game designer

[KoolDrew]

I dont know if this belongs in here but here it is.

When I get older I would like to go into game design or somethin similair and I am wondering what should I learn to help me out later on?

Thanks for the help

 

Start modding the crap out of games like Doom3, NWN, etc. The best way to learn to design games is to design games.

 

[KoolDrew]

you got any links or anything to help me out? My crappy computer cant handle games liek Doom3 but I could mod Halo or something and that might help me out.

 

[bleeb]

Originally posted by: dwell
Start modding the crap out of games like Doom3, NWN, etc. The best way to learn to design games is to design games.

 

[DaveSimmons]

www.GamaSutra.com has a lot of material to get you started

 

[Demo24]

Unreal is a great palce to learn. just buy a DVD version of it and you get the tutorials telling you how to use the game engine editor. plus you get the editor when you install it.

 

[kaZ8Teen]

what kinda major do u go in for that?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Kaz8teEN
what kinda major do u go in for that?

It's like "movie director" but the "film schools" aren't as established yet.

Game companies don't hire fresh graduates as game designers, they hire them as artists, programmers, QA-test slaves, etc. and they have to work their way up in the company to a designer slot.

 

[kaZ8Teen]

o, programming sucks. i would never do that. i think im gona major in graphic design tho, would that get me in the industry?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Kaz8teEN
o, programming sucks. i would never do that. i think im gona major in graphic design tho, would that get me in the industry?

Definitely, especially if you learn digital art and animation (and have talent of course ).

Many games have more artists and animators than programmers these days, especially for games that license the 3D engine from someone like id. Start reading the credits for a few of the games you like to see just how many.

Also, if you learn 3D modeling you can show your skills that way too -- almost every 3D character model in a shooter game was created by an artist, the programmers only handle making the model move.

 

[kaZ8Teen]

cool, thx

 

[screw3d]

Originally posted by: Kaz8teEN
what kinda major do u go in for that?

My school (USC) offers a minor in game design/graphics etc.. they have people from some pretty high profile companies (EA, Blizzard etc) teaching.. one of them the designer of MoHAA.

Too bad I'm only interested in playing games, not designing them

 

[yobarman]

igda.org

 

[Wahsapa]

start drawing now, and maybe in a decade you might be good :thumbsup: its hard as hell breaking into the industry.

 

[Koing]

It is about 'portfolio' work in the games industry for artist/ animators.

If you have 'skills' YOU WILL GET A JOB ASAP when showing them your work. If you don't you simply won't make it in th games industry for an artist/ animator.

Getting in as a 'tester' is common in the industry. You basically play games and do CRAZY things in them (crash cars in to walls, crash cars in to people (try), go around the course backwards, etc) and try to get it to crash and find bugs and document this.

Later you move up the ranks.

So get drawing!

Koing

 

[yoda291]

Originally posted by: DEMO24
Unreal is a great palce to learn. just buy a DVD version of it and you get the tutorials telling you how to use the game engine editor. plus you get the editor when you install it.

Seconded. Support for the mod community from Epic is awesome. Apparently, half of the designers there were hired from the mod community as well.

and the cash prizes for Make Something Unreal contest helps too.

 

[SaturnX]

If you want to develop games, ie from a coding standpoint.. learn C++/DirectX SDK/OpenGL, and the 3D Modelling... and learn them like theres no tomorrow, when you become proficient enough, start building a portfolio of your own games. That's what companies want to see, my good friend just got an interview with EA (just finishing his undergrad degree in Comp Sci), they've given him 2 months to code/build a game which he's gotta showcase to them at the interview. Full engine and environment, not exactly mundane stuff.

Modding and such is one thing, but if you want to be coding.. you gotta be good, real good.

--Mark