Student looking for advice
by Tom Perry · in General Discussion · 05/03/2007 (4:22 am) · 7 replies
Hello everyone. I am a student at Oxford university, just coming up to my first year exams. Over the summer I want to start up a portfolio of games, and increase my overall employability, and I wondered if anyone has any advice.
I have very little background in programming, what I have done with TGE and TGB are about it. I don't know C++ or Java and I don't have any games that I would want to show a propective employer.
The course here at Oxford is very theoritical and logical, hence why I can do it with close to 0 knowledge in computers. In a couple of month my exams will be over and I want to spend the summer increasing my knowledge of game programming, so that I might get an internship next summer.
What advice would you give someone in my position? Should I learn C++, which I assume wouldn't be too hard as I have done procedural programming this year in my course? Or shall I concentrate on getting a games portfolio up and running? With a portfolio what type of games are better? Simple ones that I can build in TGB (like asteriods clones, match 3 etc) or some more sophisticated ones, like a simple FPS or RPG?
Any help would be appriciated.
Tom Perry
I have very little background in programming, what I have done with TGE and TGB are about it. I don't know C++ or Java and I don't have any games that I would want to show a propective employer.
The course here at Oxford is very theoritical and logical, hence why I can do it with close to 0 knowledge in computers. In a couple of month my exams will be over and I want to spend the summer increasing my knowledge of game programming, so that I might get an internship next summer.
What advice would you give someone in my position? Should I learn C++, which I assume wouldn't be too hard as I have done procedural programming this year in my course? Or shall I concentrate on getting a games portfolio up and running? With a portfolio what type of games are better? Simple ones that I can build in TGB (like asteriods clones, match 3 etc) or some more sophisticated ones, like a simple FPS or RPG?
Any help would be appriciated.
Tom Perry
About the author
#2
If your overall goal is programming, get started with C++ as soon as possible. You will need a solid understanding of C++ long before you can make anything worth showing an employer.
If you want to be a game designer, start with TGB. Create a few simple projects that show off your creativity. Think of classic games with a twist. Then move up to TGE when you're comfortable with development.
As to what types of games to put in a portfolio: employers generally want to see finished products, not works in progress. Start with simple games that you can actually finish.
05/03/2007 (9:06 am)
Do you want to be a game programmer? Or a game designer? Your goals should determine how you start. If your overall goal is programming, get started with C++ as soon as possible. You will need a solid understanding of C++ long before you can make anything worth showing an employer.
If you want to be a game designer, start with TGB. Create a few simple projects that show off your creativity. Think of classic games with a twist. Then move up to TGE when you're comfortable with development.
As to what types of games to put in a portfolio: employers generally want to see finished products, not works in progress. Start with simple games that you can actually finish.
#3
By "easy to learn" I meant more along the line that I will understand the syntax and method of coding, not any particular area (ie graphics).
As for designer or programmer, ideally I would like to design but I'm assuming that job is left for the man in charge. Everyone has 1001 ideas, so I thought that you would have to be in the position of leading a team to just be a designer. So programming is the most realistic option, and luckily I quite like that anyway :)
Thanks for the advice, if anything else springs to mind, like how you broke into the bussiness, then that would be great :)
05/03/2007 (9:18 am)
Thanks for the replies.By "easy to learn" I meant more along the line that I will understand the syntax and method of coding, not any particular area (ie graphics).
As for designer or programmer, ideally I would like to design but I'm assuming that job is left for the man in charge. Everyone has 1001 ideas, so I thought that you would have to be in the position of leading a team to just be a designer. So programming is the most realistic option, and luckily I quite like that anyway :)
Quote:If I make the simple games in TGB I won't need C++ experience will I? But if C++ is such a desired skill learning should go on my "to-do" list anyway I guess!
If your overall goal is programming, get started with C++ as soon as possible. You will need a solid understanding of C++ long before you can make anything worth showing an employer.
Thanks for the advice, if anything else springs to mind, like how you broke into the bussiness, then that would be great :)
#4
It's been a while since I've really checked into this, but the last time I looked, the corporate game development world was highly stratified. If you want to be a game designer, you need to start as a game designer. The game industry will typecast you quicker than being a child actor in Hollywood, so start by pursuing a design position if that's what you're looking for.
05/03/2007 (9:26 am)
Quote:As for designer or programmer, ideally I would like to design but I'm assuming that job is left for the man in charge. Everyone has 1001 ideas, so I thought that you would have to be in the position of leading a team to just be a designer.
It's been a while since I've really checked into this, but the last time I looked, the corporate game development world was highly stratified. If you want to be a game designer, you need to start as a game designer. The game industry will typecast you quicker than being a child actor in Hollywood, so start by pursuing a design position if that's what you're looking for.
#5
05/03/2007 (9:30 am)
Ah ok. Then as a portfolio I need to make some games with well thought out designs, addictive yet fun etc? I would still need to learn to program C++ etc then? Just not to the same level I assume?
#6
05/03/2007 (9:33 am)
A designer can probably get away without programming skills, but they also wouldn't hurt. I personally try to be a jack-of-all-trades (code, design, art and music) but that stems largely from the fact that I tend to solo a lot. However, understanding the roles that other members of your team fill, at least some, is likely to be hugely beneficial. 
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