The Job Advice Thread
The "We're Hiring" thread kind of reminded me of a question I've been asking myself.
OK, so here's what I want to do -
Write stories for video games.
Come up with game concepts.
Write music for video games.
Draw art for video games. You know, define the art style of a game.
And so on.
Trouble is, I'm not even sure what this job is called.
Needless to say, I don't really know how to end up doing something like that. Pre-requisites? Qualifications?
I just want to make (at the risk of sounding like an over-confident idiot) my own games. And maybe make a buck out of it? This is pretty much my dream job.
But I don't know squat about programming, and trust me - I've tried. I probably have some kind XYZdyslexicABC-disorder, I just get confused when it comes down to symbols and numbers.
However, I do enjoy drawing comic books, writing stories and I also have weird game concepts that at least I find interesting from time to time that I really want to put out.
Like I said, I have no idea where to start, how to start, what do start, or hell, who to ask.
OK, so here's what I want to do -
Write stories for video games.
Come up with game concepts.
Write music for video games.
Draw art for video games. You know, define the art style of a game.
And so on.
Trouble is, I'm not even sure what this job is called.
Needless to say, I don't really know how to end up doing something like that. Pre-requisites? Qualifications?
I just want to make (at the risk of sounding like an over-confident idiot) my own games. And maybe make a buck out of it? This is pretty much my dream job.
But I don't know squat about programming, and trust me - I've tried. I probably have some kind XYZdyslexicABC-disorder, I just get confused when it comes down to symbols and numbers.
However, I do enjoy drawing comic books, writing stories and I also have weird game concepts that at least I find interesting from time to time that I really want to put out.
Like I said, I have no idea where to start, how to start, what do start, or hell, who to ask.
Sign in to comment in this discussion.
Comments
Writing is comparatively rare in the game industry, and there's not really such a thing as a "game concept" guy -most people including engineers, artists, and so on are full of great ideas and there's usually not a need for full time idea-men.
Stories, however - would be my primary interest.
I like 2d games.
LURVE em. In fact, I even tried to learn how to use the "Adventure Game Studio", but I just ended up realizing what a total idiot I am when it comes to any software other than Photoshop.
The main reason is that there has been one particular idea that was born when I was 10 - it was kind of accidental, but I've molded it into something I like.
Basically, it's an extremely story-based sci-fi Metroid type game with a heavy tinge of the early 90's adventure games(phew).
Needless to say, I'm desperate to see if people will enjoy this, or if I can actually make this game happen. I've been obsessed with this idea, I've written stories in this game universe, I've drawn characters and what-not.
Man, if I sound excited, it's because I've never really spoken about this idea to anyone.
I don't want to be the "overseer" and make sure things are going "exactly the way I imagined it", I just want to see this idea play out. I just want to give the story, art and the basic ideas that I have to the "game guys" and let them refine it so it works.
The video game industry is not the place to go if you want to make YOUR game. You'd be better off starting an indie project or a mod team or something. If you really do want to get into the game industry, your best chances are as an artist or programmer.
So I guess that it mostly relies on contacts.
I would guess that the story-writing process is way different from the comic books industry - considering that as far as I know, I've never really seen any similar jpb postings.
Is there any resource site or something like that anyone could suggest that would just give me a general idea of how the industry works in respect to storylines/art?
Probably the best way to tell is by Gamasutra's job listings it shows roughly how the industry is shaped, with the majority of available jobs being in programming, level design and art.
You can deal with the s*** the boss dishes out, in the most meaningful way possible.
But if you reeeeally want to make games without knowing... how to make games, I guess, my advice is to become really famous for something else. It's what Stephen Spielberg, Joe Madureira, and Akira Yamaoka did.
I'm interested as someone who plays games and is always saying "they should try this" wanting to put there ideas into practice to see if they play well and are actually any fun
I'd just wanna do some modding as a hobby or something to see what I can come up with, but I really don't have the first idea where to begin, my lack of basic "computer language" goes as far as the most basic of basic "20 GOTO 10" we're talking here.
Where do you guys reckon would be a good place to start?
For artists and programmers, it's about your portfolio / technical exam and personality, not your degree.
What kinds of things do you look for in those areas then?
I don't know anything about portfolio reviews -maybe one of the artists on the forum can tell you.
Engineer interviews on the other hand, I can talk about. They usually last 4-6 hours. Multiple engineers will ask you a series of questions and give you puzzles about math, engineering, programming, and logic. You don't have to get everything exactly perfect, but you should be able to come up with a practical enough solution.
And of course we like people we think we'll get along with.
Irishmile, I want to seriously encourage you to apply at TTG. I love all of you art and think that you would be great at it.
That actually sounds fun, in a strange sort of way. Or maybe I'm the strange one.
With what ingredients? Lettuce? Cheese? Tomato?
Spelling nazi moment, it's 'roles'.
No, I actually sort of agree. You're either not the strange one, or we're both strange ones - either way I'm comfortable.
Yeah, typo.
Write Stories for video games - Writer. This could also be designer. Both are comparatively rare in the industry.
Come up with game concepts ~ Designer.
Write music for video games = Composer? If you're really talented you can write music for movies as well. I always liked John Williams
Draw art for video games = Concept artist.
Define the art style of a game = Art director. Usually above the concept artist.
See; I am stranger than you guys!
Aside from that the most fun I have is messing about with RPG dialogue editors. Not sure how the TTG engine handles that though. And modifying dialogue-trees usually doesn't really make a game or mod. Although it does make good fan-made patches, since I notice a lot of stuff others seem to miss (the amount of issues KOTOR2 are shipped with is astonishing. Although I guess rushing and no proper testing are partial to that).
Maybe they'll need a professional knitter? No, it's not a job I just made up. I could...er... design patterns to make pattern books to sell to fans who can knit! That would be reaaaally useful, right?
If you can go from that, to making said editors, including proper fileformat support, you're well on your way to become a half-decent programmer.