Working in the gaming industry

[EastEnder]

Write a html form that posts its information to a php file that inserts it into a database. Then write a php page that connects to the database and displays the result of the database result on the page. Its miles away from writing C++ but if you dont get the kick out of getting it working... coding aint for you.

To be fair, that sort of client/server web development is about as far removed from the world of games programming as you can get! They're quite different paradigms.

Games programming, done properly, is fucking hard - I think it's the "games" bit that makes it sound sexy. Look at it a different way - would you want to get into the world of programming advanced metrological simulations or developing complex financial models? Cos I'd say the skills & aptitude required for such endeavours are closer to that which is needed for games programming, than less demanding fields like web development.

Web development is much easier to get into and doesn't require top notch maths & programming skills. I briefly flirted with the idea of getting into the games industry after I got my comp sci degree, but soon abandoned such ambitions because:

A) My maths is crap.
B) My programming skills, whilst better than some, are nothing to write home about.
C) I can earn more money being a reasonably good web developer than being a below par games developer.

Not to mention the fact that I spent 2 years writing file system device drivers - I still have scary flashbacks to spending all day stepping through machine code with a kernel debugger... Getting paid to write stuff like PHP or Java is a walk in the park by comparison...

 

[chopps]

To be fair, that sort of client/server web development is about as far removed from the world of games programming as you can get! They're quite different paradigms.

Exactly, so if he cant handle a few simple php scripts (and doesnt have fun learning about arrays and other simple concepts) then the dream of using C++ to get closer to the metal isint a runner.

 

[Skimix]

One of my mates worked in the games industry for about 10 years after he graduated. You have to be bloody good at c++, the hours when deadlines are approaching can be insane (I work in the city and I think the hours are insane!) and the money is distinctly average. He's also been made redundant more times that anyone else I know.

You also have to work with people like the one who turned up to my mates birthday in a pub wearing a long black cape and carrying a plastic broadsword Clealry a bit of "real life" and "World of Warcraft" confusion going on there...

 

[Skimix]

Compare to finance, where you'll be probably netting 30-40k depending on where you are

I'd say a lot more than that...once you've got experience of something like calypso or a business area like derivatives you'll be raking it in. £600+ a day on contract easily.

 

[stupid kid]

Does anybody on here work in the gaming industry? What qualifications would one need to get into it?

Buy a copy of Edge, there are loads of adverts for games designers, artists etc in the back, they list the qualifications you need.

 

[obanite]

I'd say a lot more than that...once you've got experience of something like calypso or a business area like derivatives you'll be raking it in. £600+ a day on contract easily.

True. I went from working for an investment bank to the games industry, at the time I was young and idealistic and said "I don't care about the money as long as I enjoy what I'm doing" Which is all well and good if you're not being forced to work at the weekends because project management, publishers etc. are being absolute twats throughout the project lifecycle.

 

[mk12]

I am looking at an OPen University degree in computer science, which will give me all the basic programming/development skills necessary to get into the computing industry.

I was wondering, are there any computer-type jobs I can do without a degree? I'd rather get stuck in right now, before I get my degree?

 

[Barking_Mad]

Well, i am not an artist so it wouldn't be on that side of things. I'd like to get involved in programming, coding and learning the ins and outs of computers. I was thinking of doing a course/degree (preferably in the evenings, or learning from home) and then getting as job doing this. Eventually i'll have the qualifications and experience to go into theg aming industry.

So where should I start? Is it worth looking at courses from the Open University or something similar? Basic computer programming?

I'll ask my brother and get back to you - that's if he can take 2 mins off from programming!

 

[scallyfanboy]

I used to be a games programmer. If it's what you want to do then you should go for it I reckon. It's not like it used to be though, in many ways it's a lot easier now, I used to have to write EVERYTHING from the rendering engine (soft and hardware) to the interface - and it was a chew especially when you had to compete against people like Carmack, I still have a book on VGA cards alone that would scare most people to death- now you don't really write games anymore you just focus on an aspect and specialise in that, they buy in a 3D engine (or have one in house), physics libs etc, even the scripting engines are getting pretty generic. DirectX etc have evolved immensely.

Learning C/C# isn't really that difficult either once you get over some of its weirdness, I suppose that too is a lot easier that it used to be as well, no more Boundschecker with the managed versions, a lot more forgiving of mistakes.

Maybe try learning something like BlitzMax to start...programming fundamentals are easily moved between languages but I always found that if I could get something on the screen that I could manipulate it was a lot easier to understand things. It might sound pointless but if you could write something like PacMan...controlling baddies, controlling the player and the environment, how those things interract etc, then your head can pretty much extend to writing anything. The concept of a frame, delta-timing...all those basics...it's really not that difficult.

Good luck tho.

 

[mk12]

I used to be a games programmer. If it's what you want to do then you should go for it I reckon. It's not like it used to be though, in many ways it's a lot easier now, I used to have to write EVERYTHING from the rendering engine (soft and hardware) to the interface - and it was a chew especially when you had to compete against people like Carmack, I still have a book on VGA cards alone that would scare most people to death- now you don't really write games anymore you just focus on an aspect and specialise in that, they buy in a 3D engine (or have one in house), physics libs etc, even the scripting engines are getting pretty generic. DirectX etc have evolved immensely.

Learning C/C# isn't really that difficult either once you get over some of its weirdness, I suppose that too is a lot easier that it used to be as well, no more Boundschecker with the managed versions, a lot more forgiving of mistakes.

Maybe try learning something like BlitzMax to start...programming fundamentals are easily moved between languages but I always found that if I could get something on the screen that I could manipulate it was a lot easier to understand things. It might sound pointless but if you could write something like PacMan...controlling baddies, controlling the player and the environment, how those things interract etc, then your head can pretty much extend to writing anything. The concept of a frame, delta-timing...all those basics...it's really not that difficult.

Good luck tho.

So how did you get into the industry? DId you do a course at university? What was your first job in computing?

 

[scallyfanboy]

I used to just write and write really, anytime I saw something I would try and copy it, eventually that settled down and I knocked the odd game up. Got a few published in mags, or I would code up decent demo's and send them off to publishers, got contracts that way. Every year we would trek off to ECTS too and try and catch the eye of publishers, get quick feedback that way...but like I said that's mostly all changed now although they are still interested in tech demo's etc.

I didn't get to Uni, no, self taught the long and slow way!

First job in computing...erm...can't remember, sorry. Vaguely remember working in a games shop, it was a bit of a blur.

 

[scallyfanboy]

Oh I see...yeah, well if there are any games programming courses about then definitely get on one. Otherwise do what most types do and buy some books on programming (C/C#), some books on game design and get hacking. There's enough samples and demo's about on the net now that you could really cut and paste your way to making a game.

You could always write to a favorite software house of yours and ask them for advice too, I've always done that. Many moons ago I would phone em up and ask, hey, how are you doing that "road" off of Outrun on the speccy, whats your frame rate, how are you doing this and that, and surprisingly they would tell me. But as for general advice on where you might slot in I'm sure they wouldn't mind telling you how their teams are allocated, after all it's in their long term interests to attract talent.