[Laemtao]

Hi Steven, Bummer that u got shafted to part time, but hey.. the brighht side u get to work more on your stuf like u said. Gee i would hate to have to relocate to a whole different country each time to find better work. I myself have moved more than 6 times in 5 years haha.. If i have to move again, i'll scream! =P

Any thots of going back to Asia? U told me once that Optidigit has an Office in Kuala Lumpur. I wonder how are they doing these days. I have the option now to either go back to M'sia or stay on here in the US to try and get me a foot thru the door for 3D. But.. I seemed to have graduated at most inopportune moment. Competition is fierce for a job in the 3D scene. However.. i am trying to be optimistic and brush up my work as best i can. Well anyways, i also wish u and your family good health and good eats .. (We Chinese love our food hahaha.)

--------
Mo

[Steven Stahlberg]

Yes, me and my wife are both missing Asia very much (people sometimes ask me if she's Asian at this point, no she's swedish like me). And a big part of that of course is the glorious food...
But also the people; friendly, humble, polite...
We're definitely thinking of moving to Malaysia, to KL, sometime this year.. well hopefully anyway. And after that, who knows? France has come up in our discussions a few times.

[dr . bang]

Steven, have you ever consider going to Hawaii and work at Square? To me, it seems like you're in a perfect position for that job!

Also, isn't it bad to move around alot when you have children? This is a part i'm worry about for being a proffesional artist.

[ August 03, 2001: Message edited by: dr . bang ]

[ambient-whisper]

my parents moved a lot when i was a kid. its made a huge impact on me.

a.) it made me a little more open to take in new customs...

b.)learned a lot of languages...which is good and bad...
good because you can get around a little easier...but bad because you never learn one language well....and you kinda feel like an outcast everywhere you go...because if you go back to where you were born and speak the language...people can tell that your not from there...because of little quirks in teh way you talk...and the new place you live at ...people can tell your not from there..

this happened to me..
im originally from poland..and i speak polish fluently...but...if i go there my cousins tell me that they can spot that i dont live there....as my polish sounds different...
but i also have a little european accent ( thats not evident to me) but people can tell im european here..)

anyway..steve...i might see you at Siggraph

[Steven Stahlberg]

dr. bang, thanks! The next FF movie, if there is one, will take several years so I still have time to end up there, if they'll have me. I feel I can't really plan ahead right now more than a few months at a time anyway...

Moving around with kids - no problem, as long as you're going to a place where they speak the language. Fortunately the level of english is very high in Malaysia. Kids make friends so much faster than us adults too.

ambient-whisper - although I don't think I moved around as much, or as early, as you, I still don't feel at home anywhere now, not for long. After a few years that old urge to move on comes back...

Yes, I'm going to Siggraph, I've got some details about that on my site, hope I'll see you guys there.

[Vgta]

Hello, quick question. I have been admiring your work for quite sometime now, currently I live in Dallas texas and I have been looking to get a job in the Computer modeling side of things I was wondering if you know how the industry is down in Austin and if you have any tips to breaking in. I am working on new pieces for my portfolio and I am trying to figure out the best way to contact companies and those in charge of hiring, don't want to step on anyones toes you know.
Thanks in advance if you can answer this, if not then no problem either

[ August 03, 2001: Message edited by: Vgta ]

[Steven Stahlberg]

I work at Digital Anvil, and I've heard of one other gaming outfit here, Retro. Both have been through a tough spot and been downsized lately.
In the case of DA, last winter Microsoft bought it and fired Chris Roberts, shut down or outsourced all games except 2 and closed the VFX division (which I was in). They forced me down to part time, which is ok, I can work more on my own stuff; it's just annoying that I didn't have any choice, since I'm here (with my whole family) on a special work visa.

Retro, I recently heard, has gone through something similar. I don't know the details, sorry. I'm also not sure off the top of my head if there are any other game companies here, I think there may be one other but I can't remember it's name.

I'm not in the office right now, I'll be back in on Monday - then I'll ask the guys there your questions, and relay it to you.

Meanwhile, I've found this link here: http://www.3dark.com/archives/index.html
And this one: http://www.spicycricket.com/break_into_f.html

[Vgta]

Thank YOU SO MUCH, I appreciate your help a lot!!
Thank you for the links as well, hope everything works out for you and your family.
Well hey like you said, at least you can have more time to work on your own stuff.
Wish I could go to Siggraph this year, I believe you are going, are you not?
See you around.

[Steven Stahlberg]

Here's the info I promised:
In Austin there are these game companies:

Digital Anvil
Retro
Kalisto (kalisto.com)
Origin (heard they just got rid of a lot of people though)
Wolfpack Studios
Acclaim

Sorry I don't know any details about most of them. To contact them, I guess I'd just call the front desk and ask the receptionist what's a good procedure, who's in charge of hiring etc, then play it by ear from there, that's what I've done myself in the past in such situations.

(By the way, just heard that it's unlikely there will be another FF film, due to the bad reviews on this one. Hm.)

Steven

[dr . bang]

Steven, Square just signed another 3 movie contract with Columbia. The next one is gonna take a much shorter time to produce (2.5 years) and much less money to make to because all the R&D have already been done. And all the character will be fantasy like looking.

Before Square said that if FF:TSW make 35 millions on the first week, there will be a sequel, but i guess not, i have lost the will to live.

[Vgta]

Steve,
thank you again for all your help; and best of luck on your future endeavors.