Guys, help, my dream aint coming true!

[Lucandrake]

Well, I don't know if any of you have done this before, but , I need help, alot! You see, my dream is to become a big engeneer of video games or one of the most wanted programers by the video game industry in the future, I wish to accomplosh this as soon as possible...so , any grammer errors I put in my posts, or any error's at all that pop up in my post, please please correct me, but not as a single post, like, add it at the bottom line of your post so gamecop won't get mad off spam, please everybody help me accomplish my dream/major goal in life

[Gryph]

You can start by using proper punctuation and capitalization.

[Lucandrake]

oops...well, J.D. Salenger wrote "The Catcher in the Rye" , and he barely used any proper english and that's only because he was expressing holden and the event going around...so I in that recent post was trying to show how much help I need...

[Gryph]

Well forum posting isn't art. J. D. Salinger is a great author.

[Lucandrake]

Yes but I think that is only due to the fact that he suffers from long term depression, well, thats what my teacher describes it as

[Wizard]

Your gonna have a to climb a long way. A very long way. Start off in amature development, coding a few bits for existing games that are moddable. Example: Half-Life.

 

Sure it's a fps game on the cover, but it could be so much more, it can be made into an RTS like game with FPS elements or an RTS game entierly (Natural Selection has both of these features) or an amazing racing game (HL: Rally). Start bits, then take the chunks afterwards.

[Lucandrake]

I have tried this before but I don't understand any of the coding, and it was with the UT build..., the best I've goten for editing this kinda of modeble games is just like 2 maps wich were desighned for snipers and big eye candy...,

 

I'm currently trying to get this graphics to work for C++ so I can at least make a remake of the orignal pong.

[Gryph]

Well you should get on it and try to learn what the coding means. Here's someplace you should check for HL moding: http://collective.valve-erc.com/index.php

 

Developers are looking for people in the community who make good mods for the following reasons: they can actually make something, they don't have a budget, and the best mods are creative.

[Ryuken]

if u've tried many times, then u should just give up, someimes, there's something u can't do

[Gryph]

if u've tried many times, then u should just give up, someimes, there's something u can't do

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Best advice ever. You should look into a career as a counselor.

[Sybarite Paladin AxL]

meh, i should do what you like IMO... Everyone said I should be counselor, but I realised it ain't my thing... I'm going into politics bwuahahahaha... also drake if you really would like to improve on the grammar do some gramar tests in manuals or something....

[Agozer]

I have to agree with the majority, that one does not become a great programmer in a short amount of time. It takes a lot of dedication and time, and to say it bluntly, you are asking wrong questions from the wrong people.

 

Rather, we don't have the answers you want, since we are more or less all amateurs when it comes down to "real coding" so to speak (except maybe Two9A and olaf). We can only point you into the right direction where to look for answers, but that is certainly not enough.

Edited January 25, 2005 by Agozer

[Skythe]

my dream is to become a big engeneer of video games or one of the most wanted programers by the video game industry in the future

 

HAHahahahaha

[ForceX]

Let me appologize if the following post offends you Drake...

 

Firstly, let me say that you are kidding yourself if i believe that you can become a great videogames developer in a short period of time, hell it would take you years to be even noticed by the people who really matter in the videogame industry (Unless you have contacts in the industry). There are many talented programmers who wish to be videogame programmers but they are not cut out for it....I know this because my bro works in the videogame industry and it took him years to get where he is today (If you don't know he is working for M$ on the Xbox development...and no he has not told me anything about Xbox 2 ) and from about 300 applicants only 6 were employed and the rest had their dreams crushed...

 

If you are only just starting to learn C++ then you are a long way from working for a development house. But if you want my advise I would say try to get a job as a videogame tester, this will give you a foot in the door as you will make many contacts who will be able to help you relize your dream.

 

Finally, I would suggest that you either work on some mods for some existing games or try your hand in creating an emulator as this will give you some insight on the way the console actually works...

Edited January 25, 2005 by ForceX

[Daeval]

An admirable dream, but a flawed first step, perhaps.

 

As everyone else has suggested, working in the games industry is tough business, but that's not to say it can't be done. Since you're young, you're at an advantage if you start now, since it takes a time-consuming combination of things to really succeed.

 

For one, don't screw around in school. People, my former self included, say you can get by in games without much schooling, and for the most part you can, but a degree will make things a hell of a lot easier. Ultimately it will get you there sooner. Get school right the first time through and you'll save yourself some major headeaches later. If you find it hard now, think about how it's the first step to your dream, and focus on it.

 

Next, do some research into how the industry works. Read books, check the job descriptions on the listings at company websites, etc. You say you want to be a coder, but do you really know what that entails? Most coders work insane hours, and get very little creative input in the industry. Celebrity coders like Carmack are extremely rare, and usually gained their fame when development houses could consist of 5 or 10 people, each working on all aspects of a game. Maybe it's really a designer role you're looking for?

 

Another important thing is to DO something. Start working on your portfolio NOW. If it's coding you want to do, start reading how to books or taking community college classes if that's an option. If you want to make a Unreal mod, scour the web for resources and learn to use them efficiently. You have to direct your own learning when it comes to things you love, because other people won't do it for you. Learn what you have to, what you want to, and CREATE something. Start small, with a small map or a simple mod or mutator. You can't expect to start with the next CounterStrike. It will get you one step closer to your dream, and boost your confidence to boot.

 

Finally, when it's feasable, start looking for testing or, if you're good at it, tech support jobs in the game industry. Both of those are considered the first rung of the ladder towards development positions. It's hard to maintain those and go to school, since most of them want 40 hour minimum work weeks. If it comes down to it, DON'T quit going to school for a testing job! Testing jobs are a dime a dozen, but smart, truly interested young people with degrees are a little harder to come by in the game industry.

 

Anyway, I'll leave it at that. If it seems like there are bits of personal bitterness in there, that's because there are. Just 'cause I shot myself in the foot doesn't mean everybody else has to, so there's my advice.