Clearing up some things about the concept art

Post by **King of Creation** » Wed May 23, 2007 4:36 pm

Why would he need immigration papers? If all he's doing is concept art, he can technically just freelance from Azerbaijan or wherever. If he needed to come to the US, all he'd have to do is get a temporary visa or something.

VasikkA · Post by **VasikkA** » Wed May 23, 2007 4:38 pm

But he could be a terrorist!

Brother None · Post by **Brother None** » Wed May 23, 2007 4:40 pm

King of Creation wrote:If all he's doing is concept art, he can technically just freelance from Azerbaijan or wherever.

Can you legally hire someone as a freelance worker from Azerbeijan, like that? I doubt it. I wouldn't doubt it's possible for US-Europe, or US-Canada, but I can well imagine there are laws against that for countries like Azerbeijan.

Post by **King of Creation** » Wed May 23, 2007 4:42 pm

Yeah...it happens all the time. It's just freelance after all, you don't have to really hire them. You just pay them if they produce things for you. It's not like he'd be on salary....just like with Craig Mullins. Beth says "We want this and we'll give you x amount of money." and then the artist produces it and ships it to Beth. It's just like buying something from a store overseas.

Brother None · Post by **Brother None** » Wed May 23, 2007 4:43 pm

Well, uhm...then I have no more answers.

Ask Pete.

Mechanurgist · Post by **Mechanurgist** » Wed May 23, 2007 4:49 pm

Craig Mullins wrote: I was not familiar with the Fallout universe and had trouble "getting it" at first.

I can tell that Bethesda loves the Fallout franchise because they hired someone who had never even seen the game. Good management call.

Craig Mullins wrote: ...cheaper this way.

And they're apparently sparing no expense to make it happen.

Urizen · Post by **Urizen** » Wed May 23, 2007 4:50 pm

i live in norway, and i used to freelance for an american company, as a translator. no hassle, no paperwork, nothing. and i bet it's even more lax in Azerbaijan

Brother None · Post by **Brother None** » Wed May 23, 2007 4:55 pm

Urizen wrote:i live in norway, and i used to freelance for an american company, as a translator. no hassle, no paperwork, nothing. and i bet it's even more lax in Azerbaijan

Like I said, Europe is different. It doesn't matter how lax it is in Azerbaijan, the question is "Does the IRS accept that you hired someone from Azerbaijan on a freelance basis?" KoC says yes, so I guess so...

...so ask Pete for an explanation.

Mechanurgist · Post by **Mechanurgist** » Wed May 23, 2007 5:02 pm

Two good reasons why this might not happen:

1. It's a risk for the artist. If all the artist gets is a "cheque is in the mail" promise there's a chance he might not get paid at all. Game companies not paying employees? Unheard of! Foreign income is also often restricted in the non-western world. There are currency controls, strange tax laws, criminal laws against "foreign interference" (cf. foreign charities in Russia) which could land an artist in jail or worse.

2. It's a risk for the company. If they send a cheque and artist doesn't deliver, they have no recourse without a contract. Even with a contract it might be legal hell, and completely unprofitable, to pursue a claim in a foreign legal system. You'd also have to invest time/effort/money into understanding contract law and its repercussions in Countries XYZ. Then there's corruption, which is insanely high in the former Soviet republics.

Finally, it's just simpler to hire an American. There's no shortage of artists in the US.

aries100 · Post by **aries100** » Wed May 23, 2007 5:02 pm

Urizen wrote:i live in norway, and i used to freelance for an american company, as a translator. no hassle, no paperwork, nothing. and i bet it's even more lax in Azerbaijan

Mu guess would be that there probably is an an agreement between the Norwegian government and the US government that says that hiring Norwegians (to work for US firms) are Ok. I think there is an agreement between the EU and the US as well.

I think the guy from Azerbaidjan;antig, actually wanted to work at Bethesda Game Studios in Maryland, USA. And that would have meant issuing a green card to him, a lot of paperwork etc. etc.

I agree, however that Natig's paintings or concept arts are much more interesting than Craig Mullin's work is, and even has the Fallouty feel in a much poignant or salient way than any of Craig Mullins concept art (for Fallout 3, anyway)

However, if Bethesda could hire a freelancer living in Hawai, they could also surely hire a freelancer living in Azerbaijan.

Post by **King of Creation** » Wed May 23, 2007 5:09 pm

Ok..I think you guys are missing the point. You don't have to hire them. It's like ordering something from a specialty store, or commissioning a jeweler to make a fancy engagement ring for your girlfriend. You just tell the person what you want, they make it, and then sell it to you. Simple as that.

VasikkA · Post by **VasikkA** » Wed May 23, 2007 5:11 pm

Brother None wrote:Natig Ã¢â‚¬Å“DefontenÃ¢â‚¬Â� Aghayev is from Azerbaijan, and can not get an American green card. Bethesda, like many American companies, does not employ people that need immigration papers to get to the USA, for reasons of reliability.

He did apply:

two or three days ago I emailed this and some other pics to Bethesda Softworks. Here's what they answered:

Thank you for your interest in Bethesda Softworks.

We have received your resume and are reviewing your background and experience against current openings. Should we feel that an interview is appropriate, we will contact you at our earliest opportunity. Otherwise, your resume will be kept on file and when an opportunity of mutual benefit rises, you will be contacted.

Again, we are glad you considered us during your employment search. On behalf of Bethesda Softworks best with your employment endeavors.

Human Resources

Bethesda Softworks

As you can see it was "thank you for cooperation" type of answer In other words (I think) that means "No". Well at least I know that they refused Leonard Boyarsky also (of course I'm not as good as Leo but nevertheless)

It could be that he wasn't the type of artist they were looking for or that they prefer someone with a reputation or previous experience of commercial games. I mean, it's a nice pic but it's not exactly a 'ZOMG!! MUST HIRE!' picture. How does Bethesda's answer spell out an immigration/reliability issue, anyway?

Brother None · Post by **Brother None** » Wed May 23, 2007 5:22 pm

VasikkA wrote:How does Bethesda's answer spell out an immigration/reliability issue, anyway?

It doesn't, that's from other Q&As. Ask Briosafreak.

Mechanurgist · Post by **Mechanurgist** » Wed May 23, 2007 6:04 pm

King of Creation wrote:Ok..I think you guys are missing the point. You don't have to hire them. It's like ordering something from a specialty store, or commissioning a jeweler to make a fancy engagement ring for your girlfriend. You just tell the person what you want, they make it, and then sell it to you. Simple as that.

You obviously haven't lived outside the western world, have you? It's not simple when it's the third world with different - sometimes non-existent - laws. That "simple" transaction you're describing has a foundation of law, remuneration, trust, enforcement and consequence that often doesn't exist in other places.

DaC-Sniper · Post by **DaC-Sniper** » Wed May 23, 2007 6:34 pm

please put more Bethesda hate in your arguments.

Thanks

But seriously, they refused Leonard Boyarsky as artist?

Damn. Bethesda is just too stupid and arrogant.

PsychoSnipers · Post by **PsychoSnipers** » Wed May 23, 2007 6:53 pm

DaC-Sniper wrote:please put more Bethesda hate in your arguments. Thanks

But seriously, they refused Leonard Boyarsky as artist? Damn. Bethesda is just too stupid and arrogant.

Indeed, if ANYONE knows fallouts art is him.

Wait, he IS Fallouts art.......

VasikkA · Post by **VasikkA** » Wed May 23, 2007 6:53 pm

DaC-Sniper wrote:But seriously, they refused Leonard Boyarsky as artist? Damn. Bethesda is just too stupid and arrogant.

Not if you think from Todd's or Emil's point of view. It would be kinda awkward to have one of ze founding fathers of Fallout aboard the team in a non executive position.

Brother None · Post by **Brother None** » Wed May 23, 2007 6:55 pm

DaC-Sniper wrote:But seriously, they refused Leonard Boyarsky as artist? Damn. Bethesda is just too stupid and arrogant.

Yes, the did. Remember this?

Shack: Have you spoken at all to the original creators of the franchise--who from what I know already had less complete involvement with Fallout 2 than with the first game--in any capacity?
Pete Hines: We have, on an individual basis. Some of those folks have contacted us on varying levels, whether it's a "Hey, good luck" or a job inquiry or what have you. Not really formally though, no. Again, it's one of those things where I have a lot of respect for those guys. I was a huge Black Isle fan, and all those RPGs coming out of Interplay at the time. I loved Baldur's Gate, Fallout. It was fantastic. Way back when, when I wrote for the Adrenaline Vault, Interplay was one of my companies. I used to cover all their stuff and play everything they put out. I still have my shrinkwrapped copies of Baldur's Gate and Planescape. They did great stuff for which I will always have tremendous respect. But at the same time, if we're going to move forward, we're really going to have to move forward. We can't just say, "Well, let's ask these guys what they think." As Fallout fans and guys who make roleplaying games and have for over a decade, we have pretty good ideas about what we want to do and how to do it.

Now we know what "a job inquiry or what have you" was, no?

PsychoSnipers · Post by **PsychoSnipers** » Wed May 23, 2007 6:57 pm

VasikkA wrote:
DaC-Sniper wrote:But seriously, they refused Leonard Boyarsky as artist? Damn. Bethesda is just too stupid and arrogant.
Not if you think from Todd's or Emil's point of view. It would be kinda awkward to have one of ze founding fathers of Fallout aboard the team in a non executive position.

Not if they intend to make a good game.

Oh wait, they dont, disregard.

DaC-Sniper · Post by **DaC-Sniper** » Wed May 23, 2007 7:07 pm

he would be probably be the only guy, who would know the Fallout settings completely, so they maybe feared that he knew too much and they would have had problems explaining to him, why firstpersonview and realtime combat is sooo much better than that old shit.

at least, that would make sense to me.

yes, Kharn, i have this things in my back of my head around the corner, thanks for memory refreshing.