UGT and the Gleemax Advisory Board...

[Umbran]

The A-list has some seriously heavy hitters. Color me impressed.

The search for a fan-member for the board, however, leaves me seriously unimpressed. I am sorry to be critical, Mr. Rouse, but to me the artificial scarcity smacks more of circus and hype than it does a legitimate search for candidates.

The methodology leaves me with similar misgivings. It looks rather like you're turning your search into a "reality TV" style event. Would WotC start a search for executive board members using short multiple-choice questionnaire? If that test turns out to be trivia, I am going to be seriously underwhelmed. For the sort of role you're talking about, adaptability and learning are far more valuable than current trivia knowledge.

Mind you, I am unable to take part - I'm committed to a gaming event that will keep me away from the internet for the weekend. So, you may dismiss me as "sour grapes" if you wish.

 

[Merkuri]

I'm probably going to take the test just because I can, but I doubt I'd make it all the way to the end. My gaming experience is very limited to D&D and I get the picture that they're looking for more "well-rounded" gamers, like people who are also into board and trading card games.

 

[Mark CMG]

Everyone should take the test. It would be great to see another EN Worlder, in addition to Monte, that is, on the Advisory Board.



And my apologies for the use of the term "Fatties" earlier. Despite the fact that it would include myself, it was a bit insensitive. I should have opted for the word "Chubboes."

 

[Scott_Rouse]

The A-list has some seriously heavy hitters. Color me impressed.

The search for a fan-member for the board, however, leaves me seriously unimpressed. I am sorry to be critical, Mr. Rouse, but to me the artificial scarcity smacks more of circus and hype than it does a legitimate search for candidates.

The methodology leaves me with similar misgivings. It looks rather like you're turning your search into a "reality TV" style event. Would WotC start a search for executive board members using short multiple-choice questionnaire? If that test turns out to be trivia, I am going to be seriously underwhelmed. For the sort of role you're talking about, adaptability and learning are far more valuable than current trivia knowledge.

Mind you, I am unable to take part - I'm committed to a gaming event that will keep me away from the internet for the weekend. So, you may dismiss me as "sour grapes" if you wish.

You are entitlied to your opinion. I know nothing of the motivations behind the test and won't loose sleep over it. As long as there are two non-industry "gamer of the street" types on thebaord and people are ahppy with them and what ever they do then I really don't care how we sellect them.

In terms of tests we have one to hire game designers in our R&D department. Take it some time. Here is the link. Design Test

BTW please call me Scott. I find Mr. Rouse too formal and somewhat condesending.

Have fun at your gaming event

 

[theredrobedwizard]

Part of the prize is airfair to GenCon Indy... too bad that if I win, that's a round trip ticket from Indianapolis to Indianapolis.

Either way, sounds interesting, but I have a history of doing poorly on tests designed to test my knowledge of "theory".

-TRRW

 

[Umbran]

BTW please call me Scott. I find Mr. Rouse too formal and somewhat condesending.

Sorry, Scott. I often use the formal form when speaking about or to industry professionals, to show some respect for their position. Doubly so when I may be disagreeing with them. I often refer to Mr. Cook and Mr. Gygax, too, so I certainly wasn't intending to condescend. But, if you prefer Scott, I'll try to remember to use it in the future

 

[Haffrung Helleyes]

Gleemax

OK, this is just a rant, but is it too late to change the name of this new website to something other than Gleemax? Almost anything else would be better.

Nice list of advisors, by the way!

Ken

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

You are entitlied to your opinion. I know nothing of the motivations behind the test and won't loose sleep over it. As long as there are two non-industry "gamer of the street" types on thebaord and people are ahppy with them and what ever they do then I really don't care how we sellect them.

In terms of tests we have one to hire game designers in our R&D department. Take it some time. Here is the link. Design Test

BTW please call me Scott. I find Mr. Rouse too formal and somewhat condesending.

Have fun at your gaming event

The Design Test seems to be a good one; the responses would demonstrate the applicant's knowledge, analytical thinking, creativity and the ability to be constructively critical.

Obviously we haven't seen the test for the advisory board, but 30 multiple choice questions in 30 minutes doesn't sound like the best way to be sure to get a good sampling of a persons ability to be thoughful, articulate and in touch with the larger gaming community, something I would assume you would be looking for in the interview portion of the "competition."

The Design Test requires some real effort. You know that people willing to take on the challenge of it and who answer things well would probably be people who would work hard at other opportunities. I hope the second portion of the challenge given to the top scorers will look more like that test and will give better insight into how well the candidates might be able to represent the gaming community on the advisory panel.

 

[F5]

Look at how the WotC Setting Search played out...everyone and their monkey was encouraged to submit for round 1. Round 2 and round 3 were where the applicants were required to show some real talent, and weeded out any possible ineligible candidates that made it through round 1 on a fluke.

I see that same sort of thing happening here. Round 1 is a game, a fun event where everyone with an internet connection (and who is connected enough to the online gaming community to know about it, which is an important factor) can give it a shot. The real winnowing happens in the next stages...

Also, I'll say I'm impressed by the Board members, too. I just WISH I could get past the silly name factor. I did some research on the MtG site, I know who Gleemax is now, and I even admit that the card and running gag are pretty funny. It's just that having a link to a site called "Gleemax" on my firefox bookmarks makes me cringe, a little.

 

[Hussar]

Having hired people for companies from time to time, I know how that goes. Take a fairly random sample of a manageable number of resumes and chuck the rest in the garbage.

Ok, that's exaggerating, but, hey, when you get 2000 applications for 10 positions, how exactly do you start to weed them out?