Seeking a job in the gaming industry

[Jay]

I wanted to put this here so that I could discuss it with anyone that knows about this, rather than just one member of the SD team.

I'm looking to get a job in the gaming industry (I'm a senior in high school right now) and I wanted to know what degree is most marketable. I'm interested in being a programmer, but I've also done level design, 3D modeling and the like. I know that some colleges are now offering degrees in game design, but I feel that it would be too narrow and I've read that the video game business can be difficult to first get involved in.

As far as programming goes, I know HTML (who doesn't these days?), am teaching myself PHP, and am taking a class in Java.

I really would appreciate any advice that you guys could give me, being the company that has produced the games that I've enjoyed the most over the past few years. If you need anymore information about me, I'll gladly give it.

~Jay

[Nail]

learn C and it's derivatives, $ Games aren't made in Java or Flash

[kamikazee]

I think Nail uses the word "derivatives" for C++. And if you want to learn C, it is imho better to start with a few concepts from C++, especially for input/output and/or text string handling.

[Sauron|EFG]

Lesson number one: Don't ever mention HTML when talking about programming. ;)

I'm not in the gaming industry myself, although I had some thoughts about walking that path at the beginning of my career. Stories about constant overtime and low salaries scared me away though. :)

It's probably not as bad these days (except maybe at smaller/new companies), but it may still be a good idea not to focus too much on which industry you want to work in when choosing your education. Game studios know what a masters degree in computer science is worth, but a recruiter in the telecom business may not be impressed by a degree in "game design". You can always take some extra courses in graphics/sound/network/UI/AI programming, depending on your interest.

Landing your first job will be difficult since experience is very valuable, but relevant hobby level experience is a lot better than no experience at all. (Some developers like SD recruit people from the modding community, as you probably know.)

Good luck!

[obsidian]

HTML isn't a programming language, it's a markup language and is more akin to a Word document than an executable like MS Word.

Anyway, I don't think anyone should aim at being a game developer, rather try to aim at being a professional in your field (like programming, for example) and if it happens to land you a job in game development, then that's a bonus.

Your hobbyist interest in game design will count towards "industry experience" but you need to back that up with a very solid professional background in your chosen field. You need to be a programmer who has an interest in games rather than a gamer interested in programming.

[DC9]

As with the previous posts, IMO you will have a better opportunity with a Comp. Science degree. I don't work in the gaming industry, however it seems to me that specializing in one area will limit your transferability as a resource. Whether you are working on an Automated Teller Machine program, inventory supply chain system, or the next-best game, conceptually they are the same.

A good Comp. Science program will demonstrate the requirements of the whole project team. Putting together a game requires more than just programming. Consider the roles that are required to put together a product: project manager; concept developer; level designer; artist; technical adviser; programmer; tester; market manager. You can always do a major in Comp. Science with a minor degree in aspects of game development that interests you. If you have an artistic flare, a minor in Art may be suited to you. If you tend to be interested in the marketing side, a minor in business administration may interest you.

[Jay]

Thanks for the replies.

I figured that a degree in Computer Science would make me more marketable since a game design degree won't get me a job programming Quicken. I've heard that salaries in most non-gaming programming positions are about 25% higher but tend to be a lot less interesting.

As far as the management aspect goes, I know that game design is a team effort and extensive collaboration is required between departments (game design team forms the concept of a cinematic scene, art design team sketches and models it, programming team scripts it) and also in a department itself (lead programmers, junior programmers), so some business/management courses would probably be a plus.

Does anyone know how much weight a "mod portfolio" would carry in terms of industry experience? Because I do have a habit of fiddling with a game, getting halfway finished with a mod, and then wandering off into the next endeavor before finishing. :)

Edit: I also realize that HTML isn't a programming language. It's just that most non-technical users don't realize the difference and I got into the habit of not specifying. Also I've been learning PHP and MySQL by looking at the (uncommented) code for a website that was dropped into my lap and with the HTML mixed in between, I'll admit that the line has blurred. :)

[Rudi]

Also I've been learning PHP and MySQL by looking at the (uncommented) code for a website that was dropped into my lap and with the HTML mixed in between, I'll admit that the line has blurred. :)

Best way to learn anything. I have absolutely no qualifications in IT/Programming/anything to do with computers yet I've had 2 jobs as a programmer and 1 as a PHP Developer (programmer?) and I'm now running a software development/web development/consulting company.

The way that I learned PHP was by thinking of what I wanted to do, finding some unfinished (VERY BASIC!!!!!!) project, editing it and improving it, and when I was more confident, rebuilt the whole thing. That original project is now one of our main selling products and a new version is being released very soon.

The way I learned C# was from loving a VB6 program that I helped to write and edited a bit afterwards, and I wanted to move it to a more flexible/complex platform (.NET/C#) and improve it in many, many ways. The codebase was too large to simply edit the things that needed changing.

I am currently learning C/C++ from the ET SDK and a game engine written by a friend, and I'm finding it pretty interesting, though C and C++ are just going to be hobbies for now, I find programming in .NET languages (mainly C#) much more interesting and exciting, not to mention more productive and easier/quicker to get results.

[Sauron|EFG]

I've heard that salaries in most non-gaming programming positions are about 25% higher

It's not hard to find differences bigger than 25% between two people doing the same job, even at the same company. Your own skill and experience, and knowing how to negotiate and when to switch jobs, will probably mean more than the business you choose. ;)

but tend to be a lot less interesting.

There's a wide range of jobs outside game development, a lot of them no doubt "less interesting" than most that goes on at SD. There's also a lot of interesting jobs though, assuming your interested in technology and not just games. (Don't forget about embedded software! :) )

[ayatollah]

Get a book on C# and develop some stuff in XNA, there are always loads of competitions and showcases. It will also give you a good protfolio for showing prospective employers.

[dutchmeat]

I could help you out James, you know that :)

[nappy]

Maybe not all game developers are under paid... but they are all over worked.

[th0rn3]

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