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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