Working in the gaming industry – a dream for many! For MMO players, a particular profession is especially appealing: that of the “all-powerful Game Master,” for instance in an MMORPG like WoW. But how does one actually get a foot in the door? And is the step inside really worth it? We took a closer look at Blizzard and World of Warcraft!
Becoming a Game Master is, depending on individual experience, loved or hated. They help when you’re stuck in a rock with a pixel again, recover your stolen gold, or respond in the negative case with monosyllabic, inappropriate answers.
Yes, sometimes you’d like to be a Game Master! You’re in the game for the entire workday and have an endless amount of fun! Or? We took a closer look at the profession!
The Tasks of a Game Master
- They help gamers when they have problems with the game and serve as a liaison between the company and the player.
- They keep an eye on the community and may assist with forum moderation.
- They help with payment and subscription issues and exchanges.
- They try to help with technical difficulties.
- Additionally, they punish bots, rude players, and cheaters.
What Qualifications Are Needed?
The profession of a Game Master is one of those jobs that is also appealing and possible for career changers. You may have been a nurse, banker, or florist – what’s important is that you possess the necessary character traits and talents.
- You should master the desired (foreign) language for the job orally and in writing at a native level and at least one other at a good level. English is particularly important as it is often the company language.
- You should be a team player.
- You should be good with people and demonstrate a certain sensitivity in handling them. You must be able to respond seriously even to cheeky questions and statements.
- Experience in customer support is advantageous.
Moreover, in the case of Blizzard, you must be willing to relocate abroad. Cork in Ireland or Paris in France are the European company headquarters. Hence, mastering English is also significant.
What is the Job of a Game Master like at WoW?
To get a more accurate insight, we asked someone who knows.
Marcus Winterscheid, who worked as a Game Master and later as Team Lead at Blizzard in Cork between 2010 and 2016, describes the work as “incredibly entertaining, charmingly creative, and almost stress-free – if you really enjoy working with people. For others who do not have that inclination, it can be quite stressful.”
The Good Sides of the Job
Besides knowing that you work for a company that you also greatly appreciate privately, there are other nice aspects. For example, that at Blizzard during anniversaries, employees receive small gifts.
Moreover, in most cases, there are permanent contracts. Unless there is an upcoming add-on: for these, additional “temps” are hired, who receive a contract limited to a few months. The Game Master itself, however, is designed as a permanent employee.
Just think of the Blizzard sword you receive after five years and the shield after ten years. Additionally, each year there is a unique Christmas gift that is not available for purchase anywhere. Can gimmicks be everything? No. Marcus also knows of other benefits to report.
“You participate in cool Christmas parties and summer festivals. At work, I find collaborating with diverse cultures very interesting. It’s like a melting pot of various people.
You are surrounded by other geeks and gamers who are just as passionate about gaming as you are. Generally, you work in a very passionate and creative environment; you feel the passion for and from Blizzard everywhere.”
So everything is fine at Blizzard?
Neither at Blizzard nor in the job as a Game Master is everything always great. Even those who love the job will notice the negatives. And people who are not suited for the work will be hit even harder by these points.
“As a German, you must of course be willing to relocate abroad and leave everything behind. Some may not like the shift work. In the past, there were night shifts, which have now been abolished – at least in Cork and Paris.
Of course, the work tends to repeat itself. You hear the same problems over and over, which can be very boring for Game Masters. Anyone who is also not good with people is lost here.
Otherwise, at Blizzard, you face the same problems as in any other company: sometimes the management makes strange decisions for you personally. At least in Cork, there are also no holidays. This means you can indeed spend Christmas at work.”
Do you want to apply? Then just do it!
Many believe that they do have the qualifications and passion, but still hesitate to just get started. But an application can’t hurt, and the contacts are not as terribly strict as some might think.
“After I applied, six months passed first. Just before Christmas, I unexpectedly had a phone interview. Everyone involved was very nice, themselves gamers, and very positive. It was conducted in German and English.
From then on, everything went very quickly: first a personal interview in Cologne, where they happened to be at the time. Then, after another phone call, I found myself in my car heading to Cork at the end of January.”
You can apply at Blizzard on their homepage. The same applies to other companies. If you are interested, just directly visit them and see if someone is being sought.
The application itself should be like any other application, free of spelling mistakes and well-structured, highlighting your persona and passion.
Relocating to another country seems difficult, but most companies offer a kind of relocation service: You then receive a certain amount that you can use for the move and in some cases, the first weeks in a hotel are covered if you haven’t found an apartment yet.
In nearly all larger, internationally operating companies, a relocation service helps with finding accommodation, registration, and typical bureaucratic matters.
If you have questions about this profession, feel free to ask them, and we will answer them to the best of our abilities!
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