Ok, here's the situation: Taking a 3D animation or computer science course is way too expensive for me.... So i've opted to practice at home with a few tools (XSI foundation, Photoshop, Painter 8...). Assuming I manage to produce something of quality, (like an animation short, or just a general compilation of quality renders and such) would that still garner the attention of any game studio or animating studio? Or are they looking strictly for academic evidence? Perhaps a combination of both(I.E looking at all the animation shorts they take in, and then taking the ones with diplomas attached). Does it depend on the size of the studio? And if they don't, are there any other options? Thanks

Look, grox, you say that the education is just plain not in the cards for you at all, so what is your question exactly? (It's not a business question, but I'm coming to terms with the fact that this site does not have a breaking-in forum and people are always going to ask their breaking-in questions here, so I'll shut up about that.)

You're not going to come to the job interview with a degree (so say you).
So what is it you're trying to ask us? Please try to form it into a question we can answer for you. "Are there any options" is not a question we can give you a good answer to.

You can only play the cards you're dealt. So play them to the hilt - make the most of the cards you're holding. What else can we tell you?

Basically, without all the mumbo jumbo I added in:

Given the situation i'm in, is it at all possible to land a job in game developement industry?

Realistically, would I have too little backing me up when I come for an interview?


Hope that helped, I'm a bit flustered with questions.

Quote: Original post by forgrex
Basically, without all the mumbo jumbo I added in:

Given the situation i'm in, is it at all possible to land a job in game developement industry?

Yes. I have heard plenty of cases people without higher education in the game industry.

Quote:
Realistically, would I have too little backing me up when I come for an interview?

Are you talking about references?

Without references mean it's more risky for a studio to hire you, but some studios are willing to take this risk if you have impressive demo.

Quote: Original post by forgrex
Given the situation i'm in, is it at all possible to land a job in game developement industry?

Grofex, the answer to that question is: FAQ 50. http://www.sloperama.com/advice/lesson50.htm.
Please ask a different question instead. You could get a much better (much more useful) answer.

I was once listening to a seminar about landing a job in the games industry by a guy from Remedy (Max Paynes, Alan Wake)... or was it Bugbear (Flatouts)...

Nevertheless what I remember from the seminar is that game studios value experience above anything else. The guy said that if they had to hire either a guy with a degree with outstanding grades who has no experience in making games or a guy who has no degree but tons of experience, they would hire the guy with experience in an instant.

Quote: Original post by Werty
what I remember from the seminar is that game studios value experience above anything else. The guy said that if they had to hire either a guy with a degree with outstanding grades who has no experience in making games or a guy who has no degree but tons of experience, they would hire the guy with experience in an instant.

Absolutely. But greffox doesn't have that among his cards either. No degree, no experience. Still waiting for him to ask a better question than "is it possible" to get a job in such circumstances.

Anything is possible.

It's possible you could step outside the door, have a bolt of lightning strike a passing neighbor who's carrying a winning lotto ticket which flies into your hands just as a supermodel is passing by so she gives you a lift in a limousine to the 7-11 so you can turn in the ticket as yours. But what use is it for that scenario to be "possible"?

Quote: Original post by tsloper

Quote: Original post by Werty
what I remember from the seminar is that game studios value experience above anything else. The guy said that if they had to hire either a guy with a degree with outstanding grades who has no experience in making games or a guy who has no degree but tons of experience, they would hire the guy with experience in an instant.

Absolutely. But greffox doesn't have that among his cards either. No degree, no experience. Still waiting for him to ask a better question than "is it possible" to get a job in such circumstances.

Anything is possible.

It's possible you could step outside the door, have a bolt of lightning strike a passing neighbor who's carrying a winning lotto ticket which flies into your hands just as a supermodel is passing by so she gives you a lift in a limousine to the 7-11 so you can turn in the ticket as yours. But what use is it for that scenario to be "possible"?

lol, that's taking it to quite an extreme, a little jaded I take it. The guy is just asking if it's possible to get a job in the industry without a degree. I'd say sure, if you're an artist and you can create great art...why does it matter if you have a piece of paper or not?

Spend years working your ass off to be the best artist you can be, and see what happens, obviously have fallbacks, but if you really want it you can have it. That would be my advice.

Quote: Original post by dgreen02
....I'd say sure, if you're an artist and you can create great art...why does it matter if you have a piece of paper or not?

It matters because some studios will only accept applicants who have a degree. That means that not having one limits your chances and makes it less probable that you will get a job. And that, in a nut shell is the point Tom is making. Anything is possible, so it is a pointless question. The only worthwhile question is "how probable is it" and for us to answer that the OP has to provide a lot more meaningful information about their situation, skills, experience etc.

The thing you have to remember at these games industry seminars is that the guy standing up telling you all about it, is actually a programmer, artist, producer or designer because they are the kind of people that people want to hear talk.
Unfortunatly when they tell you they prefer experience over qualifications the decision isn't actually down to them. Lots of companies have HR departments who are paid to sift through applications and they won't even consider you without a degree unless you have a lot of experience.
Consider some of the larger companies get thousands of speculative applications a month which can range from serious prospective employees down to 9 year olds wanting to make the next mario.
An animation short isn't going to get you a games industry job either, games companies want to see a general artistic background including traditional hand drawn or brush art.