I'd look at the whole picture, not just the excitement of a new and shiny job. The environment and people and benefits count for as much or more as the salary.

If you're that happy at the current job then why leave?

Just curious.

I'm not really able to cut down on my income, so that wouldn't be an issue - if they can't offer the same, I have to take a pass. I'm pretty sure that I would be very happy working in videogames - I've met several of the guys there and they're very cool... but then again, as I haven't tried it yet, it would be a risk. I know I'm good in what I'm doing now. Seeing that they actually got back to me, I must've made an impression the last time around, so I would probably have a good chance of landing this now. Augh. Anyway, I already accepted a meeting, so we'll see how it goes.

The last time I went through this, I had to decide to let videogames go as a career, I was so torn. It's a weird feeling, having to re-open that door. At the same time it's something I really want.

Thin_J, I'm just so into games. If I was any younger, I'd be dead-set on games as a career. But my current skillset is in marketing and the only job which fits me in the game industry is producing. And as Gorilla said, there aren't that many openings in Finland - although more than Remedy, certainly.

Gorilla: oh, Nokia's shed some jobs over its time. I'm currently working with a global company, not headquartered in Finland.

Isn't Pandemic (Mercenaries) and DICE (Battlefield) over there? I know for a fact I/O (Hitman and Freedom Fighters) is there too.

Close enough.

Yeah the videogame industry goes boom/bust so if your happy at a stable job I would stick at it. I use to work at Sony interactive and they dropped staff (producers, QA, Dev's etc) like nothing every now and then. I have landed ar nice job with a HUGE stable company and even if I have to "work" instead of play games and such I am much happier.

Pick Stablity over fun factor anyday.

Find out if you can do any informational interviews to learn a little bit more about what you would be doing in the games industry, without having to commit.

Wow, it's not often an opportunity like that comes up and if you were younger or just starting your career (like after a university course or something) i would say take it. If i were you though, i'd probably stick with the comfortable job.

HOWEVER(!), sometimes in life you have to lead with your heart and if you feel that the job is perfect for you and you're willing to give it 110% then go for it. On the flipside of the coin, now's the perfect time in your life to try something like this - you have skillsets and are of a maturity that is looked for in many industries, even if this games gig washes you up in a year or two you will still be able to get back into the rest of the rat race jobs out there with no problems.

Good luck

There's something to be said about keeping work and play separate. I wouldn't want to take something that I enjoy and start burdening it with deadlines and budgets and other business pressures.

a good job with people you like and financial rewards is hard to beat.

However, it sounds like you're being tugged in the direction of the videogame job because its more a dream than an ambition. I realize I'm putting words in your mouth, but you keep refuting the facts of your great situation now by saying, "yeah, but its VIDEOGAMES." I'd be loath to give anyone the advice of passing on a dream. I agree with Duoae above (second time in as many threads): you're of an age where taking a chance is actually pretty safe. If you take pains to burn no bridges, you could always try out your dream job, and if its not what you want, talk to the company you're with now, or something similar with another company. The reality is, that while jobs like you're in now aren't common, they aren't once-in-a-lifetime things, either.

Of course, Yellow5 makes the job sound pretty unappealing from a gamer's standpoint, and he's the only one who's offered such details. Obviously look long and hard at what you'd be doing; maybe even shadow for a few days while taking vacation from your current job?

Taking chances like this only get harder as you get older. I say follow the dream, or you'll regret it for a very long time.

If its not, in fact, a dream, then I'd side with the "keep the good thing you have" contingent.

I know a lot of people working in the game industry. It seems overrated IMHO. Like someone else said, the people/environment you work in is more important.

Spam!

If it were me I'd definitely stick to the rewarding job, then come home after work and play games. Short of being a creative director, I can see no reason why working at a gaming company could offer anything better than what you already have.

I used to think I wanted to get a job in the game industry, but I've realized that it's the playing of games that I love, not so much the working to creating them. That's not to say I wouldn't take a job making them, but if I were in a job like the one you currently have, I'd probably stay where I was.

If you can swing it so that you could come back to your current job if things don't work out, or if you think it's worth it even if you can't, I say follow your dream. You only live once and all that jazz.