Bud I program, I level design, model texture, the works, am a jack of all trades. I work for myself. I the beginning I thought sacrafices had to be made, but in the end they don't I have been doing this for about 4 years now, and just about the past year I have stepped back a little bit, and am enjoying life, and because of that my work has never been better. This is what I have accomplished so far.

2 indie awards

My video game is featured in a movie

two stipend grants

a grant to go get my Masters.

Best advice don't burn yourself out.

Bud I program, I level design, model texture, the works, am a jack of all trades. I work for myself. I the beginning I thought sacrafices had to be made, but in the end they don't I have been doing this for about 4 years now, and just about the past year I have stepped back a little bit, and am enjoying life, and because of that my work has never been better. This is what I have accomplished so far.

2 indie awards

My video game is featured in a movie

two stipend grants

a grant to go get my Masters.

Best advice don't burn yourself out.

What engine are you using?

What sacrifices do you have to make to be a programmer? I thought the first two obvious ones were time with family and friends, but I'm being told by a guy that I'm completely wrong and that there is no sacrifices for being a programmer. This goes against everything I've ever read and been told so I figured I'd ask here. What are the sacrifices to be a programmer? This was in regards to achieving your dream job.

The sacrifices you have to make to be a <insert any skilled profession here> really is just a bit of time to learn the basics of the trade and possibly (depending on what the job market is like where you live / want to live and the profession in question) the time/money to get a proper degree, beyond that you can get an entry level job and get monetary compensation for any further time you "sacrifice".

If you want to be really good at something you need to spend more time doing it but you don't have to play in the premier league to call yourself a football player.

It's not exactly a sacrifice but what you do on a constant basis affects your personality. You know like a salesman might get used to encounter everyone with a fat smile and might develop a habit of convincing you about everything a programmer is used to analyzing stuff, finding bugs and arranging things in a logical/efficient manner. A guy I went to programming class with always had a problem with being considered a "programmer". He somehow looked at all those "problem solver"-type guys and couldn't identify with them. After some time he decided to do something else. Probably a wise decision. If one looks at others who already went down a path one is already on and doesn't find himself able to identify with this "group" then this might be a hint to look for something else.