Just wondering something

[The Sith Master]

Ok now, I have a question. Hopefully someone who know a lot about game companies or a moderator or developer or someone like that might come along.

 

If for example someone ( me ) went to college and got a HND ( Higher National Diploma ) in a course like animation or 3d modelling etc.

 

Then I toddled off to university for 3 years after that, and got a degree in animation or 3d modelling etc.

 

Then I would have had 5 years studying one of those areas. Then when I was trying to get a job am I more likley to be picked up by a big company like Obsidian. Or would I most likley be working for a smaller company.

 

In other words, after I have finished both college and university. Would I still need to get some experience working before I could possibly work for companies such as Lucasarts, Bungie, Obsidian etc.

 

And if that is true then how long...

[Darth Flatus]

Have you asked you careers advisor? You sound like you are a 15/16 yo from somewhere in the UK. Ask your careers advisor, send letters to the recruitment departments of all you favourite publishers/developers. Edge is quite a serious gaming magazine - read that.

 

I would assume that university education is a must and relevant work experience also helps a lot - apply for summer internships while at uni. There are a lot of aspects of making a game and you should decide which one of them you want to pursue.

 

In case you haven't seen it already this link should give you an idea of what game companies are after.

 

http://www.obsidianent.com/jobs/

[Musopticon?]

Make mods for games also. Especially in a team. It gives valuable experience and teaches teamwork, which is vital.

[GhostofAnakin]

Make mods for games also. Especially in a team. It gives valuable experience and teaches teamwork, which is vital.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

This is a good suggestion. I think I even read on here one of the top Obsidian guys saying that having a resume of mods would be a huge advantage over people that might even have more age or experience on you but don't have mods to their credit.

[ShadowPaladin V1.0]

Yep practical applicatins tend to impress more than just a grasp of the theory. Many people leave university with a very good theoretical knowledge but with hardly any practical skills.

[Calax]

also it shows that you love the games.

[Musopticon?]

Why would you need to show anyone you love games if you trying to get to game development. I rather doubt anyone studies for years just to get a carrieer he abhors.

[ShadowPaladin V1.0]

Why would you need to show anyone you love games if you trying to get to game development. I rather doubt anyone studies for years just to get a carrieer he abhors.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

You would be suprised. A lot of people see University as the point of no return and then your sort of stuck with whatever choice you made whether you like it or not.

 

I went from a total geek doing HND engineering and working at a data recovery center to doing humanities and being a counsellor in the space of six years.

 

But I've worked with people who are just unhappy but dont have the means to change careers.

 

Part of me often wonders if I did design games would I still enjoy them in the same way. And I dont honestly think I would,I'd certainly have less time for it. I think its like being a porn star Something a lot of people think might be fun, but few people can actually handle as a career.

[Musopticon?]

The point was; if you're getting to game development, it's sot of clear that you like games.

[Diogo Ribeiro]

^I don't think that's entirely true. Game development is increasingly becoming a very lucrative field, so it's not all that impossible to find cases of people who went for game development without liking games.

[Musopticon?]

I take your word for it then, you big hunk.

[Diogo Ribeiro]

Why thank you, you dreamy stud, you.

 

 

 

(this is great roleplaying considering i'm actually butt ugly and overweight ke ke ke hooray 4 teh intranets1!!!!)

[Musopticon?]

zomg

[GhostofAnakin]

You would be suprised. A lot of people see University as the point of no return and then your sort of stuck with whatever choice you made whether you like it or not.

 

....

 

But I've worked with people who are just unhappy but dont have the means to change careers.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You described me quite well there. I graduated from university with an honors degree in Business Administration, with a specialty in Finance. As of this day, I just can't see myself spending the rest of my life working in that field.

 

But, like you eluded to, I'm at a point (or rather, age) in my life where I feel I'm kind of "stuck" because I feel I'm too old to go back to school for another 3 or 4 years to earn a degree in something else. I know that's probably not the case, but the fact is I STILL don't really know what I want to do, so I'm "stuck" doing something I'm not particularly interested in.

[FrankK]

Make mods for games also. Especially in a team. It gives valuable experience and teaches teamwork, which is vital.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

This is a good suggestion. I think I even read on here one of the top Obsidian guys saying that having a resume of mods would be a huge advantage over people that might even have more age or experience on you but don't have mods to their credit.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Mods show a dedication and love of making games. That dedication and love of games is the only way to survive in this industry.

 

If you are an artist, mods will definately help you understand how to make art for video games (like poly and texture budgets)

 

If you are a designer, you will need to come up with creative solutions to implement your 'vision' sometimes. It also allows potential employers to see how well your vision survives from idea to implementation.

 

If you are a programmer you'll need to integrate your code with an existing codebase and do so optimally (nobody wants a mod running at half the fps of the original game). There's also room to show creativity in your solutions here.

 

Artists can also get hired based on a killer portfolio provided poly/texture budgets are withing expectations of what the company is looking for AND the quality is there. It's also extremely competative, at least as much as design.

[metadigital]

You would be suprised. A lot of people see University as the point of no return and then your sort of stuck with whatever choice you made whether you like it or not. ... But I've worked with people who are just unhappy but dont have the means to change careers.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You described me quite well there.

[Calax]

haHA! I was right about love and affection towards games, Isn't that right sweetums (pets copy of Deus Ex)

[alanschu]

You're supposed to love games. Not be IN love with games.

[Musopticon?]

Gutshot.

[Darth_Schmarth]

:D You know that there's a CD inside the box, Schmalax? That's the one you paid for, even if cuddling the box is more to your liking than installing and playing the game...