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"Breaking into Game Development as a Student"

Submitted by redwyre on

I found this presentation, thought some people here might get something out of it: http://www.dallasigda.org/IGDA%20-%20home_files/Meeting_notes/Breaking%…

Submitted by Daemin on Sun, 22/02/04 - 10:54 AM Permalink

Just seems to cover the basics of it, nothing that I didn't already know...

It's alright as an overview illustrating some key points of this thing called "game development".

Submitted by Jacana on Sun, 22/02/04 - 5:42 PM Permalink

Why dont we have some of our former students who now work in the industry talk a bit about what they did and see if any of the suggestions from the like above were used by them :)

Submitted by Daemin on Mon, 23/02/04 - 1:03 AM Permalink

That would be a good idea, and even though I'm not in the industry yet (I would've been...) I can add that persistence pays off, not necessarily contacting them every day, or flooding their inboxes with mail, but just being persistent and keeping in contact works...

Now for some other contributions? Maybe even if they are just anecdotal - if we get enough it might become a well known fact.

Submitted by Blitz on Mon, 23/02/04 - 6:29 AM Permalink

I'll let you know in about a week if telling your interviewers that you hate companies like theirs in an interview is a good or bad idea :P
CYer, Blitz

Submitted by J I Styles on Mon, 23/02/04 - 10:18 AM Permalink

my personal golden rule I tell anyone that asks - learn that it's not "The Industry" and realise you're going for a job, not a privelaged status. Be yourself in an interview, since you're going to be working with these people - they don't want to hire some stiff emotionless and humourless person that most people think is proper interview protocol.

Submitted by Malus on Mon, 23/02/04 - 9:00 PM Permalink

Work your butt off! And I mean really, not just on rainy weekends, I went to sleep around 3-4am for 8 months getting my portfolios done!! I wouldn't recommend that but my determination paid off in the end.
Get a decent portfolio together and send it out..to everyone. Ring, visit, ring, ring.
Accept (and listen to) the knockbacks and don't give up.

I would be making a new portfolio the minute I sent out the first one etc, you don't want to show the same work twice, no matter how good you think it is, if it was good enough you'd have the job. [:P]

Most of all, and this may seem harsh but really ask yourself, am I good enough, do I really want this? Because a game job isn't as luxurious and bling bling as everyone makes out, its hard work, sometimes with little reward or acknowledgment.

If your answer is hell yes!!, then your half way there, determination and enthusiasm will show through in both your work and attitude. [:)]

Submitted by Daemin on Tue, 24/02/04 - 3:12 AM Permalink

I think one of the main things to do when you get knocked back is at least give them a call or email later on afterwards and ask what you did wrong, or how you could improve yourself for next time.

Submitted by jwalduck on Tue, 24/02/04 - 4:53 AM Permalink

Not specifically about the games industry but on topic. Two years ago I was made redundant from my IT job, the company was changing direction and my skill set was no longer needed.

In the exit interviews I was the only one to ask "What would I have to learn to stick with the company?" I still lost my job but 2 months later I got asked back. Partly because the company had shot itself in the foot by losing all that skill, but mainly because i was the only one who a willingness to accomodate change.

Back in the bad old days when I was pimping a folio and demo reel I'd get knock backs which were basically "Nice work, but it has a lot of X and we want Y". In hindsight I wish I had said "Give me a week and I'll show you I can do Y."

Showing you are skilled is good. Showing you are flexible and self motivated, in any industry, is even better.

Submitted by J I Styles on Tue, 24/02/04 - 10:24 AM Permalink

Very well said jwalducky, couldn't agree more.

Submitted by Blitz on Sat, 28/02/04 - 10:40 AM Permalink

PS. It seems to work out quite well :)
CYer, Blitz

Posted by redwyre on

I found this presentation, thought some people here might get something out of it: http://www.dallasigda.org/IGDA%20-%20home_files/Meeting_notes/Breaking%…


Submitted by Daemin on Sun, 22/02/04 - 10:54 AM Permalink

Just seems to cover the basics of it, nothing that I didn't already know...

It's alright as an overview illustrating some key points of this thing called "game development".

Submitted by Jacana on Sun, 22/02/04 - 5:42 PM Permalink

Why dont we have some of our former students who now work in the industry talk a bit about what they did and see if any of the suggestions from the like above were used by them :)

Submitted by Daemin on Mon, 23/02/04 - 1:03 AM Permalink

That would be a good idea, and even though I'm not in the industry yet (I would've been...) I can add that persistence pays off, not necessarily contacting them every day, or flooding their inboxes with mail, but just being persistent and keeping in contact works...

Now for some other contributions? Maybe even if they are just anecdotal - if we get enough it might become a well known fact.

Submitted by Blitz on Mon, 23/02/04 - 6:29 AM Permalink

I'll let you know in about a week if telling your interviewers that you hate companies like theirs in an interview is a good or bad idea :P
CYer, Blitz

Submitted by J I Styles on Mon, 23/02/04 - 10:18 AM Permalink

my personal golden rule I tell anyone that asks - learn that it's not "The Industry" and realise you're going for a job, not a privelaged status. Be yourself in an interview, since you're going to be working with these people - they don't want to hire some stiff emotionless and humourless person that most people think is proper interview protocol.

Submitted by Malus on Mon, 23/02/04 - 9:00 PM Permalink

Work your butt off! And I mean really, not just on rainy weekends, I went to sleep around 3-4am for 8 months getting my portfolios done!! I wouldn't recommend that but my determination paid off in the end.
Get a decent portfolio together and send it out..to everyone. Ring, visit, ring, ring.
Accept (and listen to) the knockbacks and don't give up.

I would be making a new portfolio the minute I sent out the first one etc, you don't want to show the same work twice, no matter how good you think it is, if it was good enough you'd have the job. [:P]

Most of all, and this may seem harsh but really ask yourself, am I good enough, do I really want this? Because a game job isn't as luxurious and bling bling as everyone makes out, its hard work, sometimes with little reward or acknowledgment.

If your answer is hell yes!!, then your half way there, determination and enthusiasm will show through in both your work and attitude. [:)]

Submitted by Daemin on Tue, 24/02/04 - 3:12 AM Permalink

I think one of the main things to do when you get knocked back is at least give them a call or email later on afterwards and ask what you did wrong, or how you could improve yourself for next time.

Submitted by jwalduck on Tue, 24/02/04 - 4:53 AM Permalink

Not specifically about the games industry but on topic. Two years ago I was made redundant from my IT job, the company was changing direction and my skill set was no longer needed.

In the exit interviews I was the only one to ask "What would I have to learn to stick with the company?" I still lost my job but 2 months later I got asked back. Partly because the company had shot itself in the foot by losing all that skill, but mainly because i was the only one who a willingness to accomodate change.

Back in the bad old days when I was pimping a folio and demo reel I'd get knock backs which were basically "Nice work, but it has a lot of X and we want Y". In hindsight I wish I had said "Give me a week and I'll show you I can do Y."

Showing you are skilled is good. Showing you are flexible and self motivated, in any industry, is even better.

Submitted by J I Styles on Tue, 24/02/04 - 10:24 AM Permalink

Very well said jwalducky, couldn't agree more.

Submitted by Blitz on Sat, 28/02/04 - 10:40 AM Permalink

PS. It seems to work out quite well :)
CYer, Blitz