Pros
I've been a 3D artist at Wardog for almost 2 years now (I started in August of 2023). Over the course of my employment I've worked on many detailed and captivating projects, with varying art styles that I didn't think I’d be able to do. At times this has been challenging, but nowhere else have I been supported as well in my role than at Wardog. I am surrounded by other passionate, kind and helpful artists, if I ever have a question or problem all I have to do is simply reach out and converse. This is made infinitely easier as my fellow artists and I are all in the same office building. This in-kind has made me a more talented, passionate and communicative artist. I am better at my job than I ever thought I would be.
Speaking of the office building, it is perfect for our needs. Spacious, well designed, plenty of amenities including: numerous kitchens, meeting rooms and a gym/personal storage room, as well as bike lock ups. Whilst this isn't a review of Edinburgh itself, the fact the office is based here means it must be made part of the review as it is part of daily life. Edinburgh is a beautiful city that is a pleasure to live in, filled with green spaces and antique architecture, it is well worth a visit, and I'm lucky enough to live here permanently.
Permanently being the word, job security is often a stressful part of the games industry. You are hired, used up and then let go. I have never witnessed any such thing happen at Wardog, as long as you actually do your job, you will never fear being fired. You have everything you need to perform, supportive co-workers, powerful computers and a deluge of documentation and artistic resources. Even when you don't perform and you do underdeliver, you're not treated like a failure, an investigation is done into why whatever happened, happened, and we all collectively learn from the experience. I've messed up at times, but I've been given the benefit of the doubt, learnt from my mistakes and have become a stronger artist for it, who in turn makes less mistakes. These things combined I feel my position is very secure, and because of this I've been able to make a life here.
I've mentioned performance before in this review but I haven't mentioned what happens when you start performing well. Because when you perform well you are rewarded in kind. My first 2 promotions were within 6 months of each other purely because of how fast I was working on a certain project. It is a simple line of promotion at Wardog, if you work fast, and communicate well, you will be promoted. It's not complicated and it shouldn't be, there's no nepotism or sucking up to higher ups or competing with co workers for a limited amount of promotions. If you're doing well and your co-workers are doing well, everyone is making more money paying for their own deserved promotions.
Of course this line of career progression requires a board of directors/managers that actually pay attention/care about their staff, which luckily Wardog has. I speak to my boss daily, she's not squirrelled away in some office 3 floors above me on a floor I have no access to. This itself speaks more than anything I'm about to say because a lot of other companies don't have this, other artists out there rarely see the people that sign their paychecks. How can you trust your boss and feel comfortable in your role if you don't know them. At Wardog we are communicated with clearly and often, anything that we need to know, that concerns our projects, our jobs or the company is told to us the second it comes up. Even things we don't need to know are told to us sometimes, it's nice to know what's happening in the background, this kind of communication builds trust.
These aspects combined, I plan on spending a good portion of my career with Wardog, possibly my whole career if we maintain these core values. It is easily the best place I have ever worked.
-Angus Collins
Cons
The company dog farts alot.