A game programer

I always wanted to make games entertain people youknow. Let my imagination go wild. Its my dream its my calling

I'm gonna study Game Design (and programming) next autumn, so I guess that's one of my dreams as well.

Though that is probably just something I feel would be interesting to do, my real dream would just be to do nothing, get shitloads of money and spend my time however I want it without responsibilities or anything.

What part of making games are you interested in?

I know several people in the industry, or just starting. The thing is that there are so many roles, and you have to choose quite early on what "box" you want to be in.

E.g. model design (2D/3D), gameplay design, level design, overall game design, music, game programming (there are several important sub roles I don't remember here..)

I am not the expert as I only remember some of what those people have told me, but the point is that you have to make up your mind exactly what aspect of producing games you like, because except for hobby games, you will only fill out a single limited role.

If you are going into game programming,you must be absolutely sure that you are keen as when learning it,it will get harder and harder as the tasks gets complicated like from a simple hangman game in C++ to a game that requires database entries or networking.

The roles goes from
intern
programmer
senior programmer
lead programmer
Manager/director position

Chances are you are not going to be able to make the games you want to make until very very very much later.Unless you are Hideo Kojima

Read up a few books on C++ and brush up on your maths.It would really help.



Its possible but its the job every gamer fan and developer out there hates,its the publishers.You job is to sell your soul to market the game and hold the developer's wages hostage lol

Huh? What you talking about, the job I'm aiming for is to design and develop the game, that is, writing the story, making the characters etc. Not just being some PR person.

lol you just mentioned to do nothing and get money lol.
What the gaming industry needs now is people who can code and communicate among the team.

Designing,developing,writing of story and characters is all dependent on your shareholders if they are willing to shell out money and that is another story.

You rarely get to make the games you want to make.

... Yea, the "get money, do nothing" has nothing to do with gaming or working at all. Why the hell would I have a job, where I have to do something, when I write that I wanna do NOTHING and get MUCH MONEY? >_>

And no, there is always a demand for writing stories, or design characters and levels. If it is my own story I want to do, the only thing to do is to convince the... "shareholders" that My story is the one they should focus on. That, or I just make my own company.

Meh, you're too stuck up on pretending you know what your talking about. Dream a bit.

So we share the same dream huh... well I'm gonna take the advice of the people here and brush up on my C++... I'm starting to get senile since Most of the codes I remember now is for java...

Ask anyone who has been in the industry in the last 5 years and they all will tell you the same thing.

They have their own people for design character and levels.They hire those from specialized schools like art schools or modeling schools with credentials and a portfolio to back them up.

If you want to be involved in that,go that route seriously as they wont take you seriously as you have to compete with those from these specialized schools.

Take up programming.Most that do the story,gameplay,levels etc are programmers themselves as they know the limitations of the game engine and what is impossible.

Shareholders play a larger role than you think.Making a game is a gamble.Game engines,developer's kits and other software all cost money.

Look through gamasutra.com

Cloud if you understand java,chances are relearning c++ should be a breeze for you lol

Haa, so you're saying that studying Game Design on a school focusing on Game Development (where over 75% of the applicants gets a job within a year) won't do me any good at all? And aren't you confusing Design with Graphics now? It's not the same thing you know... Meh, I'll get back to you in 4 years when I've taken my exam and got the job I want.

The game business is very competitive, but I am going to assume you are telling the truth. So either your school only educates a VERY small number of people with a really good education, or those 75% are getting really shitty jobs not really related to the game industry.. Otherwise that number just does not make sense.

Edit: the jobs does not need to be shitty of cause... just not game related

They're most likely game related. Or more like game production related. Just so that you didn't misunderstand, 75% of those studying either Game design, programming or graphics (or a mixture) get a job in game industry within a year. According to the school anyway.

I am not implying that,I am just emphasizing on the importance of programming that's all.Thats what most devs that are looking for anyway.

Ethil, if it's demand for writing you should probably look into majoring in English. I've found what Argentine said to be fairly accurate, you should probably heed what he says more instead of waving him off as being "stuck up and pretending to know what he's talking about".

I am heeding what he says, but I am also telling you that I will reach my goal. Designing my own games might not be likely to happen if I work at e.g Electronic Arts, but there are smaller companies that are more interested in testing out new ideas and hire Designers, and stockholders doesn't matter as much when the company isn't that big. Besides, I did say that I will study programming as well, but that is not what I'm interested in. And, even not being the Lead Designer, there are other things to do that can get one into larger companies as well, Level Designer for example, and a lot more.

Majoring in english? -_- Indeed, but the school system works a bit different here than in the States, even though it's too much pain for me to try to explain it now. English is a large part of the program though, I can say as much.

Might as well jump on the band wagon as well, I'm studying C++ at the moment, almost have my AA in programming.

In all truth, I'd like to get into the industry and learn what I can from the inside for about 7-10 years(optimistic time) and maybe one day start my own indie game development team.

just one of those dreams to help me wake up every morning.

I was planning to study Game Design as well, still do. But after attending an 'open door-day' I was quite surprised about how Animation sucked me in. It pretty much involves everything I have interest for, combining or enhancing real footage with animation , creating and expressing your thoughts and passion through animation and creating characters from paper to 3D models and more.

In a way, Animation and Game Design is close to each other, because what's a game without its shiny cinematic trailers.