HI, i'm currently a game design and development student attending full sail. does anyone have any advice for me to how to break into the industry after i finish?

If you're at Full Sail, aren’t they telling you exactly what you should be doing to get into the industry?

My advice. Have a lot of heart and dedication. Work hard to practice and hone in on the speciality that you really want to work for.

Oh, and do not give up.

Regards,
-Dave

lola wrote:
>does anyone have any advice for me

Yes.

First of all you need to learn to ask good questions. Read http://www.sloperama.com/advice/designprep.htm (the last past focuses on good questions).

Then read http://www.sloperama.com/advice/jobapp.htm and http://www.sloperama.com/advice/lesson5.htm. Then read all the other articles on Tom's site before asking any further questions (because the answer is almost certainly there).

[Edited by - Obscure on August 3, 2006 8:08:08 AM]

They will help me but it is also good to get other sources of advice from people who are in or know the biz. what is a good way to network with the right people?

[Edited by - falola on August 4, 2006 3:48:35 PM]

Lola wrote:
>what is a good whay to network with the right people?

http://www.sloperama.com/advice/lesson6.htm
http://www.sloperama.com/advice/lesson54.htm
http://www.sloperama.com/advice/lesson46.htm

falola,

There are quite a few current and former students here on GameDev.

What course are you currently in?

What was your background before starting at Full Sail?

Quote: Original post by falola
They will help me but it is also good to get other sources of advice from people who are in or know the biz.

? Both Tom and I are in the biz (and have been for 20 years).

Quote: what is a good whay to network with the right people?

That depends entirely on who you consider to be "the right people". Most people attend industry conferences such as GDC, E3, Game Connect, the Austin Game show, Leipzig Game show or one of the Asian events such as the Tokyo Game Show. On a more day to day basis try attending you local IGDA chapter (www.igda.org) or posting regularly online forums such as this one and the IGDAs forums.

Learn to do something other than game design. i.e. programming, or 3d modelling, or rigging. Something that gives you skills beyond game design. Because everyone and their dog thinks they can be a game designer, but having extra skills is one more thing that can help tip the scales in your favor.

To Dean Johnson,
I'm currently in behavior science and algebra, next month i start calac/trig and pre programming.
My background is that i'm from Israel. I moved to NJ and from there to FL. I studied some C in highschool and tried to self teach myself. That didn't work so I came to Full Sail.