MobyGames launches professional tools aimed at the gaming market

The new advancement focuses on alleviating the frustration experienced by professionals trying to manage their careers on generic job websites, which completely overlook the specifics of those working in game development. Managed by Atari, the data platform aims to distinguish itself from generalized services by offering a targeted space. Andreas Deptolla, president of Atari Europe, highlighted this industry need in an official statement.

"Ask any game professional which platform they use to manage their career, and the complaints will be the same — current solutions aren't tailored for this industry."

The service enters a free testing phase starting today. During the trial period, product manager Reece Denzel explained to the GamesIndustry.biz portal that the professional subscription will be free until August, with a monthly fee of $14.99 after the official launch. The business model mirrors the renowned IMDbPro, which is cinema-oriented, but the team assures that the structure has been built from scratch to focus on the specific needs of game developers.

In the basic and free package, users can verify their identity to detail their exact roles in the credits of projects they've worked on, specifying which illustrations they created or which voice-overs they performed. This is an excellent addition for increasing visibility for ground-level industry workers. On the other hand, the monthly fee will lock significant features behind a paywall, such as the visualization of market connection graphs, suggested salary ranges, and personalized job monitoring services. Charging set fees to workers during a time of sector recession and layoffs is a somewhat insensitive corporate decision, which could alienate those who most need help to re-enter the workforce.

The website's database has amassed a respectable history, with detailed records of over 350,000 titles, 1.3 million registered developers, and around 50,000 companies mapped.