Many games developers, and publishers at the moment want experience as the most important thing for new employees. What I want to know is how are people new to the industry: A. Be able to get this experience, B. Supposed to be able to know all the industry practices?
I suggest a solution to the second point. Would you, the Grimrock developers, be able to offer your knowledge in you chosen areas in the way of articles, or tutorial videos? It is something very few companies actually do, and I think it could make Almost Human unique.
Something... Unique
Re: Something... Unique
It's different between countries, but yeah, experience is often listed as one of the most important things you need. Finding a job is extremely difficult; companies often ignore you completely unless you have years and years of experience under your belt. Things you can and should do is apply as a trainee, or a part-time worker, or even as a freelancer if you have the skills. For game industry you need things like pictures, art, screenshots or demos, basically just stuff you can show off. I'm speaking from experience here.
There are already few interesting videos on their YouTube page, good for you if you're aiming to become an artist... http://www.youtube.com/user/AlmostHumanGames.
There are already few interesting videos on their YouTube page, good for you if you're aiming to become an artist... http://www.youtube.com/user/AlmostHumanGames.
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Sentient_Simian
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Fri Mar 02, 2012 5:01 pm
Re: Something... Unique
I'm more aiming to be a programmer. I'm just starting to learn Allegro and by the end of the year I will have a fully functional 2D game. Not sure whether to do a Platformer, Shooter, or Sidescroller though.
Re: Something... Unique
I don't know how a freelancer would get started, but many friends have told me that developers recruit heavily out of programming classes, with their portfolio's and such,.
"The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents."
-H.P Lovecraft
^Admit it's greatness or get out!:P
-H.P Lovecraft
^Admit it's greatness or get out!:P
Re: Something... Unique
I've seen 3D-modelers get hired as freelancers just by showing off their work. Good enough stuff gets you hired even if you don't have experience. 
Just gotta work real hard.
Just gotta work real hard.
Re: Something... Unique
Here is how this works:
First you need to understand what you are getting into. A job in the gaming industry is still a job. You'll have to work. Sometimes a lot more than 40 hours a week. Most companies have bosses. All companies get crunch time. Making games is not exactly the same as playing games. It may very well be, that this is not the type of career that is right for you.
If you are absolutely certain and ready to commit to this long term goal, here are some pointers:
1. Start doing it as a hobby. "It" can be whatever part of game development you are interested in. Spend your time programming or drawing or writing or designing levels.
2. Get an education. It doesn't have to be in your chosen field — the important part is that you show that you are able to stick to goals, meet deadlines, etc. Of course it helps if you do major in whatever you'd be doing in the industry, but getting into a good school, getting good grades, and picking up both the knowledge and the ability to study and think — is even more important.
3. Get a job somewhere else. Yes, the gaming industry is tough to get into, but finding a job is not. If you are a programmer — go program over at some boring office. You will get tons of valuable experience. If you are a designer — go design over at that same boring office. You might hate your job, but it's worth it. That's how you learn, since college will only teach you the tools (possibly wrong ones) and not much more. In you are a writer — write! A lot!
4. Volunteer! That means work for free and let other people reap the benefits of whatever it is that you produce. Do a few years of that, and you'll get some seriously good experience as well as build up an impressive portfolio.
5. Get together with like-minded friends and start your own company. Even if you fail, which most companies do, it is still a lot more than most other applicants will have on their resume when the time comes to apply for your dream job.
First you need to understand what you are getting into. A job in the gaming industry is still a job. You'll have to work. Sometimes a lot more than 40 hours a week. Most companies have bosses. All companies get crunch time. Making games is not exactly the same as playing games. It may very well be, that this is not the type of career that is right for you.
If you are absolutely certain and ready to commit to this long term goal, here are some pointers:
1. Start doing it as a hobby. "It" can be whatever part of game development you are interested in. Spend your time programming or drawing or writing or designing levels.
2. Get an education. It doesn't have to be in your chosen field — the important part is that you show that you are able to stick to goals, meet deadlines, etc. Of course it helps if you do major in whatever you'd be doing in the industry, but getting into a good school, getting good grades, and picking up both the knowledge and the ability to study and think — is even more important.
3. Get a job somewhere else. Yes, the gaming industry is tough to get into, but finding a job is not. If you are a programmer — go program over at some boring office. You will get tons of valuable experience. If you are a designer — go design over at that same boring office. You might hate your job, but it's worth it. That's how you learn, since college will only teach you the tools (possibly wrong ones) and not much more. In you are a writer — write! A lot!
4. Volunteer! That means work for free and let other people reap the benefits of whatever it is that you produce. Do a few years of that, and you'll get some seriously good experience as well as build up an impressive portfolio.
5. Get together with like-minded friends and start your own company. Even if you fail, which most companies do, it is still a lot more than most other applicants will have on their resume when the time comes to apply for your dream job.
Re: Something... Unique
I don't have much to add to Alaric's list... Except maybe, every talented guy in the game industry I know has a passion for their craft, be it coding, 2D or 3D graphics, and all of them started as hobbyists. My advice is to just start doing the thing you like and get together with likeminded friends and make small games as a hobby first. At least Finnish game companies value good quality hobby games as work samples highly. Remember it only takes 10000 hours to become an expert in any field 