Careers in the game and simulation industry Dr

Careers in the game (and simulation) industry Dr. Lewis Pulsipher Teachgamedesign. blogspot. com Pulsiphergames. com pulsiphergamedesign. blogspot. com Copyright 2010 Lewis Pulsipher

¨ Questions: ¨ Age ¨ Play games how many hours a day? ¨ Ever make a game? ¨ Think making video games is easy? ¨ What do you want to do? ¨ Think all you need is a great idea?

Who am I? ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ Designed my own games from a very young age Began playing commercial wargames in early ‘ 60 s Early video game experience: Atari 2600, DOS Designer of six commercially-published board wargames (most recently, foreign language editions of Britannia, Nov ‘ 08) Worked in computer support (programming, chief of PC/network support) at Womack medical center 9+ years First to teach game design in North Carolina as far as I know (Fall ’ 04) Presently writing book about how to design games, and how to teach people to design games Monthly contributor to Gamasutra/Game. Career. Guide (and “expert blogger” there) Teaching is my profession, game design my avocation Games good to me (met wife thanks to D&D!) Pulsipher. net http: //pulsiphergamedesign. blogspot. com/ http: //teachgamedesign. blogspot. com 19 June 2021

Some of my games

Note about the slides ¨ Slides are provided primarily for those who want detailed notes later, not as an accompaniment to the talk ¨ Consequently, they are “rather wordy” ¨ Available at http: //pulsipher. net/teaching 1. htm ¨ Or just go to pulsipher. net (not. com) and look for teaching material 19 June 2021

My Objectives ¨ Is this a good career? ¨ What career specializations are there? – Three main ones—programmer, artist, game designer ¨ How do you get there? – Teach yourself or go to school

A career? ¨ Video games make more $$$ than movies ¨ Simulations industry is growing rapidly ¨ The majority of Americans play video games ¨ (The tabletop game industry is going great guns as well. ) ¨ Can be lots of fun at times

BUT: ¨ Subject to instability in employment ¨ Work long hours ¨ No, you won’t be a “rock star” ¨ People often leave games for other work (such as simulations)

Careers—dose of reality ¨ Game creators don’t play games much at work! ¨ Making games is work—though many will tell you it’s very stimulating work ¨ “Passion” and love of games is expected, it’s not nearly enough to get you a job ¨ You must have skills that the studio needs! ¨ You have to prepare yourself to compete with tens of thousands of wannabes! ¨ And you won’t get rich

Careers--artists ¨ Most numerous—artists – 2 D concept artists – 2 D storyboard artists – Environment artists (2 D and 3 D) – 3 D modeling of characters • Two to eight weeks for one main character! 19 June 2021

Careers-programmers ¨ Programmers second most numerous kind of employee ¨ 25 years ago programmers also did most of the art and design—not any more ¨ Requires use of logic, methodical analysis, patience, problem-solving ¨ Paid much more than artists and designers

Careers--designers ¨ Game designers are usually experienced game creation employees before they get a designer job ¨ Some level designers may be hired directly out of school ¨ Ideas are worth “nothing, ” it’s the execution that counts ¨ AAA video games tend to be “designed by committee”

Other categories ¨ Producers—ultimately in charge of making the game ¨ Sound persons ¨ Composers ¨ Accountants, marketers, business managers, IT guys, etc.

How do I get there? ¨ You have to prepare yourself to be valuable to the studio ¨ For every job open there are dozens of people wanting it ¨ Wanting a job badly won’t get you one ¨ Passion won’t get you a job ¨ No one is going to “give” you a job—you have to earn it

Things you should want for yourself, for the good of your long-term future ¨ Prepare yourself so that you can obtain non- game-industry jobs as well ¨ If you’re going to a college or university—a good idea in most cases--get a real degree – Specialized game schools are not only expensive, they are accredited only as trade schools, not colleges—not a real degree

Three things the video game industry wants from “new blood” ¨ Ability to work in teams ¨ Ability to think critically (“critical thinking”) ¨ Understanding of the pipeline process

Three things every employer wants from you ¨ Good written communication skills ¨ Good oral communication skills ¨ Ability to work in a team (yes, that again)

Teach Yourself? ¨ The “School of Hard Knocks” can work, but takes a lot of self-direction – It’s how I learned ¨ You don’t have to have a degree to get a job in our industries. This is different from most, these days

Or go to school—”local” schools teaching game creation ¨ FTCC has an Associates degree in “Simulation and Game Development” – This is where I teach, primarily the game design related classes – “College Connections” classes are open to high schoolers (juniors and seniors) ¨ NC State has a concentration in games in both their Fine Arts and Programming/ “Computer Science” departments (Bachelor’s degree). Nothing for designers

Why a community college? ¨ It won’t cost an arm and a leg, you won’t be deep in debt when done ¨ You can continue at a four-year school if you wish ¨ Small classes (nothing with a hundred or even 50 students) ¨ Many cc instructors talk with students, not at them, and are concerned for their success

Online resources ¨ Game. Career. Guide. com – specifically for people who want to become game creators ¨ Sloperama. com – good advice about getting into the industry ¨ Gamasutra. com – the #1 site for those who work in the video game industry ¨ Gamedev. net – Popular site more programmer-oriented

IN SUM: There is no “easy button” If you want something, you have to work for it. If you want an easy job, keep looking, and good luck. If it was easy, they wouldn’t pay you diddly squat (flipping burgers is easy, and pay is minimal).

Questions? Comments?

END ¨ Show space invaders ¨ “naked” game (DK) ¨ Prototypes?