A Future in Game Design - Advice?

[Sim1013 1]

Hi there!

I know there are many talented people in this community and was hoping I could perhaps get some advice from you. I have always wanted to have a career in the gaming industry, preferably PC, and have always loved working with computers. I don't have much programming or design experience, but I am fairly knowledgeable about computers in general and can catch on very quickly!

I'm going to be heading to college soon, 1 year of high school left, and was wondering what key things I should focus on to be a stand out computer student. Should I be practicing programming with some online courses now, or perhaps focus more on math? Do you think it would be better to get a liberal arts education with an emphasis on game design or go to a speciality college? Basically, I'm just looking for some advice from someone who has walked this trail before me and couldn't think of a better group of people to ask!

Thank you so much for any help!

[Voar Tok 4]

Well, while I applaud your choice of profession, I want to point out something that most people don't know. Game programmers are a group of people that move around from company to company fairly frequently. It's rare for someone to work for a company for more than two or three years (usually they are hired for a particular project and then laid off when the project is done). Now, if that sounds like something you're willing to work with, then I'd say to go for it. But I think you should know that before you jump head first into this job.

Now, being someone who is half-way walking down this road already, there are some things that I can tell you for sure would be good places to spend your time. First off, I would recommend having a degree from a university rather than a specialty college. (As in, it'd be better to get a degree from some university, even if they were basically founded for one purpose, than to get your degree from ITT Tech or some place like it). Now, most of what you're going to be doing in the process of getting that degree will be programming, but before you really fire off into that, I'd suggest you bone up on your math. You're going to have to take at least through Calculus II, and I'd suggest that you have enough understanding of math to be able to go straight into Calculus I when you get into college. If you don't have that much math skills, you can probably put off the Cal I for a year, but after that, delaying any further would most likely limit what classes you are allowed to take. Most of the programming classes are going to assume that you don't really have much experience in it, but if you want to pick up some core experience, I suggest that you read the book Game Programming For Teens. The book assumes you have no experience in programming, so it can help you no matter what your skill level is. In addition to that, you'll want to make sure you are studying the C language (currently, they're up to C#) and the XML language. A knowledge of Python and PERL scripting wouldn't hurt either.

The only remaining advice is that you shouldn't try to do all of that at once.

[srsedate 118]

First off, I haven't walked this path.  However, I do currently produce small-time video games for personal use.  I use Game Maker for a lot of my games.  Now, upon first Googling and downloading Game Maker, it may seem like it may get you nowhere.  However, if you experiment with Game Maker, you will find that there is more than meets the eye.  Plus, Game Maker has a built in library for you to learn some code.  Game Maker is a way to make video games using an easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface, and you can literally make any game you want (in 2D, 3D is much harder, however, can be done in Game Maker).  No programming knowledge is required, however, if you take the time to learn it, you will become more logical, you will learn quite a few lines of code, and you may come up with a few ideas along the way.

Game Maker is FREE, and you only have to pay to unlock special features (it's still fun to program without paying, but I did, and now I'm happy that I did.)  Go to:

http://www.yoyogames.com/make

Download Game Maker 7 and see what you think.  Try and make a few games, and you will soon become very well at programming and game-making.  I did, and I only have one year of high school left too.  Also, another thing you might want to look at is Microsoft's Visual C# Basic.

To start making programs for Windows (a little more challenging than Game Maker, and a lot more frusterating, but a lot less restricted), simply go here, and try out a few tutorials:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/beginner/default.aspx

I highly recommend these programs and sites, and if you have any questions or problems, feel absolutely free to contact me via PM, or through my E-Mail:

daddyo117272@gmail.com

Good luck, and I hope you enjoy your future career in the field of Digital Arts and game programming!

[Sim1013 1]

Wow! Thank you both so much for the replies! I'm definately going to be spending some time checking out those sites!

I went to Barnes and Noble today, as well as Amazon, and it seems that the book is a few years old and no longer in production. I could get a used copy, but would you recommend I get a more modern instructional book. Technology changes fast these days!

I am pretty certain that this is the career path that I want to take. I have always been really interested in computers and find it facinating how a box full of various metal pieces is able to transport you to different worlds and realities without ever leaving your own. 

Programming also sounds like a good excuse to get out and see the world LOL! 

[srsedate 118]

As I type right now, I have two books right here in my lap. Get these books, and you will get far!

3D Game Programming All In One by Kenneth C. Finney (Comes with FREE software!) == http://www.amazon.com/Game-Programming-Course-Technology-Development/dp/159200136X

3D Game Animation for DUMMIES by Kelly L. Murdock (Comes with sample files.) == http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesTitle/3D-Game-Animation-For-Dummies.productCd-0764587897.html

After getting these two books, you will definitely get far! They're both from 2005, and I saw them in the store the other day. Good luck, and PM me or E-Mail me if you have any questions.

NOTE: The first book has two editions, an advanced book, and a beginner book. The advanced version will say Advanced 3D Game Programming All in One. Start out with the first book, and then move on to advanced.

Advanced Book: == http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Game-Programming-All-One/dp/1592007333

[Sim1013 1]

Awesome! Thank you so much!

I'll definitely check those out!

Happy 4th of July!

[Jasoncw 11,839]

In addition to what has already been said, I think you should study any kinds of games of logic, riddles, puzzles, number games, and all of that kind of stuff.  I think that logic and rules is something that comes up a lot in both programming, as well as the concept of a "game".

If you want to do the less programmy things, then you should learn about film, literature, theater, and that kind of stuff.  The point here isn't as much about being inspired or creative as it is about learning the theory of these things.  Techniques on how you can go about putting stories together, etc.  If you go to a non-technical school you'll be able to take these as electives.

I think that no matter what area you want to get into, learning how to communicate well is super important.  You need to be able to write and speak well, and you need to be able to draw effective diagrams.  When people design games and programs they end up with really ridiculous charts drawn on the whiteboard with all of these lines and bubbles and all that crazy stuff.  And a lot of gamers and programmers are squabbly geeky people.  It would impress a lot of people if you can confidently stand in the front of the room, and effectively communicate your ideas.  Being able to work really well in groups can go far too.

I'm not going into game design though.  I was in a game design club at a university for a year, and I've read stuff on the internet (haven't we all, lol), but I'm not involved in the gaming industry (would be fun though!).