Asking advice to Mr. Wujcik

[UmaSama]

Given that you have a succesfull carrer in the video gaming bussines, I was thinking if you could give me some advice as how to get into the industry.
I'm currently studying software developing and support on a technichal school, and planning to go into college to become a software engineer.
Thanks in advance.

[Erick Wujcik]

Given that you have a successful career in the video gaming business, I was thinking if you could give me some advice as how to get into the industry.
I'm currently studying software developing and support on a technical school, and planning to go into college to become a software engineer.
Thanks in advance.

As with the movie business, there are a lot of different career tracks in the video game field. Are you interested in a creative career? Or a technical career?

If you'd like to work on the technical side, as a programmer/engineer, you are already heading in the right direction by getting a degree in software engineering. That said, here's some advice for anyone who want to be a Game Programming professional:

* Don't neglect your language and documentation skills. Even programmers have to be able to write, and write clearly. Which having technical chops is great, communication is key.

* Don't just settle for taking classes. The only way to become a great programmer is by doing a lot of programming. Just as a concert pianist spends every day playing the piano, so you should be spending at least part of every day designing, coding, and debugging programs. If you're having fun, you're on the right track!

* Try to master every machine, every operating system, every programming language, and every type of algorithm. Remember, the field is never going to get static; instead you'll have to master new stuff every couple of years. Learn how to learn, learn how to learn and adapt quickly, learn how to master your code.

* Chances are the esoteric stuff will almost always be useful. Artificial intelligence, database theory, etc.

* Keep track of the game field. Play games when you can, and make sure its a wide assortment. Read //www.gamasutra.com and other computer game outlets.

* Work on games when you can. There are always plenty of game designers looking for programmer help. The more games you program, the better you'll look to a potential employer.

* Depending on where you go to school, see if you can get gigs as an intern... Ideally for a game company.

Any questions?

Erick

[UmaSama]

Again thank you for the advice.
Though I have two questions:
First- I live in Uruguay and though we're the biggest software exporter of latin america the video game developing is almost nonexistant, so my question is: given your experience of working overseas, what's the best approach to such positions.
Second-Would it be OK if I sent you some source code for you to examine and tell me where I'm wrong and where I'm not?

[JongWK]

[UmaSama]

"Now us Hiring"
Awesome.
ASCII table, always have one near by.

[Erick Wujcik]

First- I live in Uruguay and though we're the biggest software exporter of Latin America the video game developing is almost non-existent, so my question is: given your experience of working overseas, what's the best approach to such positions.

There are about a dozen places in the world that could be defined as game production centers. Here are a few, off the top of my head:

1. San Francisco Bay Area (aka Silicon Valley). By far the biggest; just about the center of the world.
2. Los Angeles
3. Seattle
4. Austin, Texas
5. Montreal, Quebec, Canada
6. Greater London, England

Others are scattered around the world. You can look at the company listing on gamasutra.com and see places where there are at least a dozen developers (Shanghai, for example, would just make the list).

If you don't already live in one of these places, you've really got only two choices:

1. Move. Go to wherever you can find the largest concentration of game professionals. Why? Because every employer would rather hire a local person, rather than to have to fly someone in from another country. And the more local companies, the more turnover in personnel, and the more jobs available.

or

2. Get Local. Work on a game wherever you are. If there are no game companies, then start your own. Find other locals who are interested, and start building a game. The best way to get a job in the game biz is to have credits on published, available, well-known games. If you aren't willing or able to move, then you have to make games wherever you happen to be.

Second-Would it be OK if I sent you some source code for you to examine and tell me where I'm wrong and where I'm not?

Unfortunately, my programming skills are a bit out of date, so I really can't help you with your source code.

See, the game biz, like the movie biz, now has specialized professions. Here's the current breakdown:

1. Producers. Basically management people who control the schedule and the budget.

2. Game Designers. People like myself who do the writing and game design (combat systems, world building, character creation, etc.). Basically we're very well paid Game Masters.

3. Level Designers. Guys who build and populate environments using various software tools (Unreal Engine, for example). The Level Designers use the design documents to put together the playable elements of the game.

4. Artists. Talented folks whose tasks range from concept art (the original drawings), through 3D model construction, to various kinds of shading, coloring and other tweaking of art elements, ranging from environments, to characters, to objects, to visual effects.

5. Animators. The ones who take the art product and turn it into little movies... or give motion to the various characters and monsters show they'll seem to run, dodge and die realistically.

6. Audio Engineers. Sound specialists of various flavors.

7. Programmers/Engineers. The coders who do all the real grunt work.

Erick

[JongWK]

Soooo... any chance of seeing an Amber computer game?

[Otha]

What would you want to see in an Amber computer game?

Personally I'd like to see something very like KOTOR, with multiple outcomes, complex interpersonal plotting, and a system that doesn't require having the reflexes of a teenager.