ericzimmerman.com
HOME INFO DIGITAL GAMES NON-DIGITAL GAMES WRITINGS COURSES+TALKS

 

Welcome to the pretentiously low-tech and conspicuously out-of-date website by and about Eric Zimmerman. Who am I?


NEWS
I have been spending most of my free time these days slaving for Gamelab. But great things actually are happening at the company. We are self-publishing our work for the first time, and moving into multiplayer and console titles. We received a MacArthur grant last year to develop software that teaches game design by letting youth create games. And we're spinning out a nonprofit sister company called the Gamelab Institute of Play.

I really do need to finish this website. I have a couple years of essays to add, plus pages on my digital and non-digital games. Someday.

In my personal life, I almost became married in August 2006. Imagine that! I am currently super-single (brilliant women in the NY Metro area take note). Two recent snapshots.


THE BASICS
I am a game designer living in New York City. I help run Gamelab, a game development company I founded in 2000 with Peter Lee. I also teach, write, and agitate about games. On this site you’ll find information about my writings, syllabi, and game projects that I have helped to create.

Current projects include: running Gamelab (that’s my full-time concern), planning my next book project (perhaps a novel this time?), starting some new Decks of Stories books with Nancy Nowacek, writing a handful of short essays, and various unpublishable board game projects.


PREEPMTIVE Q&A
Because I am contacted a great deal on the following topics, read up before you email me:

If you want to work at Gamelab: Please email a cover letter and resume, along with links to any online portfolios, to jobs@gmlb.com. Understand that I am not the one that makes hiring decisions at Gamelab. The best advice I can give you is to communicate that you are passionate about making games and about working at Gamelab.

If you have questions about breaking into the game industry: The International Game Developers Association has compiled an excellent set of resources for you here.

If you have an idea for a game: For better or for worse, the game industry is not looking for ideas from unpublished designers. Game companies (including gameLab) are filled with creative people who come up with many, many ideas for games. Your best bet is to get involved in the industry to get a better sense of how things work (see above question).

Thanks for taking the time to visit.
-eric