Sperry,
The short answer is, it depends on what area of game development
you're interested in. The term "game developer" can mean different
things to different companies, and it is increasingly common for
people to specialize in one aspect of the overall process. The ideal
qualifications for a programmer will be very different from those of
an animator, a producer or a tester. From your question, I gather
that you are not interested in specializing in sound effects or in
being a tester, and so I will concentrate on a few different careers
in game development that you might consider.
DESIGNER
"Computer game designers provide the overall concept of the game, the
story line of the game, how users play the game, and what the rules of
the game are. They design all of these aspects of the game in a
blueprint or storyboard type of format. Computer game designers then
work with the marketing and art departments, the development team, and
the computer programmers to turn their ideas into reality and into
your hands as the computer game user."
http://www.webcoin.net/html/cgd.html
Qualifications:
- Creative / Imaginative
- Good communication skills
- At least rudimentary drawing skills (to communicate ideas)
- Working knowledge of 2D software package such as Photoshop
- Strong math and research skills are a plus
- Depending on the company and job the coding requirements run from
"basic familiarity" to "4-year degree in Computer Science."
http://www.igda.org/Endeavors/Articles/ebartlett_intro.htm
PROGRAMMER
"This person decides what the game can do (and codes the functionality
of the game). "
http://www.gamasutra.com/features/visual_arts/091997/synapse_separation.htm
Qualifications
- Excellent C / C++ / Visual C++ skills
- Strong mathematics background (ideally through Linear Algebra)
http://www2.ravensoft.com/getajob.htm
ARTIST
"2D Artists make tiles, textures and skins for computer games.
Depending on the type of game, they can also do painted backdrops,
skyboxes and any number of other "artsy" things. 2D Artists are also
called upon to do concept sketches for games early in the development
cycle."
"3D artists make in-world models for 3D games. Models can range from
humans to vehicles to inanimate objects depending on the project.
Some models are animated as well."
"Animators bring humans, enemies and creatures to life in 3D games.
They build the model in a 3D program like 3D Studio Max or SoftImage
and keep it within the polygon limitations of the game engine. Once a
suitable model is created, animators create and apply the animations
to it."
http://www2.ravensoft.com/getajob.htm
Qualifications
- Expertise in a 2D software package (typically Photoshop)
- Strong skills with a 3D software package (the most common is 3D
Studio Max)
PRODUCER
"Generally, the person in charge. The producer makes decisions about
what the game will and won't consist of, in terms of its features and
the overall look and feel. They also coordinate other development
efforts, such as sound and testing, and act as a firewall for
publishers, lawyers, press, and other nondevelopers involved in the
project. "
http://www.gamasutra.com/features/visual_arts/091997/synapse_separation.htm
---
Over all of the articles I read and the sources I checked, there were
a few key suggestions that kept reappearing:
- Education is more important than it used to be, but experience is
still key. Have a portfolio of previous work. To quote an
acquaintance who works in the game development industry:
"Take a game with an open architecture that permits modification, and
do exactly that. You -must- have a portfolio of content to be hired
in the game industry. Higher education is a bonus, but useless in
this industry unless coupled with hands-on experience."
- It may seem obvious, but play games. Employers are looking for
someone with a passion for the work, and the more you know that more
employable you are. Read books, magazines, and check out online
discussion boards.
- It's a difficult industry to break in to, and as with any job it
helps to know someone. Lots of people start out as Q/A testers and
work their way up. Take any job you can to get a foot in the door.
- Check the job listings page of anywhere you might like to work. Job
descriptions can be very blurred within the industry, you'll get a
better idea of what specific skills each employer is looking for, and
what skills everyone is looking for.
On the PC vs. Mac question:
“Regarding being literate on Mac and PC, it depends on the work you're
doing. If it's related to 2d art, either platform will be appropriate.
For 3D databases, it's probably going to be a PC. If you're
programming, most likely you'll be working on a PC.”
http://www.computerschools.com/game-design/
Regards,
Cindy
Other relevant URLs:
Game Developer's Salary Survey (free registration required)
http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20010831/survey_01.htm
International Game Developer's Association
http://www.igda.org/
Gamasutra (Game Developer's Magazine)
http://www.gamasutra.com/
GameWeek
http://www.gameweek.com/
Raven Software: Getting a Job in the Game Development Industry
http://www2.ravensoft.com/getajob.htm
DPerry.com Job's Corner
http://www.dperry.com/jobsright.htm
Google Directory: Games > Developers and Publishers > Video Games
http://directory.google.com/Top/Games/Developers_and_Publishers/Video_Games/
Google Groups:
alt.games.programming
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=alt.games.programming
comp.games.development.design
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&q=comp.games.development.design
comp.games.development.industry
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&q=comp.games.development.industry
comp.games.development.programming.algorithms
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&q=comp.games.development.programming.algorithms
comp.games.development.programming.misc
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&q=comp.games.development.programming.misc
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