about your new projects soon then.
03/01/2006 (1:43 pm)
Thanks for the link Steve. @ Jason: Ah I see. That's exactly what I figured you were doing. Well good luck to you man. I guess we'll be hearing about your new projects soon then.
#9
PS: tge rocks :)
03/01/2006 (2:12 pm)
Thanks for all the words of support guys, I will definatly let you all know how this crazy trip turns out... hopefully with a few indie titles being published :)PS: tge rocks :)
#11
03/01/2006 (3:00 pm)
There is no profit without risk. I think it sounds cool. Even when I was in civil service I bounced around from base to base etc. I think the change is good for everyone. And as long as you didn't burn your bridges your in good shape. 
#12
03/01/2006 (4:33 pm)
Good luck Jason! Here's hoping that the road ahead is a smooth one for you.
#13
you are crazy. do you know how many people would kill to work at micromachines. sure, the sales have been in decline for the last decade, but that's when you just gotta ride it out. well, it's your life. but if i worked there i would never quit. anyway. so. since you won't be working there anymore. can you tell us? how do they make them so small and still with so much detail?
EDIT: oops, i thought you said micro machines, not microsoft. :P
well, it's not like you won't have a million other options to choose from after working for 6 years at microsoft.
welcome to the not exactly privileged but definitely full of passion 'i quit my really great day job to make games' club. :) while it's stupid to completely quit a day job of some kind while working to make games(unless you live off of saving, which i did for a while there)... it's really brave to quit that really great job that you earn lots of money from but which honestly requires so much out of you that you can never really focus on working on your dreams. it's scary and it sucks when you don't have what you're are used to having, but it's reward is well worth it, even if it means that in the end you don't have to say 'i wish i had at least tried' cause you did. :) good luck.
03/01/2006 (6:20 pm)
@Jasonyou are crazy. do you know how many people would kill to work at micromachines. sure, the sales have been in decline for the last decade, but that's when you just gotta ride it out. well, it's your life. but if i worked there i would never quit. anyway. so. since you won't be working there anymore. can you tell us? how do they make them so small and still with so much detail?
EDIT: oops, i thought you said micro machines, not microsoft. :P
well, it's not like you won't have a million other options to choose from after working for 6 years at microsoft.
welcome to the not exactly privileged but definitely full of passion 'i quit my really great day job to make games' club. :) while it's stupid to completely quit a day job of some kind while working to make games(unless you live off of saving, which i did for a while there)... it's really brave to quit that really great job that you earn lots of money from but which honestly requires so much out of you that you can never really focus on working on your dreams. it's scary and it sucks when you don't have what you're are used to having, but it's reward is well worth it, even if it means that in the end you don't have to say 'i wish i had at least tried' cause you did. :) good luck.
#14
and no back up plan... except to make a lot of cash! does that count? ;)
03/01/2006 (8:44 pm)
yeah, i hope this road will be a good one, and no worries about burning my bridges... i nuked them :Pand no back up plan... except to make a lot of cash! does that count? ;)
#15
i just passed by. I am glad to hear you are coming to Thailand(as i am a Thai).
if you ever come to Chiang Mai which is one of the largest touriusm city in thailand.
I will be glad to help you get aroung.
game division ,CMD works
Aun :)
03/02/2006 (2:18 am)
hi Jasoni just passed by. I am glad to hear you are coming to Thailand(as i am a Thai).
if you ever come to Chiang Mai which is one of the largest touriusm city in thailand.
I will be glad to help you get aroung.
game division ,CMD works
Aun :)
#16
My last one was fairly minor, it involved getting the bos a Dilbert mouse mat "Avoid criticism, do nothing" and calling him the Scarlet Pimpernell and Lord Lucan. You had to be there.
03/02/2006 (2:56 am)
lol, mind telling us how you nuked your bridges?My last one was fairly minor, it involved getting the bos a Dilbert mouse mat "Avoid criticism, do nothing" and calling him the Scarlet Pimpernell and Lord Lucan. You had to be there.
#17
03/02/2006 (11:31 am)
Welcome to the scary world of the fulltime indie game developer! :) No, actually it's just as certain as any "corporate" job (ok, maybe Microsoft actually is a pretty safe job). But for anyone not working at Microsoft... oh you know what I mean! Looking forward to playing your games.
#18
And Jason, thanks for the kind words.. i only hope that I can one up little gods :)
@Aun: cool thing, i will keep in touch with you. So far, I know one guy doing dev work in Thailand.. it'll be good to know more :)
03/09/2006 (3:44 pm)
I'll mention how I nuked the bridges after I (hopefully) reap the associated rewards... I actually dont know if I have enough guts to pull the fire trigger :)And Jason, thanks for the kind words.. i only hope that I can one up little gods :)
@Aun: cool thing, i will keep in touch with you. So far, I know one guy doing dev work in Thailand.. it'll be good to know more :)
Torque 3D Owner Tim Muenstermann
-Tim