Video game making

[Dr Mindbender]

Does anyone here have aspirations to work in this industry, or do so on an amateur basis as a hobby?

I'm currently doing a course in this area and would be good to share information on this.

[Dr Mindbender]

I would love to cool as hell job.

Normally, it takes 5 years to get an an acknowledged qualification though.

I was lucky cause i found a group willing to train me in a 1-2 year timeframe.

[JazzRemington]

You can practice designing games by trying free software that allows one to make games, such as Inform 7, FPS Creator, etc. I myself have made a few short games using Inform 7, and I found I've learned a great deal about designing games.

[R_P_A_S]

Does anyone here have aspirations to work in this industry, or do so on an amateur basis as a hobby?

I'm currently doing a course in this area and would be good to share information on this.

My speciality is audio. For the last 2 years I've wanted to get into Video Game audio. It's hard, I've even consider taking some basic programming courses. where are you taking yours? Or how are you learning?

[Dr Mindbender]

You dog how did you do that?

this is their site.

http://www.train2game.com/

Unfortunately for you non-uk'ers, i'm afraid i don't think they operate outside the british isles. Also they only have limited course places.

[Weezer]

I have a few game-making programs on my computer, I'm too dumb technology-wise to figure them out though. :D

If I don't become a novelist though, I would like to work with SEGA.

[Killfacer]

Closest i've ever got was using the editor on Neverwinter nights. I learnt a fuckload of script and everything.

It's one of those jobs i would love to have but i don't think i will ever even attempt.

[Dr Mindbender]

Closest i've ever got was using the editor on Neverwinter nights. I learnt a fuckload of script and everything.

It's one of those jobs i would love to have but i don't think i will ever even attempt.

I've read that becoming a game tester is a good way to 'climb the greasy pole'.

You don't need industry specific qualifications to be a game tester, but the pay is pretty bad.

[Killfacer]

I've read that becoming a game tester is a good way to 'climb the greasy pole'.

You don't need industry specific qualifications to be a game tester, but the pay is pretty bad.

Game tester????

You can be a game tester? I don't give a flying fuck about pay, i thought game testing was just something made up to aspire to.

I want to be one.

[Dr Mindbender]

Game tester????

You can be a game tester? I don't give a flying fuck about pay, i thought game testing was just something made up to aspire to.

I want to be one.


Google is your friend. Contrary to popular belief, you dont need a degree to test games (as opposed to developing them which is different).

Be careful though, there are a lot of fly by night companies though making empty promises.

One of the guys in my work was doing it on a part time basis to supplement his income. Don't know which company he was doing it through though.

[Kamerat]

I have been studing computer science for 2 years now. Made some simple top down and side scroling games before i started studing computer science. I would very much like to make a living as a game programmer. But it is not and easy industry to get into.:(
Here is a link to two of my games.
freewebs.com/doctorche/
The graphics are not mine in the Slayer game and neither is the audio in both of the games, but the rest is all self made. I think they only run on WinXP.

[Dr Mindbender]

I have been studing computer science for 2 years now. Made some simple top down and side scroling games before i started studing computer science. I would very much like to make a living as a game programmer. But it is not and easy industry to get into.:(
WinXP.

Apparently if you are going to enter the industry, then now is the time to do it, especially if you live in the british isles.

According to the company teaching me there is a shortage of programmers and designers.

[Kamerat]

Apparently if you are going to enter the industry, then now is the time to do it, especially if you live in the british isles.

According to the company teaching me there is a shortage of programmers and designers.
Oh did not think there where shouch high demand on programmers in this phase/stage of capitalism. You dont think Tiga is saying 'there is lots of jobs' just to get people to join there courses. Well if its true i hope it stays that way some time because i have 1 year left.
Looking at the Train2Game site there is no mention of how much there courses cost or if its free. Is it free or do you pay for it?
I see you'll be learning basic programming so no need for any previuse education. It looks very basic, things that you can learn on your own. Have you made your Hello World! application yet.:)

[Dr Mindbender]

Oh did not think there where shouch high demand on programmers in this phase/stage of capitalism. You dont think Tiga is saying 'there is lots of jobs' just to get people to join there courses.
I doubt it, its costing them a fortune to run this.


Well if its true i hope it stays that way some time because i have 1 year left.
Looking at the Train2Game site there is no mention of how much there courses cost or if its free. Is it free or do you pay for it?
sadly not. It costs £4000 which they 'lent' me, and i have to pay it back in monthly instalments over a 36 month period.


Have you made your Hello World! application yet.:)
Not yet, but its something i plan to research.

[Kamerat]

There is a private college who offer a game programming education in the city where i live.Their tuition is 40000 NOK circa £4000 a year for 3 years. So it seems like average price to pay. For me its way to expencive. Maybe a little late to tell you this now, but a bachelor degree in computer science gives you almost the same education plus a lot more which you can use if game programming is not that interesting anymore, and its free if your studing at public college/university.

[Dr Mindbender]

There is a private college who offer a game programming education in the city where i live.Their tuition is 40000 NOK circa £4000 a year for 3 years. So it seems like average price to pay. For me its way to expencive. Maybe a little late to tell you this now, but a bachelor degree in computer science gives you almost the same education plus a lot more which you can use if game programming is not that interesting anymore, and its free if your studing at public college/university.

The problem with the university courses is they take far too long, and most of the stuff you learn is irrelevant to what the development companies are looking for anyway. They'd rather take on people with experience who've learnt whats actually relevant.

[Kamerat]

I can agree with you that there is some irrelevant subject, some are just bs like the subject Economics and Leadership im takeing now. At least i get to correct the teacher whos trying to brain wash us with his capitalistic propaganda. I cant just let lies like 'Norway has the most equal wages in the world' and 'capitalistic Japan had the biggest increase in industry capacity' be spread to my fellow students.:)

[Dr Mindbender]

I can agree with you that there is some irrelevant subject, some are just bs like the subject Economics and Leadership im takeing now. At least i get to correct the teacher whos trying to brain wash us with his capitalistic propaganda. I cant just let lies like 'Norway has the most equal wages in the world' and 'capitalistic Japan had the biggest increase in industry capacity' be spread to my fellow students.:)

Well its a one size fits all system. It has to cater for different prospective professions, so everyone has to end up spending 2 years longer out of full time employment than they really ought to have to.

Its another indictment of scarcity planning.

[Panda Tse Tung]

I made some games in the past. But graphics quality sucked balls in most of them :p. And only the last one had sounds, lol.

[Kamerat]

What language where you useing? Graphics and sound are not that important when making games. Well not IMO. Focusing on programming, gameplay, goal of the game and what you can do to achieve the goal. Is important when you start making a game.

[Dr Mindbender]

What language where you useing? Graphics and sound are not that important when making games. Well not IMO. Focusing on programming, gameplay, goal of the game and what you can do to achieve the goal. Is important when you start making a game.

At the moment i'm not learning any programming language. Right now i'm having to learn all the ins and outs of the marketing and all the affiliated buzzwords. Its depressing stuff to read actually. Theres about 10 levels of conceptualising, selling and testing before you can release an actual game.

I had a go with C++ before i started this course but it was way over my head. You don't need to be shit hot at programming to be a designer anyway, that is the job of the programmers. You need to have straight A's to become a programmer anyway so that pretty much rules me out sadly lol. You only need to know enough just to understand whats going on.

[Kamerat]

C++ is 1 of the languages the looks most cryptic. Maybe not that best to start of with. If you comprehend if-statements, for and while loops you got the basic of programming.

You need to have straight A's to become a programmerWell i get by with D's and E's.

[Dr Mindbender]

C++ is 1 of the languages the looks most cryptic. Maybe not that best to start of with. If you comprehend if-statements, for and while loops you got the basic of programming.
.

Yes, but i've read its the most appropriate for game-making.

[al8]

Ulster Socialist, are you hoping to be able to make a strategy game based on technocracy?

[Dr Mindbender]

Ulster Socialist, are you hoping to be able to make a strategy game based on technocracy?

It had crossed my mind, yes. :D

In my opinion the brotherhood of nod is a technocracy though.

[al8]

I find it a great idea. We should be turning everything into a weapon for the struggle.

[BogdanV]

I don't know if this fits well with the thread, but I myself am running a total conversion mod based on C&C Renegade's engine. Right now I'm the only guy in the team, doing all the modeling, rigging, testing, map compiling, etc. but it doesn't bother me. Anyway, if anyone's interested, you may check my mod's profile on moddb.com, mods section, Red Phoenix (sorry, can't post links yet). I've been working on more stuff behind the scenes, but computer problems and school have kept me away from my project.

[Dr Mindbender]

I know i'm going to get a lot of flack for this in the CC, but if i was to start a video game makers group who here would join it?

[Kamerat]

I would join but dont know if i would contribut anything.

[Dr Mindbender]

I would join but dont know if i would contribut anything.

If you have knowledge of programming language, this would be a good place to start.

Okay, would anyone other than dr che be interested?

[BogdanV]

I'd be interested. I have basic knowledge of C++ and a bit of Basic, know how to make textures from photo image to "photoshop" and have been doing 3d modeling and perfecting myself in this area for the past 4 years. Sorry if I sound as if I was praising myself.

[Dr Mindbender]

I'd be interested. I have basic knowledge of C++ and a bit of Basic, know how to make textures from photo image to "photoshop" and have been doing 3d modeling and perfecting myself in this area for the past 4 years. Sorry if I sound as if I was praising myself.

Ok, at the risk of attracting flaming by the naysayers here it is.

http://www.revleft.com/vb/group.php?groupid=143

[Sam_b]

Oh for fuck's sake. Tell me please, what exactly is wrong with posting this sort of stuff in the already existing video-games group?

You need to be banned from making more groups, US. How many is it now, and how many are still active?

[Dr Mindbender]

Oh for fuck's sake.

sigh, here cometh the storm.

Also Sean and pretty much Malte have confirmed this isnt an issue, since the amount of bandwidth they take up is negligible.

So you and the band of critics can go and fuck yourselves.



Tell me please, what exactly is wrong with posting this sort of stuff in the already existing video-games group?

Well if you actually bothered to read the group description, you would see why.

[Sam_b]

Where have I ever said there's a bandwidth issue? Its more about clogging up the groups with more of your bullshit ones (on minor glance, theres a grand total of four groups you have created on page one alone), which makes browsing a nightmare.

But anyway, seeing as you're avoiding the question: what was wrong with using the video games group for this, exactly? Or is it your fetishism for sub-dividing everything?

[Dr Mindbender]

But anyway, seeing as you're avoiding the question: what was wrong with using the video games group for this, exactly? Or is it your fetishism for sub-dividing everything?

The Video games group is intended specifically for what it says, playing video games. The new group is far more specific because it relates to the nitty gritty behind the creative process and has nothing to do with playing video games.

If someone was to create a drama enthusiast group, by your logic there would be no need for an aspiring actors group since they are apparently one and the same.

If it will stop your complaining, i have deleted the asthmatics group to compensate for any inconvienience or annoyance on your part.

[Sam_b]

The Video games group is intended specifically for what it says, playing video games.

Why? Seeing as its been inactive since last year I doubt they'll mind anyway :lol:



If someone was to create a drama enthusiast group, by your logic there would be no need for an aspiring actors group since they are apparently one and the same.

Aspiring actors are drama enthusiasts by definition. I don't see your obsession with sub-dividing everything into tiny and insignificant niches. Would it not be better to have these together so at least the group stands a chance of being used?

[Dr Mindbender]

Why? Seeing as its been inactive since last year I doubt they'll mind anyway :lol:

Are you blind?

The VG group is by far the busiest and most active interest group we have.

I anticipate that the new group will recieve members purely from residual from the actual VG group.



Aspiring actors are drama enthusiasts by definition. I don't see your obsession with sub-dividing everything into tiny and insignificant niches. Would it not be better to have these together so at least the group stands a chance of being used?

Not really, because i don't want to have to plough through 2 or 3 pages of halo, knights of the old republic, fallout 3 etc to get to a specific thread on programming or job advice.

[Sam_b]

According to the groups menu, the VG group's last post was: 28th August, 2008.

Well its true that with this group you won't have to trawl down loads of pages. How many member are you expecting this time? 5?

[Dr Mindbender]

According to the groups menu, the VG group's last post was: 28th August, 2008.


Really? This is whats appearing on my screen-

Members (http://www.revleft.com/vb/group.php?do=grouplist&pp=20&dofilter=1&cat=4&sort=members)-95 Discussions (http://www.revleft.com/vb/group.php?do=grouplist&pp=20&dofilter=1&cat=4&sort=discussions)-97 Messages (http://www.revleft.com/vb/group.php?do=grouplist&pp=20&dofilter=1&cat=4&sort=messages)-902 Pictures (http://www.revleft.com/vb/group.php?do=grouplist&pp=20&dofilter=1&cat=4&sort=pictures) -7 Last Post (http://www.revleft.com/vb/group.php?do=grouplist&pp=20&dofilter=1&cat=4&sort=lastpost&order=asc) -Today 15:35






Well its true that with this group you won't have to trawl down loads of pages. How many member are you expecting this time? 5?

Well considering Killfacer, al8, Dr Che and BogdanV have expressed interest in this particular field even before the group existed i'd say we have a good chance of exceeding that.

[Sam_b]

If only they were asthmatics as well eh :lol:

[Dr Mindbender]

If only they were asthmatics as well eh :lol:

yes, maybe you should start a comedy group :rolleyes:

[Sam_b]

I wouldn't want to clog up the groups with another topic that could easily be covered here.

[Dr Mindbender]

I wouldn't want to clog up the groups with another topic that could easily be covered here.

sarcasm (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcasm)

[Sam_b]

Exactly.

[Sam_b]

Well well, I see the group's really taken off.

[Dr Mindbender]

Well well, I see the group's really taken off.

Yes, soon it will excel the 'hands off china' group.

Why don't you stop trolling.