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Original post by yaustar Quote: Original post by My_Mind_Is_Going The prospects of getting into business software look even worse at the moment since I don't know (and honestly have no interest in knowing) all the current database and web technology. At least in game development it seems like my raw math background will serve me better but then there seems to be so much more competition there. Not having a computer science degree people act like you have the plague. You don't have a degree at all?

I have a degree in physics.

Anyway, thanks for all the responses, good food for thought. I was thinking, another problem with getting a traditional programming job is that you can't really send a demo in to help get an interview -- the recruiters just screen everybody based on the buzzword content of their resume.

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Original post by My_Mind_Is_Going I was thinking, another problem with getting a traditional programming job is that you can't really send a demo in to help get an interview -- the recruiters just screen everybody based on the buzzword content of their resume.

No, that's wrong too. Maybe your mind really is going.
(Recommendation: change your screen name. http://www.sloperama.com/advice/lesson24.htm)

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Original post by My_Mind_Is_Going My concern is really that I can spend 3 months working on demos, 6 months, or 6 years......

and I specifically answered this point in my post above.

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I guess a specific question I have though is whether it is more important to focus tightly on one area (like graphics, AI, physics) than on creating a well rounded game ....

and this too.

Make the best demo you can and have the best resume you can and the best education you can... then apply. While waiting to find out if you got a job continue to develop those things. If you don't get a job reapply three to six months later, by which time your demo/resume/education will be better. Rinse and repeat until you get a job or flip out and go postal in Starbucks. If you get a job still continue to improve your demo/resume/education because at some point you will be applying for a job again.

I've been applying for regular programming jobs for weeks and the only thing the recruiters are interested in are C#, SQL, ASP.NET, etc. I've experienced this over and over again: post vague resume on career builder, get contacted by recruiter, tell them I only code with Win32 and C++ , and never hear from them again.

and I'm not even going to ask what could possibly be wrong with my screen name.

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18. STUPID SCREEN NAMES ... o Words that indicate mental defect, or any kind of sickness. ...

I think that's what tsloper was referring to.

Not having a CS degree and getting into a game development job is not going to be easy as you are already experiencing, but if it really is what you want to do then you cant let yourself become disheartened by constant rejection. Learn from every application you don't hear back from.

Use every bit of your spare time learning the things you think lost you the position you applied for. As Palidine has already said, show a passion for learning, it comes across as a very positive trait in any job.

Create a demo that shows off what you can do. Use it in your next application. If you don't get that position, continue to work on that demo and keep applying. Not only will your demo be getting better over time, you'll be learning as you go.

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Original post by My_Mind_Is_Going I've been applying for regular programming jobs for weeks and the only thing the recruiters are interested in are C#, SQL, ASP.NET, etc. I've experienced this over and over again: post vague resume on career builder, get contacted by recruiter, tell them I only code with Win32 and C++ , and never hear from them again.

So why don't you learn a bit of C#?
Ability/willingness to learn and adapt is also a good selling point.

Your are not the only one faced with this issue.
I worked as a system and network admin, then did some database/web programming for a while to come up with cash before I started working on games full time.
Since you have done physics you can concentrate on the physics part of game programming.
In my opinion you don't need a CS degree if you have a good physics degree and a background in programming. If you can come up with physics algorithms and let someone else code them that's good enough (at least for me).
All in all if you REALLY want to develop video games you will do your research. Look at your situation and your environment and see what will put you ahead (in your case physics). Work on that and if possible put a few demos/screenshots at gamedev.
Ask all your doubts. Only fools think they know everything.

Working as a software developer isn't just about knowing a language and getting a job. Software development (games or otherwise) is a lifelong learning experience. You have to learn new technolodgy(quickly) all the time. C++ isn't the be all and end all of games programming. C#, Lua, Python, Java, Ruby and UnrealScript are languages that feature in some AAA titles.
As for the demo you produce that depends on where you want to work. A physics demo may be good if you want a physics programming position. For gameplay programming you might be better with a full game.
A tip is to try to produce something new, unique or clever.