Off Topic: The Flood
This topic has moved here: Subject: Entering the Game development Industry [question]
  • Subject: Entering the Game development Industry [question]
Subject: Entering the Game development Industry [question]

Remember those times when we all had something better to be doing, but didn't do it? Those were good times. Gooood times

Well flood, its that time again where I'm bored and I start freaking out about my future... Only today I actually have my college applications in hand.
Since many of you don't know, I am planning on entering the game developer industry as a 3d artist(focused on character art).

Anyway, once in the industry I'll most likely end up joining thousands of freelancers in a competitive market of low pay jobs, and I would want out of that position as soon as possible.

So my question for the day is: Should I aim to get employed in a major company or try to get in an indie game developer team?


Company pros:
>Stable income

cons:
>Hard to get into(most positions require 3 years of experience which is hard to get considering most positions require it to begin with)

Indie group pros:
>Work on something I get a bit more say in
>if successful game is launched, major profits(if, IF!)
>Modern technology is making it easier to get games out there on the market

cons:
>The term "starving artist" will most likely describe my life
>Finding a team
>Game has a high probability of never being heard of at all

  • 12.05.2012 4:51 PM PDT

Posted by: rennagang
most positions require 3 years of experience which is hard to get considering most positions require it to begin with)
Not really. Don't know where you heard that from.

The most important thing when applying for a position is your portfolio. It's all about what you can prove you can do. Bungie has a good number of people just out of college, and a good number of very, very experienced veterans of the industry. It's about what you can do and what you have done, not what you have officially 'learned.'

These links should be able to help you and answer some questions.

[Edited on 12.05.2012 4:57 PM PST]

  • 12.05.2012 4:57 PM PDT
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  • Exalted Mythic Member

____________(˜˜˜||˜˜˜˜||˜˜˜˜˜)_∏______
l | --------____.`=====.-.~:________\___|================[oo]
|_|||___/___/_/~```|_|_|_|``(o)----------<)

Apply at EA
Work in job you are grossly overqualified for, that you will absolutely hate for little pay and no job security
Complete game project
add project to portfolio
quit job
compete among 100 equally qualified people for prestigious position.
Apply at EA...

  • 12.05.2012 4:57 PM PDT

"I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle- victorious"

You should read the breaking in articles, they actually provide a useful insight into the gaming industry.

OT: I can honestly admit that I'm probably the least knowledgable on this subject, considering the fact that I have little to no experience with the structure of this particular field. But I can give you some general advice.

All I can say is start small. Also, keep a record of all your best pieces. They will give you a big edge when applying for larger companies.

[Edited on 12.05.2012 5:06 PM PST]

  • 12.05.2012 5:04 PM PDT