Games Development.

[PaulMacC]

Just wondering how many people are interesting in going into the Games Dev. industry in the future. I'm going to try, possibly by taking a full fledged Games Development course at University or Computer Science. We'll see, but I hope to either join a company if everything goes to plan or somehow start my own with a few friends also interested in this sector. There is a slim chance any of this will happen but I can always fall back on some other jobs. Anyone else interested, if so what role. I'm looking for the programming sector.

[Firehorse]

Just wondering how many people are interesting in going into the Games Dev. industry in the future. I'm going to try, possibly by taking a full fledged Games Development course at University or Computer Science. We'll see, but I hope to either join a company if everything goes to plan or somehow start my own with a few friends also interested in this sector. There is a slim chance any of this will happen but I can always fall back on some other jobs. Anyone else interested, if so what role. I'm looking for the programming sector.

Games always need graphics designers, thats where i'd probably come in. (box art etc)

[Fez]

I'll be going into Creative Writing and hopefully hopping the train aboard the 'Creative Director' line, the number one sought position in videogames, thanks to the rise of 'STORY IN VIDJAGAMES NAO PLZ' rants.

I won't jump that train for a few years though.

[Angel-Light]

Well next year I am hoping to do a module in games development so we shall see how that goes.

It may be better to go for a degree in Computer Science that way you aren't to stuck on the one thing and you are able to do many things ;)

[PaulMacC]

Well next year I am hoping to do a module in games development so we shall see how that goes.

It may be better to go for a degree in Computer Science that way you aren't to stuck on the one thing and you are able to do many things ;)
Games Dev is something I'm really passionate about. I want to do it no matter what, even if I fail like 1000 times. I know what I want to do and its defo in the games industry. I have no idea of coding what-so-ever at the moment although the course I'm looking to apply for only requires ICT @ A Level, so hopefully if all goes well. I actually have a bunch of friends wanting to start a games company too. But yeah, something I defo wanna do. I actually have a friend really talented at music, one really talented at art, one talented at script-writing and english and a few others going to the same games dev course with me. Maybe I'm being too optimistic but yeah, really excited for the future :)

[Firehorse]

Games Dev is something I'm really passionate about. I want to do it no matter what, even if I fail like 1000 times. I know what I want to do and its defo in the games industry. I have no idea of coding what-so-ever at the moment although the course I'm looking to apply for only requires ICT @ A Level, so hopefully if all goes well. I actually have a bunch of friends wanting to start a games company too. But yeah, something I defo wanna do. I actually have a friend really talented at music, one really talented at art, one talented at script-writing and english and a few others going to the same games dev course with me. Maybe I'm being too optimistic but yeah, really excited for the future :)

very optimistic :) but if you do ever set it up and I just happen to have the right qualifications drop me a line and i'll see what I can offer :P

[PaulMacC]

Developing a game is easy. Developing a good game is the hard part ;)
If shovel-ware like My Little Pony can get published I think my game can :D

[Oleh]

I was planning on being a graphics designer for the games industry but realised i suck at drawing which is a key part.

I am now trying to get into the Testing area of this (i play games most of the time, why not make money doing it)

[Firehorse]

I think entering the game development industry now is harder than in the 90's where less money was needed and everything was a tone easier coding-wise, even if some machines were a pain to use. Starting up a company now would cost upwards of £500,000, if not millions for the more complex games.

[PaulMacC]

I think entering the game development industry now is harder than in the 90's where less money was needed and everything was a tone easier coding-wise, even if some machines were a pain to use. Starting up a company now would cost upwards of £500,000, if not millions for the more complex games.
Arent XBLA games next to nothing to make.

[Firehorse]

Arent XBLA games next to nothing to make.

making of the game itself isn't what costs unless its a big game, even small companies need money, probably best to start with browser games - you can make money off those too with ones such as facebook games where people pay for premium cash, that would sure get funding for a larger company and also give you a good credit rating on taking out a corporate loan.

Even for arcade games they can cost a good £10,000 or more, since they can take several months to make and wages always need paying and royalties too if some content isn't original.

[PaulMacC]

I've read you can submit an idea or concept to Microsoft and depending on whether they like it or not you'll be given development tools.

[Niall!]

Good luck with that. I'm going more into the whole journalistic part of the gaming world.

[Black_Apalachi]

I have a feeling the whole career wouldn't be as exciting as it sounds, unless you had the exclusive task of testing the games or something. In any case, I've taken the completely wrong career path as far as game development is concerned. :P

[Catzsy]

Good luck with that. I'm going more into the whole journalistic part of the gaming world.

That sounds like a great idea with huge potential. Have you thought of Leisure Centre opportunities like gym instructors etc. Not a huge wad of cash but fine until you do. =]

[Fez]

Good luck with that. I'm going more into the whole journalistic part of the gaming world.

Best off starting now and make a name of yourself. I work at several sites and my idea of 'video game journalism' has completely changed over the last two years.

[Firehorse]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8577546.stm

[Neil]

As good as working with video games for a living goes it sounds very fun, I love to play games but the rest of it would put me off them, I wouldn't want to make a hobby into a job, especially considering it's really one of the few things I actually enjoy doing, if I absolutely had to do something in games then it would probably be creative director or something, I've got a few concepts on my computer for various games I'd like to see but it's not something I really care to put into motion.

[Fez]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8577546.stm

I wish Brooker was my dad.

[Stefy09]

i like how he basically calls the developers a bunch of no lifes who don't go out

[dbgtz]

yeah you can just pitch ideas to publishers.

[MrPinkPanther]

Several things.

Firstly games development courses are generally frowned upon. Computer Science gives you a much broader range of skills which Games developers prefer. You need to show that you have a broad grounding in all areas of industry, not just games.

Secondly don't expect that making games will be particuarly fun and that you will be coming up with ideas for them all day long. In all seriousness someone else will have come up with the idea and as a programmer your job will simply be to code part of the gravity system or something along those lines, not fun.

Finally I'm assuming that when you talk about Games Development course you are talking about degree level? Well I don't want to sound mean but then you're a bit behind. In our modern age most people in the industry will be programming flash games and such in their spare time from a fairly young age. Indeed if you look at Game developers now, most of them started out programming in their bedrooms on the Spectrum or similar consoles. The key is to start young and you might have missed that a bit...

[Fez]

Several things.
Secondly don't expect that making games will be particuarly fun and that you will be coming up with ideas for them all day long. In all seriousness someone else will have come up with the idea and as a programmer your job will simply be to code part of the gravity system or something along those lines, not fun.


Depends where you go for work really, a lot of studios let the whole team help with the design process. I'd rather work in a creatively engineered environment than a srs bznis one, it's work at the end of the day, but it's videogames.

[MrPinkPanther]

Depends where you go for work really, a lot of studios let the whole team help with the design process. I'd rather work in a creatively engineered environment than a srs bznis one, it's work at the end of the day, but it's videogames.
Yeh in more independent ones definitely but even then you would have constricted input with everyone attempting to ram their own ideas in too.

[Fez]

Yeh in more independent ones definitely but even then you would have constricted input with everyone attempting to ram their own ideas in too.

Depends in which way input is done. Artists not being told what to do, only giving a basis, everyone else maybe just writing notes of ideas and passing them under the Creative Director's door.

Multiplayer brainstorms etc.

Can be done very well.

[Stefy09]

I think coding is better than putting in ideas. I like watching my code come to life plus I'd suck at ideas

[Axel]

I'm looking to do a Computer Games course at the University of Essex, although it is Computer Games a lot of it is Computer Science, and the degree is Bacheler of Computer Science so it's not limited to Computer Games in future jobs.

[Catzsy]

I'm looking to do a Computer Games course at the University of Essex, although it is Computer Games a lot of it is Computer Science, and the degree is Bacheler of Computer Science so it's not limited to Computer Games in future jobs.

In the budget today, the government is putting in another £35 mil for universities for innovation and specifically mentioned computer gaming.

[Lost_Addict]

Wel i've ha work Exp with lionhead studios, an seein as codemaster, Eagame and lionead are all in guildford (5 mins from the villae live in i hopet

[Stefy09]

you really need to practise replying to threads with whatever you are using ^

[Camy]

Yeah, I've applied for a Computer Games Application Development course at Abertay University in Dundee, really looking forward to it, went for a look around the place last month, its awesome. Oh and they also just got the first PS3 dev kit, in either europe or the world i cant remember lol.

[dbgtz]

Yeah, I've applied for a Computer Games Application Development course at Abertay University in Dundee, really looking forward to it, went for a look around the place last month, its awesome. Oh and they also just got the first PS3 dev kit, in either europe or the world i cant remember lol.
I assume that's for univeristies? :L

[Lost_Addict]

ya i know my keyboard is messing up -.- this is what was meant to be typed

Well i've had work Exp with lionhead studios, and seeing as codemasters, Ea games and lionead are all in guildford (5 mins from the village i live in) i hope so

[Sameer!]

I'd love to work for Ubisoft, Infinity Ward or Epic Games and the other big ones :)

[Stefy09]

apparently it's really hard getting a job in games development (as in the bigger game companies)

[Describe]

It has always been in the back of my mind but I think I've been thinking less about it as I grew up. I live in Dundee, which has Realtime Worlds Ltd (created Lemmings and the GTA series) and so I have always thought about it but with my brain capacity the best I would get is a desk job.

@Camy - Abertay University looks really good. It's always been the forefront for computing and games development as such.