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This topic has moved here: Subject: A High-Schooler Looking Forward
  • Subject: A High-Schooler Looking Forward
Subject: A High-Schooler Looking Forward

My thirst is of the Grunty variety.

Hello, Bungie, how are you?
I am going into my Senior Year of High School, and ever since I saw the Special Features of Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings", I have wanted to work in concept design. Since discovering a love for gaming when I was 13 (I am now 17), I have wanted to work in Concept Design for the Gaming Industry. I love to draw, and feel fairly confident in my abilities; however, I also know that they are not up to industry standard, and this is where the point of this topic comes in.
I was wondering if anyone who works in/has worked in concept design for the gaming industry could tell me what qualifications I need, and what areas of 2D art I should focus on. I have looked at a wide range of the qualification for a concept artist for different studios, and they seemed to ask for different things. If someone could please give me a helping hand and list some college courses I may need to take, some websites I may find helpful, or even just give some general advice, that would be really, really helpful. While this isn't quite my life's dream, I can't think of a better, more enjoyable job for me that takes advantage of my passion for art, my love of making up characters, creatures, and worlds, and my enjoyment of all things gaming (especially Halo, as that was what got me into gaming in the first place)!

Again, please help me, and also, I cannot find anywhere an actual sort of "typical daily schedule" for a concept artist. The thought that the job I want later might not be what I think it is has kinda been bugging me for a while, so that too would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, and happy Halo-ing!

EDIT: If, after reading that, anyone was wondering what exactly my art looks like and why I don't think it is up to industry standard, check my DeviantART profile here. It would also be helpful to me to receive a small amount of constructive criticism, and it would really mean a lot to me. (I don't think this counts as advertising, and I sure as heck hope it isn't, but if it is, please realize I didn't do it on purpose, and I completely understand if I am asked to remove it or whatever might happen.

[Edited on 08.27.2011 9:17 PM PDT]

  • 08.27.2011 8:08 PM PDT

If you read this I command you to buy Skyrim.

I don't know if I'm right, but I think this belongs in the Flood.

  • 08.27.2011 8:10 PM PDT

My thirst is of the Grunty variety.

Really? 'Cause I saw a thread very similar to this one in this forum just before I went to post this topic. If this topic is in the wrong forum, I apologize, and I'll try to get it moved, or closed, or something. :)

  • 08.27.2011 8:12 PM PDT

Read this. It's what Bungie looks for in a concept artist. The general advice is to built up your portfolio and get experience.

  • 08.27.2011 8:16 PM PDT

My thirst is of the Grunty variety.

Thanks for the link, I really appreciate it; however, I've already viewed that page, and although it has and will continue to prove useful, one of my real problems is that different people seem to say different things about what college qualifications I need to get a concept artist job, so a generalized list would probably help a bit more. That being said, I appreciate the thought and the post, and I have just copied and pasted the text on the page into a Word file for later viewing. Thanks!

  • 08.27.2011 8:21 PM PDT

"There is no time for peace. No respite. No forgiveness. There is only WAR!"

honestly, the best thing to start with is getting your Bachelor of fine arts. IT DOESNT ACTUALLY HAVE TO BE IN FINE ART. just an area of art you are interested in and do it for four years to show potential employers that you can stick with it. start small with mods, or maybe an indie game.

Studios look for experience. Unless you have the talent of god or a famous artist, it is EXTREMELY unlikely that any major studio will hire you without a game or two under your belt.

Andd it also wouldnt hurt to learn other development skills while youre at it. programming, modeling, and level design all generally pay more in the long run.

  • 08.27.2011 10:04 PM PDT

My thirst is of the Grunty variety.

Thank you so much, Smartman! This is the kind of information I have been looking for for a long time. I have been condering trying to learn programming for a while, and this gives me a reason to start. And also, thanks for letting me know about the "experience" thing. I wasn't quite sure what people meant when they said "experience" when I asked in other places, and now I know. Also, that bit of info about the Fine Art BA clarifed a lot of worry for me. Thank you.

  • 08.30.2011 10:56 AM PDT
  •  | 
  • Exalted Mythic Member
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Want to know more about me? Check out my Community Joes interview.

Trying something once will increace your chances of success, because you tried it. Try someting twice, and your chances increase yet again - seeing as you've done it. Try something a few thousand times, and your chances of success is exponentially increased; this increase would likely provide success every time

Also, adding on to the good information here, you may want to check out my post here. It should be the post just underneath the one linked, if not, it's the one with all the links. A few people have found it very helpful, others not so much, but I hope you find what you're looking for =).

Good luck!

  • 08.30.2011 11:05 AM PDT

You're an idiot, and no one will hire you.

  • 08.30.2011 12:38 PM PDT

"I amar prestar aen, han mathon ne nen, han mathon ne chae a han noston ned 'wilith."

Go check out The Community Carnage!

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Posted by: Tha BZA
You're an idiot, and no one will hire you.

Wow... Such the pessimistic one.

Anyway OP, good luck. Don't aim for the gaming industry straight away, though. Start off small then work your way up.

  • 08.30.2011 12:44 PM PDT

My thirst is of the Grunty variety.

Good sir BZA, I fail to see how either of those points, if indeed they may be called such, are either true or relevant to the topic. Kindly refrain from posting in such a manner in this, or any, topic, as it does not further the discussion in any productive way. That would be great.

EDIT: Sorry to the rest of Bungie.net if that seemed a little over the top. I kinda raged there, as I am getting kinda nervous about my senior year, and college, and stuff. I hope I didn't offend anyone. :)

[Edited on 08.30.2011 12:50 PM PDT]

  • 08.30.2011 12:45 PM PDT

Key


Posted by: Tha BZA
You're an idiot, and no one will hire you.


You're a dick, and no one will like you.

  • 08.30.2011 12:45 PM PDT

We're the Flintstones kids, ten million strong and growing...

Glass Galaxies - a theme for bungie.net

Per audacia ad astra. Halo Reach | Destiny

I'm gonna say the obvious and tell you to keep drawing or doing whatever you like to do in your spare time. The more practice you get, the more you improve. Also remember that there's a lot of helpful resources on the internet to help you improve so make the most of them.

(and ignore obvious trolls)

  • 08.30.2011 12:55 PM PDT

My thirst is of the Grunty variety.

Thanks for the help and support, everyone. I'll take it all to heart. And yeah, I should have ignored him. Emotions got the better of me, but I'm just glad I didn't post what I wanted to. Thanks to all who have posted - it's this kind of help that makes me glad for these kinds of forums!

  • 08.30.2011 1:01 PM PDT

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[*Please note that anything in my posts is likely to be filled with sarcasm, and should be taken with a pinch of salt. I tend to help people, usually*]

* Draw constantly.
* Go for a course that will improve your artistic abilities.
* Get a degree in Art; anything from Traditional to Fine to Digital.
* Find industry-talented artists and look at and read everything they post. A personal favourite of mine is Feng Zhu.
* Never be afraid to ask questions. Constantly. Got the opportunity? Take it. Don't worry about looking ignorant or stupid. Starting out, a lot of people will look down on you, but that's just because they're jaded. Be persistent in the knowledge that you know what you want to do.
* Make friends with talented artists on DeviantArt and Concept Art forums, etc, etc. Learn everything you can.

  • 08.30.2011 1:19 PM PDT