Do I have a chance in game dev industry?

Submitted by raicuandi on
Forum
Job and Work Experience

Hello,

Since this is really my (almost) first post, I'll also introduce myself. My name is Andy Anderson, I've moved to Australia a month ago. (in Adelaide more precisely, I'm mostly know on the internet as 'raicuandi')

I'd like to ask you guys of your opinion if I stand a chance to break into the game development 'industry'.

Here's something about me/skills:
* I've started programming early, I went to competitions and I even managed to get 4th or 5th a couple of times on the national level of the Programming Olympics (that was back in Romania, and that would mean a national-wide competition, which are held for most of the primary subjects). Good 'ol Pascal days... simple times.
* Now I'm experienced in C++, Java and C#, and I can code a game from bottom to top: 3D graphics using Direct3D (a little OpenGL too), 3D positioned sounds, input, physics, networking, but not much experience with scripting though.
* I believe I am experienced enough to get a job now. My last work: I joined the first serious-enough team without a programmer that I could find on the internet, and in 3 days I had a basic framework with the client settings loading from an xml file, and the window and input were up, in the next 2 days I came up with fully-functional sounds, with 3D positioning possibility, and they can follow nodes in the scene (so if a character moves, let's say, he's speech will also follow him in the 3D world), I've also made a playlist functionality class, that can load and play a list of sounds (for example for the background music) in sequential or random order. I'd say its pretty good given the amount of time. I've made some full-featured games before, but only for the fun, and with my own (sucky) 3D models and textures.
* Never had a job in game dev.
* My strongest point is definitely engine design!
* I understand a lot of technologies and how to use them, like rendering optimizations (such as portals and antiportals), data streaming engines for MMORPGs (like Guild Wars; instead of patching), HDR and many many others...

One disadvantage is no university degree. (no uni at ALL)

What do you guys think, do I stand a chance to get into the game dev industry?

Thanks in advance,
Andy

Submitted by Brain on Sun, 24/06/07 - 3:30 PM Permalink

A strong portfolio can overcome a lack of a degree. The industry is still young enough that a degree isn't a necessity, as long as you can demonstrate the skills.

Not to say getting a degree is a waste of time, and you'll always find people swaying either way on the issue (especially should you ever want to career switch), though that wasn't your question. @:-)

Posted by raicuandi on
Forum
Job and Work Experience

Hello,

Since this is really my (almost) first post, I'll also introduce myself. My name is Andy Anderson, I've moved to Australia a month ago. (in Adelaide more precisely, I'm mostly know on the internet as 'raicuandi')

I'd like to ask you guys of your opinion if I stand a chance to break into the game development 'industry'.

Here's something about me/skills:
* I've started programming early, I went to competitions and I even managed to get 4th or 5th a couple of times on the national level of the Programming Olympics (that was back in Romania, and that would mean a national-wide competition, which are held for most of the primary subjects). Good 'ol Pascal days... simple times.
* Now I'm experienced in C++, Java and C#, and I can code a game from bottom to top: 3D graphics using Direct3D (a little OpenGL too), 3D positioned sounds, input, physics, networking, but not much experience with scripting though.
* I believe I am experienced enough to get a job now. My last work: I joined the first serious-enough team without a programmer that I could find on the internet, and in 3 days I had a basic framework with the client settings loading from an xml file, and the window and input were up, in the next 2 days I came up with fully-functional sounds, with 3D positioning possibility, and they can follow nodes in the scene (so if a character moves, let's say, he's speech will also follow him in the 3D world), I've also made a playlist functionality class, that can load and play a list of sounds (for example for the background music) in sequential or random order. I'd say its pretty good given the amount of time. I've made some full-featured games before, but only for the fun, and with my own (sucky) 3D models and textures.
* Never had a job in game dev.
* My strongest point is definitely engine design!
* I understand a lot of technologies and how to use them, like rendering optimizations (such as portals and antiportals), data streaming engines for MMORPGs (like Guild Wars; instead of patching), HDR and many many others...

One disadvantage is no university degree. (no uni at ALL)

What do you guys think, do I stand a chance to get into the game dev industry?

Thanks in advance,
Andy

Submitted by Brain on Sun, 24/06/07 - 3:30 PM Permalink

A strong portfolio can overcome a lack of a degree. The industry is still young enough that a degree isn't a necessity, as long as you can demonstrate the skills.

Not to say getting a degree is a waste of time, and you'll always find people swaying either way on the issue (especially should you ever want to career switch), though that wasn't your question. @:-)