I’ve been in the industry for about 4 months now and I’m not really sure where I should go from here. Testing is cool and everything is just not what I’ve always wanted to do. During my time at Uni I spent a lot of time programming, but now I am not sure if that’s the direction I want to take anymore (for one I’m not that good). I was thinking about level design but I’ve only every created a few maps, and I’m not totally sure about the work and skill involved. And then there’s game designer but there doesn’t seem to be much work available in this area. Anyone got any advice about my next step? What’s the best root to take? In terms of enjoyment, work load and future prospects.

No experience of it myself but...

People often say that game testing is the best way to get into designer/producer positions, if you can get some experience with HL2 modding or something and your work was good you'd be in a fine position to start applying for testing lead / level designer within another six months or so.

I expected more people to respond to this but seeing as they haven't I'll throw in my 'minimal local denomination'.

With what experience I have of the industry I would say there are two key factors to working successfully within it. Firstly, you need some experience. For those starting out this proves to be a catch 22 situation but with you in your current position as 'tester' you got the proverbial 'foot in the door'. The second requirement would be a matter of enthusiasm. Everybody knows how many a development team will find themselves working ridiculous hours - with this often abused by publishers *cough*EA*cough* - in order to get by you really need to enjoy what you're doing.

From what you've said so far you don't seem to have any burning desire to get involved in a particular area but that could be because you've yet to ignite that fire, so to speak. Seeing as you claim to have done a little mapping I'd suggest you take some time to make some more maps and see how you feel about your abilities. Set yourself a mini challenge like a produce a HL2 Deathmatch Map in a month and see how you get on. Likewise, get some of the Designers from your current place of work to look through your maps and ask for honest advice, take on board their criticisms and build on it.


Anyway, hope that helps.

tester > lead tester > assistant producer > producer

Keep quiet about your programming knowledge until you are at least a lead tester, when people people will actually start listening to you. After that use your unique(quasi-programming) perspective to better your QA department, being sure not to get pigeon-holed as a "career QA guy". This will only work if you do lots of hard work and outshine your peers, very few people make it from tester to producer, but it does happen. ( I know of two in my area over the last 5 years ... out of about 600 testers )

You listed all the things you don't want to do... What do you want to do? Do that.

Maybe now that you have had a glimpse of what working in the video game industry is about, you have discovered that you would rather get a job doing something else. Maybe you really want to just make games as a hobby.

Quote: Original post by ghosted
Likewise, get some of the Designers from your current place of work to look through your maps and ask for honest advice, take on board their criticisms and build on it.

I'm based at a publishing house so there or no designers/programmers. I guest that's one reason I'm confused/lost as I don't have any real idea about the work they do (designers/level designers that is).

I'll give the map idea and try and post it on here when it's done.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[Edited by - dark_exodus on January 21, 2005 10:14:31 AM]

"there or know"? Did you mean "there are no"?

The simple answer is that designers lay out the game flow and build scenarios and the programmers, well, program. Even if there are no designers or programmers where you work, they have to be making the products you are testing. Get in contact with one of them.