I had promised some more details about the new job. 

I’ve written two whole posts over the last 3 or 4 months (slight exaggeration) and despite my absence from the online world, I got a record 3,755 comments (slight exaggeration), and have converted 16 people over to Staunch Conservatism (major exaggeration).  I’d say that’s a win by anyone’s count, especially if anyone is bad at math.

In a nutshell, I left my IT Director job at a nationwide ISP to focus on a single discipline to become Network Manager for a gaming company.  I’m in my second week.  While the move made me a little anxious for a few reasons, any trepidation or concerns I had about the change have been completely replaced with confident resolve and verve.  I didn’t just pick “resolve” and “verve” because of their preponderance of the letter “V”; they directly define my attitude towards the recent shift.

My new company makes a few games that game players recognize (Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Jade Empire, Sonic Chronicles, Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter Nights, etc), but our entire studio here in Austin is devoted to a game that’s not even released yet, and won’t be until some time next year: Star Wars: The Old Republic.

(click to embiggify)

Now, I’m not what you’d call a game player.  I’ve never played an MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) game before, but I have heard of them.  I know a little about World of Warcraft and have quite a few friends who play it regularly.   This new Star Wars-based MMO is set roughly 3000-4000 years before the movies and chronicles a tumultuous conflict between the Jedi and the Sith.  If you go to swtor.com and view some of the trailers, it really is fascinating to watch the story develop.

About the only games I play with any true passion are Guitar Hero related… and a few others.  Some of my favorites are Treasure Planet, Simpsons Hit and Run, and Simpsons Road Rage.  Singstar is fun in a group.

For a great ~12 minute overview of the game, including some video and cool effects, you can watch an interview with our two GM’s.  Even just the first 3-4 minutes is worth catching some of the sequences and characters, including a juicy trailer.

So, I’ll be doing a bunch of really cool networking stuff to support a really cool game.  I mean, hey.  It’s STAR WARS. (vocal emphasis performed by James Earl Jones)

The company itself is amazing, with high-caliber talent lining all the hallways, engaging artwork and storyboards getting tons of focused attention, sound effects studios colorfully enhancing the aura of the place, and uber-smart programmers passionate about their work.  I particularly enjoy a smorgasbord of benefits, such as, well, a smorgasbord.  Breakfast is provided every morning.  Healthy breakfast.  The commute is 5-7 minutes shorter.  Great vacation policies.  Free games.  Affordable healthcare.  Plenty of appropriate equipment and tools to do my job.  Covered parking.  Did I mention free breakfast (and breakfast tacos on Fridays)?

It’s difficult to leave some things behind from my old job.  You know, like clout.  History.  Being “the guy” who built a lot of what we had.  An Old-Timer, so to speak.  I had the familiarity of environment and a solid reputation.  I had control over most everything IT-related and it was enjoyable being on top.  Now, however, I’m the New Guy.  The outsider.  Someone who has to be brought up to speed and ask all the questions. 

I’ve always been a Star Wars fan… and now I get to experience it like never before.