If you like being paid to do extremely repetitive tasks, then programming would be your best bet.
What should you study if you wanted to work in the games industry?
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Wow- even harder than the music industry? Hmmm.....Makes me happy that I'm a musician, then!HSIAMetalKing post=18.75167.859229 said:
In answer to your OP, Nikita, I'd say get a degree in something like programming, because even if you don't get an immediate job programming games, you'll have valuable skills that'll let you get a decent job somewhere else in the meantime.
I'm from Estonia, and I'm 13, you don't see me saying go easy on the typos because I don't have English as my native language, and I'm so young.Nikita89 post=18.75167.858881 said:Awfully long title, but it pretty much sums up my question!
I'm going to finish school this year and I'm constantly thinking about which college to go to... My plan is to work in the games industry some day after finishing ^^!
The problem is, that there are soooo many different subjects and degrees to choose from... Of course there are the classics like informatics and design, but what else??
I figured that this would be a good place to ask, given that so many "competent" people are posting around hereMy local work agency (50 year old lady was supposed to advise me) didn't have a clue what I was talking about ^^
Btw, I'm from Germany, so go easy on the typos
Anyway, from some site (Gamesradar I think) I heard, that being a programmer sucks. You work long and hard days, and you never get famous. I would probably be design, since I'm designing as of now. Also just a concept artist (thinking of the story, the new gameplay additions there could be etc)
PS. Your grammar is awesome, but just don't type many !!s or ??s to the end of your sentence. One is enough.
From the thread's name, it ask what should you study, not him/her. Going to read the OP's post one more time though. Oh, he/she asked what he/she should study. I'm between 2 choices here. Describe what I would do, and make this thread more interesting, or should everyone just spew out the same words as everyone else?kanada514 post=18.75167.859972 said:
And I still think Peter Molyneux and CliffyB have the best jobs, regarding video games.
It's hard to break in because of the inherent risk involved. The game you're developing might not always turn out the way you want to.
For concept artists, monster and locale designs might not translate well from 2d drawing to 3d polygon models.
For designers, your ideas might be kiboshed by the programmers because it's either a)impossible from a technical standpoint or b) it could delay the schedule. This would suck, because you know deep in your heart that your idea can kick ass, but it can never be implemented.
For programmers, you're pretty much expected to take and combine everything together.
That's not all, sometimes your game might get cancelled out of the blue because it's not shaping up as good as the publishers thought it would be (there is a bigger financial risk if your studio itself will publish it). "If my game tanks, what next?" is a question that is in the minds of the participants of the gaming industry.
This post isn't meant to scare you though. If you ever get into the games industry and you'll make a studio of your own, please be the second Clover (heck, don't aim for that, SURPASS Clover). Oh, and this is from what I have read and observed. I am not a member of the games industry and I don't see me becoming one in the immediate future (though I'd like to be).
For concept artists, monster and locale designs might not translate well from 2d drawing to 3d polygon models.
For designers, your ideas might be kiboshed by the programmers because it's either a)impossible from a technical standpoint or b) it could delay the schedule. This would suck, because you know deep in your heart that your idea can kick ass, but it can never be implemented.
For programmers, you're pretty much expected to take and combine everything together.
That's not all, sometimes your game might get cancelled out of the blue because it's not shaping up as good as the publishers thought it would be (there is a bigger financial risk if your studio itself will publish it). "If my game tanks, what next?" is a question that is in the minds of the participants of the gaming industry.
This post isn't meant to scare you though. If you ever get into the games industry and you'll make a studio of your own, please be the second Clover (heck, don't aim for that, SURPASS Clover). Oh, and this is from what I have read and observed. I am not a member of the games industry and I don't see me becoming one in the immediate future (though I'd like to be).
Let me break this too softly, everyone in the video games industry works long hours and almost no one gets famous. If you are in it for the fame you will be waiting a long time. The "Kojima's" and "Cliffy B's" of the world are NOT the norm. I am trying to get into the industry because I love to do art and it is a good place to make money while doing art. My point is that I loved doing art FIRST. So, if you love doing art, programming, or the like and can apply it to the video games industry then you will do well. Otherwise you will get burnt out and hate life.Fraught post=18.75167.860039 said:Being a programmer sucks. You work long and hard days, and you never get famous. I would probably be design, since I'm designing as of now. Also just a concept artist (thinking of the story, the new gameplay additions there could be etc)
EDIT;;; What do you want to do exactlyNikita89 post=18.75167.858881 said:Awfully long title, but it pretty much sums up my question!
I'm going to finish school this year and I'm constantly thinking about which college to go to... My plan is to work in the games industry some day after finishing ^^!
The problem is, that there are soooo many different subjects and degrees to choose from... Of course there are the classics like informatics and design, but what else??
What do you want to do exactly...I have the answers.
I figured that this would be a good place to ask, given that so many "competent" people are posting around here
Btw, I'm from Germany, so go easy on the typos
I think something design related is the way to go, so look into degrees in that area. The game designers seem to get most of the "glamour" as it were.
Unless you want to do the programming, but then who wants to be a code monkey?
Oh and the tips about networking are very good. Connections matter more than the actual degree.
Unless you want to do the programming, but then who wants to be a code monkey?
Oh and the tips about networking are very good. Connections matter more than the actual degree.
Game Design-- http://www.sloperama.com/advice.html
I believe there is some programming there as well
I believe there is some programming there as well
In a way I envy you. You're one of those rare cases who love his job in the first place. For me, it's either you love your job or learn to love it.axia777 post=18.75167.860690 said:
There is a lot of advice on this thread, some is good, some is questionable allow me to sum up my thoughts:
1. Programming is one of the hardest areas of game design, but if you enjoy scripting and have a formal computer science degree you are more employable than any other type of game design team member that's out there. This also allows for eligibility in other computer science type positions. Expect to be paid well in the game's industry and have more of your eccentricities tolerated, Chatting with one of my friends from BioWare he was saying for every seventy artists and writers, they may get two programmers applying. Of course, programmers are paid more outside the game's industry. Some institutions do offer game programming majors, check the quality and course content of that major, if it's good, it's an asset, if it's bad, another major will serve your gaming ends better.
2. for writing and 2d art, degrees focusing on those skills are recommended. Maybe there is a games art or games writing class or series you can participate in. Writers and 2D artists almost always have to establish themselves outside the game's industry and will ultimately be working on a contractual basis. If you love it, do it, but if your goal is industry, these are not the best places to focus in on. You said you were into writing, start whipping out game scripts, writing reviews, doing journalism, keeping an industry specific blog. This builds your skills and portfolio and gets you involved in the community. This is a situation where who you know really is just as important as what you know.
3. 3D art, studying 3D effects and art at a design / art school is a great way to get into gaming in the current industry. lighters, riggers, modelers, texture artists, etc. all stem from 3D studies and I have yet to see a art position that doesn't say some 3D knowledge is an asset. As an additional bonus this trade tends to be heavy in the 2D arts.
4. Game design: This is not an easy gig to break into, I am a trained game designer and I have to say it's brutal. Firstly, no one really knows what you do, EA doesn't even hire "designers" game design falling into the producer (project management) role and a great deal of other companies can't distinguish between game design and level design. Secondly, the game design skills don't translate to many other areas.
5. level design: Not many training programs for level design, this is a comp sci / 3D degree kind of gig.
Ultimately, if you want into gaming, make games. That's it, design a Flash shooter, write a couple text based adventures, design a level or two using UTIII or Hammer, make some game models in a 3D program. This is the stuff you want to show potential employers, without it whatever degree you have isn't worth anything.
The program you study should ultimately give you the skills to put this kind of portfolio together, and leave with more than one item to put into it.
1. Programming is one of the hardest areas of game design, but if you enjoy scripting and have a formal computer science degree you are more employable than any other type of game design team member that's out there. This also allows for eligibility in other computer science type positions. Expect to be paid well in the game's industry and have more of your eccentricities tolerated, Chatting with one of my friends from BioWare he was saying for every seventy artists and writers, they may get two programmers applying. Of course, programmers are paid more outside the game's industry. Some institutions do offer game programming majors, check the quality and course content of that major, if it's good, it's an asset, if it's bad, another major will serve your gaming ends better.
2. for writing and 2d art, degrees focusing on those skills are recommended. Maybe there is a games art or games writing class or series you can participate in. Writers and 2D artists almost always have to establish themselves outside the game's industry and will ultimately be working on a contractual basis. If you love it, do it, but if your goal is industry, these are not the best places to focus in on. You said you were into writing, start whipping out game scripts, writing reviews, doing journalism, keeping an industry specific blog. This builds your skills and portfolio and gets you involved in the community. This is a situation where who you know really is just as important as what you know.
3. 3D art, studying 3D effects and art at a design / art school is a great way to get into gaming in the current industry. lighters, riggers, modelers, texture artists, etc. all stem from 3D studies and I have yet to see a art position that doesn't say some 3D knowledge is an asset. As an additional bonus this trade tends to be heavy in the 2D arts.
4. Game design: This is not an easy gig to break into, I am a trained game designer and I have to say it's brutal. Firstly, no one really knows what you do, EA doesn't even hire "designers" game design falling into the producer (project management) role and a great deal of other companies can't distinguish between game design and level design. Secondly, the game design skills don't translate to many other areas.
5. level design: Not many training programs for level design, this is a comp sci / 3D degree kind of gig.
Ultimately, if you want into gaming, make games. That's it, design a Flash shooter, write a couple text based adventures, design a level or two using UTIII or Hammer, make some game models in a 3D program. This is the stuff you want to show potential employers, without it whatever degree you have isn't worth anything.
The program you study should ultimately give you the skills to put this kind of portfolio together, and leave with more than one item to put into it.
There is one tip from me, instead of a college (university), try going to polytechnic (university of applied science). I'm just finishing my bachelor's thesis in Jyväskylä Polytechnic in network technology, and this is much better option than any computer education that our universities could offer. The practicality of the education is very helpful. Nothing but theory is not the nerds way.
I'm not sure what options Germans have, but in our school you get to choose your speciality. The options are network technology, automation systems (factory automation and such), electronics and programming. Programming has courses in game programming, and a lot of options if you want to really get study how to make games.
Because you are an EU citizen, you can always try to apply for a school outside Germany. Inside EU you can easily get to go to schools in other countries. If you find some country that has better education than your, go for it.
I'm not sure what options Germans have, but in our school you get to choose your speciality. The options are network technology, automation systems (factory automation and such), electronics and programming. Programming has courses in game programming, and a lot of options if you want to really get study how to make games.
Because you are an EU citizen, you can always try to apply for a school outside Germany. Inside EU you can easily get to go to schools in other countries. If you find some country that has better education than your, go for it.
The games industry is a broad field and as the scale grows the roles within it become more specialized. Getting a generic computer science degree and then submitting resumes will not get you a job in the industry.
Firstly you need to know WHAT role you want. Design is not an option when you're starting out, AFAIK very few people are hired as designers with no experience in industry.
I'm a programmer so i cant offer much insight into other areas but i can say that programming is very technical, you need good problem solving skills and a desire to challenge yourself. In addition you need tenacity, and a lot of it, when things get tough you need to stick it out. A strong maths background is also important. Most importantly you need experience in C++, it's a complicated language and not something you can learn on the job from scratch.
Regardless of what area you want to be in, you need to have a portfolio. Even for programming, if there is no industry experience, you need some kind of experience. It also shows you have a real passion for it.
I think that making flash games is not the best way in, it can work. There is basically two approaches to the programming portfolio. You can make a small scale game that is very polished to show that you understand whats involved in creating a finished piece of software. Alternatively you can do what I did and make ambitious programs and get them to a point where you can demonstrate the underlying tech.
If you're aiming for programming, i say buy a beginner's book on C++ and start learning. It's tough, you'll get errors that make no sense, missing semicolons and capital letters on the wrong variables and the like. it's all progress. Download a 3D engine and be active on their forums, take in as much information as you can. If you have passion and determination you WILL get there.
Best of luck, hope to see you at GDC one day.
Edit: after rereading through the thread i relised you said you want to be a story writer. Like someone else said: start writing. Research the role, understand whats involved and start doing it now. Writing may seem easy, but it is very difficult do well.
-Petroz
Firstly you need to know WHAT role you want. Design is not an option when you're starting out, AFAIK very few people are hired as designers with no experience in industry.
I'm a programmer so i cant offer much insight into other areas but i can say that programming is very technical, you need good problem solving skills and a desire to challenge yourself. In addition you need tenacity, and a lot of it, when things get tough you need to stick it out. A strong maths background is also important. Most importantly you need experience in C++, it's a complicated language and not something you can learn on the job from scratch.
Regardless of what area you want to be in, you need to have a portfolio. Even for programming, if there is no industry experience, you need some kind of experience. It also shows you have a real passion for it.
I think that making flash games is not the best way in, it can work. There is basically two approaches to the programming portfolio. You can make a small scale game that is very polished to show that you understand whats involved in creating a finished piece of software. Alternatively you can do what I did and make ambitious programs and get them to a point where you can demonstrate the underlying tech.
If you're aiming for programming, i say buy a beginner's book on C++ and start learning. It's tough, you'll get errors that make no sense, missing semicolons and capital letters on the wrong variables and the like. it's all progress. Download a 3D engine and be active on their forums, take in as much information as you can. If you have passion and determination you WILL get there.
Best of luck, hope to see you at GDC one day.
Edit: after rereading through the thread i relised you said you want to be a story writer. Like someone else said: start writing. Research the role, understand whats involved and start doing it now. Writing may seem easy, but it is very difficult do well.
-Petroz
Well, first I'd like to thank you for all the answers!
Seems like, at the end of the day, it all comes down to whether you've got enough ambition and endurance to pull the whole thing off. I'm going to need talent, studys but also connections inside the gaming scene.
So...
Another piece of advice I've got from somebody, was NOT to make my hobby (gaming ^^) to a job because that would only ruin it for me
Seems like, at the end of the day, it all comes down to whether you've got enough ambition and endurance to pull the whole thing off. I'm going to need talent, studys but also connections inside the gaming scene.
So...
Well, when I started this topic, I wasn't quite sure what the answer to that question was. I've thought about it though and I'm going to have to admit that my drawing skills are above average, but not as good as they should be for an actual art design study. Programming IS fun at the beginning but it gets really dull really fast. So, in the end I've got writing, marketing and game design leftsmallharmlesskitten post=18.75167.860698 said:
Another piece of advice I've got from somebody, was NOT to make my hobby (gaming ^^) to a job because that would only ruin it for me