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Author Topic: I need a job...  (Read 2503 times)

Kixie

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« Reply #15 on: February 12, 2004, 08:53:41 pm »
a swot? i have no idea where to start...
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Pegasus

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« Reply #16 on: February 12, 2004, 09:01:19 pm »
It could go like:

Game Programmer:

Strengths (whats good about the job):
- Good Pay
- team orientated job

Weakness  (whats bad about the job):
- Working up to 80 hours a week
- dull work?
- little creativity involved

Opportunities  (what could affect your job from the outside positively):
- game companies turnover is steadily rising (dont know if this is right but i think so)

Threats  (same as above negatively):
- cheap programmers in asia
- green card indian (from india) people working for nothing

hope that helps - ask other people what they think (will  help you to get a more objective view on the jobs)
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Davis

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« Reply #17 on: February 13, 2004, 02:40:23 am »
THERE IS NO FUTURE IN GAME DEVELOPMENT, ONLY A CRAPLOAD OF COMPETITION. YOU WILL NOT GET A JOB IN GAME DEVELOPMENT. THE PAY IS NOT WORTH IT. GET ANOTHER JOB AND WORK ON AN OPEN-SOURCE PROJECT LIKE PLANESHIFT.
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Kixie

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« Reply #18 on: February 13, 2004, 03:09:13 am »
oh your just a big pecimest davis... :rolleyes:
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Pegasus

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« Reply #19 on: February 13, 2004, 01:02:52 pm »
and your shift key seems to be stuck davis :P
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Vengeance

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« Reply #20 on: February 14, 2004, 05:24:25 am »
Davis is right.  There are thousands of really great programmers who want to be game programmers and only about 10 studios.

Wanting to this is like wanting to direct movies.  Really.

- Venge
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sashok

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« Reply #21 on: February 14, 2004, 06:06:57 am »
Pessimist side:
I agree, for you to make games(code) you already have to be better than people on planeshift, programming wise.  There\'s more than 10 studios ;), but the biggest studios are the ones that pay good.  There\'s no chance to make it there unless you already have 3 good years of experience and not just helping out a game project, but actually writing code.

As for 3d modeling for games, I believe it\'s even harder to find a job.  Look at it this way, the current games don\'t require much pollys.  MMORPGS, even the new wave, is nothing special for experienced modelers to do.  If you want to consider 3d modeling seriously, I think there\'s a future in 3d movies and cartoons like Shrek ;).

Overall, good luck finding job in US developing games.  There\'s people who come here just to be able to get computer related jobs because Americans pay more.  With all that competition...

Optimist side:

You can start developing your own games with a group of friends.  Slowly learn the material needed and develop a game.  Who knows, maybe somebody will even play it
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Kixie

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« Reply #22 on: February 15, 2004, 01:49:20 am »
See i dont agree with the pecimists in this room for this reason. if your good at c++ or any other programing language you could always make flash games. Just get flash mx and use your skills to make a 1 man game! then if its good enough or you have enough simple little games you could make a website and sell your games. very good way to make money!

One example is tactics core. Its like a new age chess (basically) slightly different rules and radically different peices, but a chess game none the less. I lived and breathed that game for a while. search for it on google, they have made lots of money with gold accounts...

But really there are lots of ways to put programing skills to good use! i wish i knew how... so ill just have to learn!  :D
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Rageburst

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« Reply #23 on: February 26, 2004, 03:57:04 am »
Here\'s what you gotta do if you really want to be a game programmer.

It is recommended to get a degree in software engineering or computer science. Equally good is a school to specifically teach game programming.

Here\'s where you might have a problem.... experience. If you didn\'t work on anything at school that is game-related, you need to make your own experience. Learn to tools necessary to what you want to SPECIALIZE in. If you don\'t specialize, you might have problems.

Experience is really essential since you need to show that you can make them money. That\'s what it\'s all about in the end. It may be enough just to show them that you can code in openGL and whatnot. You don\'t need to make a game by yourself.

That said, I also wanted to be a game programmer, but decided against it since it kinda restricts what jobs you can find. Specializing in the IT fields is more practical in my opinion.... Could be loads of fun too having a few servers at home for fun.
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Deddarus

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« Reply #24 on: February 26, 2004, 05:00:58 am »
if yer into the modeling side of things heres what i suggest (i currently am looking for a job as a CGI artist while i sit my arse in my cushy EA games tester job)

1. learn 3DSmax and MAYA (there are plenty of other proggies too that it cant hurt to learn)
2. Decide the sort of CGI u wanna work on.. low-poly/high poly, particles & effects/Scenery/Characters, animation/still renders etc
3. take a look at some of the stuff out there, it will give u an idea of the level at which u need to be working
4. play around with some ideas
5. Build a portfolio.. put it onto a webpage or burn it to a VCD/DVD
6. distribute your portfolio to a large number of companies

heres an anim i am putting into my portfolio (be warned its nearly 10mb)

http://www.freepgs.com/dedjed/jellyfish.mpg
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