Careers in the game (and simulation) industry
Dr. Lewis Dr. Lewis PulsipherPulsipher
Teachgamedesign.blogspot.coTeachgamedesign.blogspot.comm
Pulsiphergames.comPulsiphergames.compulsiphergamedesign.blogspot.pulsiphergamedesign.blogspot.
comcomCopyright 2009 Lewis Pulsipher
Questions: Age Play games how many hours a day? Ever make a game? Think making video games is easy? What do you want to do? Think all you need is a great idea?
April 21, 2023
Who am I? Designed my own games from a very young age Began playing commercial wargames in early ‘60s Early video game experience: Atari 2600, DOS Designer of six commercially-published board
wargames (most recently, foreign language editions of Britannia, Nov ‘08)
Worked in computer support (programming, chief of PC/network support) at Womack medical center 9+ years
First to teach game design in North Carolina as far as I know (Fall ’04)
Presently writing book(s) about how to design games, and how to teach people to design games
Monthly contributor to Gamasutra/GameCareerGuide (and “expert blogger” there)
Teaching is my profession, game design my avocation Games good to me (met wife thanks to D&D!) Pulsipher.net http://pulsiphergamedesign.blogspot.com/ http://teachgamedesign.blogspot.com
Some of my games
April 21, 2023
Note about the slides
Slides are provided primarily for those who want detailed notes later, not as an accompaniment to the talk
Consequently, they are “rather wordy” Available at
http://pulsipher.net/teaching1.htm Or just go to pulsipher.net (not .com)
and look for teaching material
My Objectives
Is this a good career? What career specializations are
there?– Three main ones—programmer, artist,
game designer How do you get there?
– Teach yourself or go to school
A career?
Video games make more $$$ than movies
Simulations industry is growing rapidly
The majority of Americans play video games
(The tabletop game industry is going great guns as well.)
Can be lots of fun at times
BUT:
Subject to instability in employment
Work long hours No, you won’t be a “rock star” People often leave games for other
work (such as simulations)
Careers—dose of reality Game creators don’t play games much at
work! Making games is work—though many will
tell you it’s very stimulating work “Passion” and love of games is expected,
it’s not nearly enough to get you a job You must have skills that the studio needs! You have to prepare yourself to compete
with tens of thousands of wannabes! And you won’t get rich
April 21, 2023
Careers--artists
Most numerous—artists– 2D concept artists– 2D storyboard artists– Environment artists (2D and 3D)– 3D modeling of characters
• Two to eight weeks for one main character!
– (Examples of 3D from 3ds Max)
Careers-programmers Programmers second most
numerous kind of employee 20 years ago programmers also
did most of the art and design—not any more
Requires use of logic, methodical analysis, patience, problem-solving
Paid much more than artists and designers
Careers--designers
Some level designers may be hired directly out of school
Game designers are usually experienced game creation employees before they get a designer job
Ideas are worth “nothing,” it’s the execution that counts
Video games tend to be “designed by committee”
Other categories
Producers—ultimately in charge of making the game
Sound persons Composers Accountants, marketers, business
managers, IT guys, etc.
How do I get there?
You have to prepare yourself to be valuable to the studio
For every job open there are dozens of people wanting it
Wanting a job badly won’t get you one
Passion won’t get you a job No one is going to “give” you a job—
you have to earn it
Things you should want for yourself, for the good of your long-term future Prepare yourself so that you can obtain
non-game-industry jobs as well If you’re going to a college or university
—a good idea in most cases--get a real degree – Specialized game schools are not only
expensive, they are accredited only as trade schools, not colleges—not a real degree
Three things the video game industry wants from “new blood” Ability to work in teams Ability to think critically (“critical
thinking”) Understanding of the pipeline
process
Three things every employer wants from you
Good written communication skills Good oral communication skills Ability to work in a team (yes, that
again)
Teach Yourself?
The “School of Hard Knocks” can work, but takes a lot of self-direction– It’s how I learned
You don’t have to have a degree to get a job in our industries. This is different from most, these days
Or go to school—”local” schools teaching game creation FTCC has an Associates degree in
“Simulation and Game Development”– This is where I teach, primarily the game
design related classes– “College Connections” classes open to high
schoolers (juniors and seniors) NC State has a concentration in games in
both their Fine Arts and Programming/ “Computer Science” departments (Bachelor’s degree). Nothing for designers
Why a community college? It won’t cost an arm and a leg, you
won’t be deep in debt when done You can continue at a four-year
school if you wish Small classes (nothing with a
hundred or even 50 students) Many cc instructors talk with
students, not at them, and are concerned for their success
There is no “easy button”If you want something, you
have to work for it.If you want an easy job, keep
looking, and good luck.If it was easy, they wouldn’t
pay you diddly squat (flipping burgers is easy, and
pay is minimal).
Questions? Comments?
END
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