Gaming careers

[Kif]

This maybe could go in the job section, however, it's not an advert or C.V. so I guess it belongs here.

I get the general feeling that young people who play computer games more often than not want to make a career out of it, that to me makes sense. What I do see a lot though is that people who want to make a career of it tend to perhaps, have an image of what the career would be like which is a little outside the realms of reality. For instance, people who want to get into testing assume it will be a fun job just playing games through... when it's really really not.

So, my question is... do you want a career in computer games, what type of career (design, software engineering, A.I., art, testing etc etc), how are you trying to reach that goal and how do you imagine it will be like in that particular career?

I am genuinely intrigued. My experience, I graduated uni in 2004, since 2006 I have been a software engineer for a navigation company, mapping software and alike. I have a friend who worked for a games company and I can say I get paid more and work less and I have a lot of other friends from the same course who were not as fortunate in getting a career and now work in call centres or alike.

 

[Savagezion]

I wouldn't mind being involved in design, software engineering, or art. And only for games targetted at mostly single player experiences. Multiplayer is a ***** to mess with and not fun at all and not very rewarding IMO. All the other departments I am pretty sure I would burn out on very fast. Testing would suck so bad, AI would be fun for a bit until you are reduced to tweaking it just right.

 

[SnowdensOfYesteryear]

I personally would be into design, but that's screwed up by the fact I really don't like working with other people, but I also really odn't have any art skills whatsoever. So... yeah.

 

[crimson5pheonix]

I actually want to be a programmer. I have it in my head that the scary maths scare people off, creating a demand for programmers.

 

[gl1koz3]

An AAA company game career is near impossible without relocation from Eastern Europe... So I'll probably stick with hundreds of local software companies. And I totally can relate to your experience. I have friends from the course, who get nearly twice less, but work ten times more at those lesser local (farmville-boring-type) game companies.

Also, if someone thinks testing is fun, I've got a friend, who doesn't and thus can only double agree to this.

 

[Jinx5934]

No, I don't want to go into creating games or anything of that nature. For me, its just something I do in my spare time, and sure they're cool, but I wouldn't want to make a career out of it, it seems to be very mathematical and complex, which I probably wouldn't be able to handle. I'll stick to GMod.

 

[Marik2]

Yes I actually want to be in the gaming industry as a programmer and besides Ive been working on my game (mentally) since I was 12.

 

[Luke5515]

I want to be a programmer or a software engineer. Heck, maybe even a modeler or level designer. I've had a little bit of experience in all of the areas, but not enough to be of consequence or even enough to decide which I would like the most.

 

[blinkgun96]

I actually want to be a programmer. I have it in my head that the scary maths scare people off, creating a demand for programmers.

Unfortuantely you have it wrong the only group thats in high demand are those that have to do with rendering. It is the smallest group of people, and I have been told that if you are one the first place you apply(so long as your demo is good) will be you job.

I also want to be a programmer, and have begun learning the trade as well as the business portion of the games industry.

No, because I don't want to work for small pay, long hours, on ideas that may be doomed to fail, always with the chance that the project may crash and burn (cancelled, bad reviews), the publishers and retails trying to gimp the project in their favor all while never getting to create the game you have dreamed of for years because it is not "marketable" enough.

I see where you're coming from, but you have obviously not seen many developers parking lots.

 

[crimson5pheonix]

Yes I actually want to be in the gaming industry as a programmer and besides Ive been working on my game (mentally) since I was 12.

I want to be a programmer or a software engineer. Heck, maybe even a modeler or level designer. I've had a little bit of experience in all of the areas, but not enough to be of consequence or even enough to decide which I would like the most.

I actually want to be a programmer. I have it in my head that the scary maths scare people off, creating a demand for programmers.

Unfortuantely you have it wrong the only group thats in high demand are those that have to do with rendering. It is the smallest group of people, and I have been told that if you are one the first place you apply(so long as your demo is good) will be you job.

I also want to be a programmer, and have begun learning the trade as well as the business portion of the games industry.

Oh god, my plan back fired.

 

[blinkgun96]

Yes I actually want to be in the gaming industry as a programmer and besides Ive been working on my game (mentally) since I was 12.

I want to be a programmer or a software engineer. Heck, maybe even a modeler or level designer. I've had a little bit of experience in all of the areas, but not enough to be of consequence or even enough to decide which I would like the most.

I actually want to be a programmer. I have it in my head that the scary maths scare people off, creating a demand for programmers.

Unfortuantely you have it wrong the only group thats in high demand are those that have to do with rendering. It is the smallest group of people, and I have been told that if you are one the first place you apply(so long as your demo is good) will be you job.

I also want to be a programmer, and have begun learning the trade as well as the business portion of the games industry.

Oh god, my plan back fired.

Yep, we are grunts nothing more. Only slightly less expendable then testers.

 

[crimson5pheonix]

Yes I actually want to be in the gaming industry as a programmer and besides Ive been working on my game (mentally) since I was 12.

I want to be a programmer or a software engineer. Heck, maybe even a modeler or level designer. I've had a little bit of experience in all of the areas, but not enough to be of consequence or even enough to decide which I would like the most.

I actually want to be a programmer. I have it in my head that the scary maths scare people off, creating a demand for programmers.

Unfortuantely you have it wrong the only group thats in high demand are those that have to do with rendering. It is the smallest group of people, and I have been told that if you are one the first place you apply(so long as your demo is good) will be you job.

I also want to be a programmer, and have begun learning the trade as well as the business portion of the games industry.

Oh god, my plan back fired.

Yep, we are grunts nothing more. Only slightly less expendable then testers.

Well it's a good thing that games require thousands of programmers and the tears of small children to be made now I guess.

 

[Sronpop]

Well I got into Computer Science with an open mind to working in anything computer related since I liked computers. 3 years later, the thought of doing any work on computers seems like torture. Programming has scared me for life. My parents seem convince that's its just something you have to work at over and over again, but they have not got a clue what its like. You have to have a mind for it, you either have it or you don't. Its not so much as skill, but a way of thinking. They try teach you that way of thinking, you either get it or you don't. Took me 3 years and 3,000 euro to learn that I don't.

So now I dunno what I'm doing, that was 4 months ago, now I am just bidding my time till life brings something my way. But working with computers in that regard, fuck no, not for me. I might try a design course, since 3d modeling etc is a hell of a lot different to programming, but time will tell.

Computer science is extremely broad, like really broad, the scope of the course is massive, but its very difficult and ultimately wasn't for me.

 

[Plurralbles]

I want to be programming but not necessarily for gaming but that'd be really cool.

I know exactly what it will be like, long nights long days and a hell of a lot of stress for money and job security not anywhere near where I want.

 

[Yureina]

When I was 16 I got offered an opportunity to work on the then upcoming Civilization IV because of the work I had done with creating custom scenarios for Civilization III. I ended up turning it down for various real world reasons, but the major reason was because I didn't want to get caught up in the gaming industry. Long hours for less pay and an environment that is not really... suited to my viewpoints. It just isnt the type of job I would want from what I have heard about it (my uncle works at Sega, and another at Valve). I know it may seem silly because I basically got ASKED to enter the industry because of the custom mods I had done, but... it just was not for me.

Sometimes... just sometimes... I wonder if I had accepted. In any event, I could easily get myself such an offer again because I still have the qualities that put me on the radar in the first place.

 

[Vhite]

I want to be a programmer and games were reason why I began with it but I no longer want to work in game industry, firstly because there is really low chance to get a job in it and secondly because I wouldnt like to work with gprahics you can see in games these days. I wouldnt mind making india games or just freeware games as hobby.

 

[saphirekosmos]

Well I would love to work in either the game or movie industry as an animator. I am currently going to college in a major that is geared exactly for the entertainment industry. They have already talked to us about what we need to do and what not. What I find sad is that I knew a guy who was going to Devry for a game design degree. He think he will be able to walk out and get a job as a designer from day 1. Not going to happen. Or, at least, his chances are astronomically low.

 

[Kif]

I actually want to be a programmer. I have it in my head that the scary maths scare people off, creating a demand for programmers.

It really doesn't, there are so many developers out there these days it beggers belief. I count myself seriously lucky to have found a career that actually uses my degree.

 

[Lightslei]

I don't want to go into gaming. I'd like to go into programming, yes. Game Creation should only be a side hobby for me though.

Worst Case Scenario I'll end up being a math teacher.

 

[BlindMessiah94]

I wouldn't mind being involved in design, software engineering, or art. And only for games targetted at mostly single player experiences. Multiplayer is a ***** to mess with and not fun at all and not very rewarding IMO. All the other departments I am pretty sure I would burn out on very fast. Testing would suck so bad, AI would be fun for a bit until you are reduced to tweaking it just right.

love your avatar.

OT: I am currently just starting out in game audio and its awesome. Although it wasn't my first career choice it looks like it will be my main source of income now. I just wanted to do something in audio. All I can say is anyone who goes into gaming thinking "lol I love games!!1!! I can makes them as living?" is an idiot and should realize that work is hard, in any field, if you want to make any sort of viable career for yourself.