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A Max to Grind

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Job

Posted 12-23-2011 at 11:04 AM by Wil
Seeing as I have a few hours to kill on the rail journey home, I think I'll take the opportunity to write that blog I've been meaning to create. In my last blog but one I explained that I'd just moved to a new home. The follow-up I never got round to was supposed to cover the reason I moved: my new job.

Not that I was going to be explicit and reveal what that job was. Anonymity isn't a requirement of the job, but there was far more fun to be had keeping quiet, or so I thought. I wanted to see people figuring it out, but only two or three of you ever even mentioned it to me. Some of you realized and never said a thing. Not that I expected everyone to be as excited or pleased as me, but I wanted some kind of feedback.

I reckon the questions on most people's minds are "What do you do?" and "How long have you been doing it?".

Since November last year I've been working for Just Add Water. Xavier and I had visited their old office in August, right between OddTours 3a and 3b, and I was invited back for a second visit. There I was offered the task of looking after the official website and Facebook page in my free time, from home. I visited the office every couple of months and answered JAW's questions about the game: Did this character need to be upgraded or are they never seen? Which icons appear in Stranger's inventory? Then I moved nearby (ten minutes' walk away) and started working in the office at the beginning of August. For five months my near-daily companions have included Glitch, tda and, of course, Stewart Gilray.

My job encompasses several things. I still work on the online communities, but I also do the filing, water the plants, and communicate with fans, job applicants, the press and other companies (including merchandise partners). I'm the health and safety officer, fire officer and I think first aider.

For Stranger's Wrath I had a few creative inputs. That's me playing in the original HD trailer (some of it still makes me cringe). I put together the unlockable extras, contributed to the trophies and decided where to place the easter eggs; Glitch and Stew had to veto some of my more insanely hard-to-find spots.

I expect there are other questions, so ask away. In fact, I have my own: How/when did you find out and what did you think? I look forward to reading your reactions that I feel thoroughly cheated out of.
Total Comments 30

Comments

Dynamithix's Avatar
Must be really nice working on something that you're a fan of.
Posted 12-23-2011 at 11:24 AM by Dynamithix

MeechMunchie's Avatar
I assumed you'd been adopted for some kind of PR role, Head of Community-cations or whatever, but I didn't realise you were actually helping to make the game.

It's almost like working for OWI, which was probably your dream when you joined. But yeah, that is pretty cool. Respec'.

So are you getting silver oddblobs or what?
Posted 12-23-2011 at 11:54 AM by MeechMunchie

Wings of Fire's Avatar
I became suspicious when
:
Coordinator at @JAWLtd
appeared on your twitter.

The penny dropped when you invited me round your house and it just so happened to be in the same Yorkshire village JAW was in.
Posted 12-23-2011 at 12:28 PM by Wings of Fire

Pilot's Avatar
Couldn't hold it in?
Posted 12-23-2011 at 01:18 PM by Pilot

STM's Avatar
Dude, are you like, living the dream working with Oddworld? I know I Would be. Lucky bastard, congrats!!
Posted 12-23-2011 at 01:48 PM by STM

DarkHoodness's Avatar
The coin dropped for me when you said you'd been helping with JAW's new website - Also you and Glitch always seemed to know each other well. Plus you live in the same area where JAW is based. It wasn't hard to put two and two together. :P

But still, I'm glad - You must really be living the dream.
Posted 12-23-2011 at 01:59 PM by DarkHoodness

STM's Avatar
I realised when I red this blog. Some people think I'm slow.

I love carpet, I love desk, I love lamp.
Posted 12-23-2011 at 02:44 PM by STM

Sekto Springs's Avatar
To those of you who didn't already know this, you are now aware of how insignificant you are within Wil's friend circle.
Posted 12-23-2011 at 02:53 PM by Sekto Springs

Jordan's Avatar
Woah, you work with JAW!? MAN THAT'S CRAZY.
Posted 12-23-2011 at 03:05 PM by Jordan

Bullet Magnet's Avatar
I saw it on your Facebook page and thought "say whaaat!?" But I only recently thought to ask.
Posted 12-23-2011 at 03:31 PM by Bullet Magnet

Manco's Avatar
Had my suspicions when I noticed how regularly you and Gilray would chat on Twitter. I think it was the PSNations podcast which confirmed the fact.
Posted 12-23-2011 at 03:38 PM by Manco

Nate's Avatar
I worked it out when you messaged me on Twitter from the wrong account.


But I suspected before that.
Posted 12-23-2011 at 04:32 PM by Nate

Dixanadu's Avatar
Awesome for them to employ a fan; the feedback is invaluable.
Posted 12-23-2011 at 06:43 PM by Dixanadu

T-nex's Avatar
I think i tried to ask into it once but got distracted... I actually dont remember if I ever successfully asked.
Posted 12-23-2011 at 11:29 PM by T-nex

Crashpunk's Avatar
Wil that's amazing! Congrats! ^_^

I just thought you were close to JAW because of the forums and attending every GameCity. I didn't know you work for them!
Posted 12-24-2011 at 02:22 AM by Crashpunk

Wil's Avatar
Thank you everyone. I was so worried about seeming boastful or arrogant, but this response has made me very relieved. Rest assured that I know exactly how much of a lucky bastard I am: to get a good job straight out of uni alone is jammy enough, let alone in a recession. It is more than a decade's dream come true.

@Pilot, essentially. More like I just couldn't be bothered not saying anything about it. I wanted everyone to realize the context of what I had to say.

@OddHunter, someone who pays as careful attention to Oddworld's web presence as you was found to figure it out. That's why I got you to take over the duty of reporting news on OddBlog, and you've never let me down.

@Nate, I believe it was actually Facebook. A comment has never been so rapidly deleted.

@Dix, my job is to be a fan guage. If I'm happy with what JAW are doing with Oddworld, the rest of the team can rest assured they're on the right course. This puts me in the weird position of representing the fans to the developers and the developers to the fans. Here's hoping I don't abuse that power.

@Jordan, shush, I know you've known for months. :P

@MeechMunchie, what the hell are silver oddblobs? I put it into Google and the only relevant thing that came up was this blog.
Posted 12-24-2011 at 04:06 AM by Wil

Nate's Avatar
I think he means the silver OWI logos under your username that we reserve for Inhabitants.
Posted 12-24-2011 at 04:42 AM by Nate

Wil's Avatar
Good question. Would it be greedy to have both 'Oddworld Administrator' and 'Just Add Water'? I think new members deserve to be aware of both.
Posted 12-24-2011 at 04:55 AM by Wil

Manco's Avatar
:
@OddHunter, someone who pays as careful attention to Oddworld's web presence as you was found to figure it out. That's why I got you to take over the duty of reporting news on OddBlog, and you've never let me down.
Aww, I’m blushing.


:
Good question. Would it be greedy to have both 'Oddworld Administrator' and 'Just Add Water'? I think new members deserve to be aware of both.
“Supreme Oddworld Fanbarometer”
Posted 12-24-2011 at 05:43 AM by Manco

MeechMunchie's Avatar
I still like "Head Of Communitycations". I suppose you could have have "Community Representative" or something.
Posted 12-24-2011 at 07:14 AM by MeechMunchie

MA's Avatar
that's fucking brilliant, i can't believe it. nice going, man!

now we can all bombard you with thousands of painfully detailed questions about JAW and SW.
Posted 12-24-2011 at 07:46 AM by MA

Wil's Avatar
Of course! I'll try to maintain a healthy balance between transparent earnesty and hilarious bullshit.
Posted 12-24-2011 at 07:57 AM by Wil

OANST's Avatar
It was pretty obvious even to me, and I barely ever come here anymore. Congratulations, though. I'm glad that you've gotten into a company and business that obviously means a lot to you.
Posted 12-24-2011 at 11:35 AM by OANST

Jordan's Avatar
Congrats by the way.
Posted 12-24-2011 at 01:14 PM by Jordan

Havoc's Avatar
Kind of suspected it when you and the JAW folks were getting a little too co-workery on each other on Twitter, just didn't think to flat out ask :P

Very cool job though, congrats. Our plan to infiltrate the development of new Oddworld games has worked great so far! Mwhahaha
Posted 12-25-2011 at 01:22 AM by Havoc

Wings of Fire's Avatar
Make sure they make a Nod's Oddysee.
Posted 12-25-2011 at 06:11 AM by Wings of Fire

MA's Avatar
am i the only one that didn't have a fucking clue?

yes. yes i am.
Posted 12-25-2011 at 04:47 PM by MA

enchilado's Avatar
I had no idea. How awesome.
Posted 12-25-2011 at 08:40 PM by enchilado

Glitch's Avatar
Woah, hold on, you work at JAW too?!
Posted 01-01-2012 at 10:08 AM by Glitch

Xavier's Avatar
I never suspected this...

I knew

Anyway nice going man, we were right to build this little TOL thing.
Posted 01-02-2012 at 09:45 PM by Xavier

 

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