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Advice for a potential game developer?
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Rees Noturana
Red Rock Mining Company
#1 - 2013-11-30 15:58:43 UTC
My son is turning 13 and we've been discussing what he might want to do when he gets older. I think he'd do well in a creative field and we've talked about game development quite a bit. As a programmer I think I've already turned him away from coding without intending to. We've explored 3D modeling some using Blender and tried out Unity for more level oriented development. He seems most interested in writing and concept development. I started out in graphic design before becoming a coder so I don't know how to guide him towards a gaming career. So, I thought I'd ask the devs at my favorite game company.

How did you become a game dev? What advice would you give to a young man thinking about a career as a dev?

_ _
Reiisha
#2 - 2013-11-30 16:25:02 UTC  |  Edited by: Reiisha
Don't conform to what you think your intended audience wants. Don't make a game to sell it, make a game you want to play.

Also, always, ALWAYS focus on the core of your game first and foremost. If it's a shooter, focus on shooting stuff, not on weapon customization, story, or chicken physics. Focus on the moment to moment gameplay of actually shooting stuff.

Many new developers make the mistake of trying to do too much and in the process doing a (wholly unintended) half assed job at every single part.

This focus also makes it easier to finish what you started - If you keep adding stuff you want but can't finish, well, unhappy people :)

If you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all...
Raoul Alberto
State War Academy
Caldari State
#3 - 2013-11-30 19:37:16 UTC
Writing and concept development for games requires sufficient familiarity with programming and graphics to work imaginatively and effectively with technical and artistic individuals and teams. But writing and concept development, per se, derive strength and flexibility from a broad acquaintance with human history, culture and literature.

One can acquire that on one's own through a great deal of reading, of course, but for a 13 year old looking ahead, we're really talking about that old supposedly useless Liberal Arts BA, with some substantial Business coursework. If you can't walk and talk business, too, your concept is not getting off the ground.

If you're the kind of parent who worries about Liberal Arts and employability, maybe you should be steering your child away from game development, period. It's an exciting but pretty risky career goal. But best not to worry too much about the unknowable future; all roads are traveled best, to our maximum potential, if they are roads we love.
Matokin Lemant
#4 - 2013-11-30 20:13:42 UTC
Do exactly the opposite of everything CCP is doing P
Angelique Duchemin
Team Evil
#5 - 2013-11-30 21:15:25 UTC
There are 3 things that are not in demand in the field:

Writers (Handled by people who can actually code and design as well)
Sound technicians
Idea guys


Actual design and working with game engines is almost an insignificant part of game design. The important part is being able to create an experience that people can easily "get into" and then remain in.

Making a few simple card and tabletop games is a great start.

References are important to get into the actual business. To participate in the development of a few mods for popular games is a good reference.

The very sun of heaven seemed distorted when viewed through the polarising miasma welling out from this sea-soaked perversion, and twisted menace and suspense lurked leeringly in those crazily elusive angles of carven rock where a second glance shewed concavity after the first shewed convexity.

Kyseth
Viziam
Amarr Empire
#6 - 2013-12-01 07:18:43 UTC
Others have pointed out some rather important things about how to excel in the industry. One thing I'd like to point out is that the industry is also a very cut-throat and unforgiving industry. If you're wanting to prime your boy for a stable career, I'm not sure the game industry is going to be that (of course there are acceptations everywhere).

That said, there are plenty of avenues that programming can take. Mobile apps, web apps, driver work, etc. Since you mentioned that he enjoys the writing aspect, perhaps try to pursue something in the creative writing field. Even though it just finished, NaNoWriMo ( http://nanowrimo.org/ ) is a great way to work on creative writing skills, especially if you plan to publish at some point.
Liafcipe9000
Critically Preposterous
#7 - 2013-12-01 08:02:49 UTC
I was also thinking about developing a game for a while. I would love to invest into a game that's well designed and thought of right to the very smallest detail. I would also like it to be a futuristic first-person shooter.

if I was to take an example from any other FPS it would be Battlefield since it's my favorite FPS and when I don't play EVE then Battlefield is my game. And I'm looking forward to Battlefield 2143 Cool
Khergit Deserters
Crom's Angels
#8 - 2013-12-02 16:44:12 UTC
I'd recommend that you/your son join Gamasutra. It's completely free and non-commercial (no spam or sharing your info with 'partners' or anything). Their website is full of game dev discussions on all aspects of game design and production. From concept to design to tech development to team/project management to dealing with publishers. Their are some really interesting discussions on game design as developing a serious new arts/entertainment medium.

They also email out an monthly e-magazine called Game Developer. It's really well done, with excellent articles and graphics. Just checking out the job listings and the ads for game dev schools should give your son an idea about the various career paths.

There's also the International Game Developers Association. It's free to join as well, I think. I haven't checked it out as much as Gamasutra. The website layout is a little more business-like, and the content seems a little more practical nuts-and-bolts than theoretical. And maybe a little more industry-oriented ("Bad Dog Studios announces publishing contract with Sony,' etc.)

And if you're near the San Francisco Bay Area, the annual Game Developers Conference is coming up in March. You'll probably learn more from the above websites than from the conference, though. The floor is mostly a lot of job booths. The real meat of it is the workshops, which are of course for pros already working in the field.