When I had my first encounter (8 years old) with a PC I was pretty damn sure that I have to study this stuff and make it my profession. Many years later I finished studying computer science. You can't even imagine how big my disappointment was when I started looking for jobs.

In germany there is almost nothing to find and if you do find something it is mainly about developing browser games. My main topics in university were .NET with C# and I had plenty of time to learn XNA. But now I had to realize that nobody is looking for C# or XNA developers in the (german) gaming industry especially not for junior applicants. So I had no choice but to apply for a boring Sharepoint job (and I got it).

Still I did not want to accept this, so this is my plan for the future. I will go on with my current job for several years. Mainly because I think that getting a job with several years of experience is always easier. Meanwhile I started learning OpenGL.

Still there are some issues I am wondering about.

1. It seems that nowadays nobody really needs that many game programmers (developers). I mean there is Unity, CryEngine, Unreal Engine...Does that mean that the game programmer is dying out and only the very best will find jobs in Engine developement?
2. What are the best things I can do in order to meet the requirements for a game developer job, let's say in 2 years? By game developer job I mean everything but those freemium titles that pop everywhere! I mean want to do some real graphics/game logic programming. I hope you get the idea, it still do not have to be AAA titles but titles one can put his entire love for the medium in.

I really look forward for advice especially from people who are already in the industry.

Btw: The fact that I worked with C# for the most part, does not mean that I am not capable of anything else. Java, C/C++ are also languages I am pretty comfortable with. I also have experience with tools like 3Ds Max, Maya, Blender, Photoshop....

I was under the impression that programmers were the most wanted guys in the industry.

Isn't it true anymore?

I was under the impression that programmers were the most wanted guys in the industry.

Isn't it true anymore?

If by industry you mean all the industry then the awnser is yes! I found it hard to find jobs in germany (and world wide) that target C# developers in the gaming industry though.

Yep, C# alone is not enough. You have to broaden your portfolio, C++ is an essential skill in the industry that you should master.

0. But now I had to realize that nobody is looking for C# or XNA developers in the (german) gaming industry especially not for junior applicants.
1. It seems that nowadays nobody really needs that many game programmers (developers). I mean there is Unity, CryEngine, Unreal Engine...Does that mean that the game programmer is dying out and only the very best will find jobs in Engine developement?
2. What are the best things I can do in order to meet the requirements for a game developer job, let's say in 2 years?
3. Btw: The fact that I worked with C# for the most part, does not mean that I am not capable of anything else. Java, C/C++ are also languages I am pretty comfortable with.

0. XNA is pretty dead, but it was not a waste of time learning it. You just have to move forward now, and do work in other languages. I'm not a tech guy, so I can't talk to the usefulness of C#, but C++ and Java are highly useful, and so are scripting languages.
1. Wow, did you ever draw the wrong conclusion! Just because you can't get a job does not mean programmers are a dying breed!
2. Build a portfolio using tools that are more in demand. You say most of the jobs you've seen in Germany are in freemium games. There are surely also jobs in other types of games in Germany. Have you looked at gamedevmap? Have you looked at this forum's FAQs? http://www.gamedev.net/page/reference/faq.php/_/breaking-into-the-industry-r16
3. Saying those words is really easy. Your résumé and your portfolio have to prove what you say. Make Java pieces, make C++ pieces.

I was under the impression that programmers were the most wanted guys in the industry.
Isn't it true anymore?

Of course it's true. Prot drew entirely the wrong conclusion from his difficulty finding a job. The problem isn't programmers in general - the problem is something Prot is doing wrong. Probably one or more of these: http://www.sloperama.com/advice/lesson24.htm. Programmers absolutely still are the most wanted guys in the industry. Even in Germany.

Hum yes that's more what I was thinking too, C++ is more important than C#.

You need to do some C++ project Prot.

The new Unreal allow you to code in C++, I don't know if it's good enough for a programmer job or if you need to do the game from nothing tho.

XNA is pretty dead, but it was not a waste of time learning it.

^^^ This. No matter when or where you start learning to make games, you're going to be behind before you even start. But the things you learn about making a game (the stuff that isn't language or platform specific) will stay with you.

Right now, if you were to find that perfect job with the perfect startup, are you ready? Would they hire you on the spot? If the answer is no, then keep learning. Make games, and get a job to support yourself in the process.

Ok guys thank you very much for your replies!

@ Tom Sloper: I think you got me wrong. But this is my fault. I didn't make it clear enough. I did not assume that programmers are dying out and that is the reason I do not get a job. It should have been another point/question in my post. I am pretty aware of what I am capable of.

One point I find very interesting, the Portfolio. What do you guys think what is it about such a portfolio that could convince a AAA (or not) developer to hire a person? Note here I am only talking about the portfolio not the social skills. Let's say I want to apply for a 3D-programmer job. Things I can think of:

1. Clean code/coding technique.
2. Visible understanding of basic concepts in 3D programming.
3. A good code documentation.
4. Something like project plan?
5. Maybe how you create and implement concepts?

What else should I be aware of when creating such a portfolio? Would you completely agree with this article or is he/she missing something?

Its not really that hard to pickup a new language once you understand how programming works. You should be able to pickup javascript in a week, i would suggest looking at learning this one as there are tons of jobs it can be used with. Server side, web, games, html5 uses it ( this is a great thing to have on your resume atm as there are lots of emerging companies at the moment who are starting to use this, its a growing technology)

C# is used in games quite often all our server guys program in .net but as for xna I don't know a single "company" other than indies that use it.

If you want to apply for a 3d programmer job i would suggest making a simple game engine that uses directX or openGL but from scratch.

Add things to it like;

- custom pipeline imports( models, animations, skeletal animations)
- custom lighting

- shaders

Its not really that hard to pickup a new language once you understand how programming works.

Amen.

C# is used in games quite often all our server guys program in .net but as for xna I don't know a single "company" other than indies that use it.

I also see a lot of C# lately, but I'm guessing Unity is to blame.

Haven't heard of XNA in years...