Well okay here goes guys. I got a great game idea, and currently I am writing up the storyline with another friend and we have stuff written down about some in game features such as pvp, races, classes that kind of stuff. But how does one go about getting a job like this, do i need to know how to code or program or just think up good games and then try to write down what I am thinking of and give it over to the artists and programmers. Cause this is what I really want to do but im not sure how to go about doing it. Any help guys?

Everyone wants a job like that but in real life they don''t exist. There are no company''s out there looking to buy game ideas. How it works in the real world is you pitch your game to a company which they made decided is a worthwhile project and agree work with you. However mostly like this will be a tentive agreement that will be ratified once you complete the project. It make take the form of a coventure such you doing the programing and them supplying the models it all depends.

However you can''t sell a game idea to company espically if your nobody. If your well know and experince you maybe become a head designer or project leader but that about it

So how does one go about becoming a game designer or project designer.

Cause I just dont get the coding part sof it but i have really good ideas that would create an awesome game.

There are two ways. Start your company or join an existing company and work your way up the ladder

You'll have to get some sort of entry level job in the industry if you want to end up as a game designer or a project lead someday. Development entry level jobs (stuff that isn't marketing or sales) usually involve programming, art, or testing. While QA jobs are the "easiest" to get, in that they require the least amount of previous skill, apparently it's hard to get into game QA unless you know someone because so many people want game testing jobs.

If you don't like to program then art is your best bet. I suggest you start playing around with level editors like Unreal Ed or Radiant and start making some game maps. The position of level editor is starting to die out though, and companies are largely looking for environment artists to do these sort of things. In that case you need to know a 3D modeling package and how to texture levels also. There are of course many other art related jobs. Concept artist is another design related art job, but you need to be able to draw damn good.

There are other jobs, music and writting for example. Writting would be design related, but I'm not sure how many actual writters are employed in the game industry. I'm also sure that most game industry writters have previously published work and are probably hired from other industries (novelists, comic book writters, screenplay writters, etc.)

Sorry to have to tell you, but if you don't have any skills besides "coming up with cool ideas" you won't get a job. I suggest you either start learning how to code or practice drawing, because you have a long road ahead of you.

Btw, there is one way you can have all your dreams come true. If you have a lot of money and you can hire people to work for you, you can start your own company and they will build a game to your specifications (see Vin Diesel for a good example of this.)

[edited by - impossible on July 22, 2003 6:48:26 PM]

Hmm I like hte last idea, that is what I really want I think is to have my own company. See I am currently getting my masters in business administration and econimics but I will be getting minors and such in grahpic design and hopefully somesort of writting.

But hmm I guess Ill maybe start a team of guys to help create a copmany or look for an inventor, or maybe just work my way up like you said. i defiantly plan on learning some coding I just dont know any now.

Edit:

So does anyone know where one would start with starting up the company. Such as what organizations must i contant within the gaming world and who are usually on a team.

[edited by - Gothic-Wolf on July 22, 2003 7:10:04 PM]

Your doing a masters in buisness and you don''t know how to start a company?
Basicaly you create a corpate charter, mission statement,assign shares and then pay to be incorpated.


As for a team these are the possiones you''ll need:
Marketing
Fincance
Progammer
Artist
Model desinger
Texture artist
Level designer
Debugger
Manual Writter
Lead Designer
Project Manger

These postions can overlap and be handled by one or more people. But you''ll need at least someone doing each of these jobs.

There are two ways to do this:
1. Start your own company
2. Work your way up into a position of high-ranking managment

Scott Simontis
C++ Guy

If you''re in an MBA program, I think you could find significant resources and advice in terms of setting up your own company at your school.

Gaming in particular requires programmers, and artists. Your biggest decision is probably building your own game engine, buying someone elses, or finding a free/open-source one online. Then, once you have a working demo, the toughest part comes: finding a publisher who likes it and will fund the rest of it.

That''s a general idea. Someone jump in here if I''m mistaken.

No its not that I dont know how to start a company its just that I am not sure what is involved and who is involved in a game software company.

So how bout I do this for now, come up with a complete design document then once that is all done copyright it and then see bout a company or possible takign it to another developer. What do you think?

[edited by - Gothic-Wolf on July 22, 2003 8:06:21 PM]