There seems no apparent way to become a game designer short of getting a team and developing the entire concept, funding the whole project. For instance I would like to design an MMORPG, but to produce say just one zone would involve creating 90% of the game. So is it worth producing a trailer for the game ? Like a short video. What tools are available for producing such a video ?

I haven''t heard the term ''freelance designer'' used much. You could make a design document - it''d be a start at least - and then try and get in touch with some development houses, see if any of them want to buy it from you...

As for the trailer, it depends on the game. If it''s high-power 3D, use 3DS MAX. If it''s 256-color 2D, that would be a little redundant. You get the point.

Superpig
- saving pigs from untimely fates
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what do you mean by trailer? i would assume that if you don''t want to make a part of the world you don''t really want the trailer to be of gameplay right? like some ingame cutscene or something? you want a pre-rendered movie? well, if this is the case, then whatever you do it''d better be damn pretty because it''s really gonna need to sell the idea. i think you will need (as previously suggested) a fairly complete design document to go along with the trailer. actually you''d do yourself a favour concentrating on the design doc, and consider the trailer a little bonus to whet the lips of a possible team. if the trailer has nothing to do with the actual gameplay you''d have a tuff time finding it very useful.

but don''t be discouraged from doing it. it would go a long way to showing your commitment to the project, and as i said, if it''s pretty they''ll like it.

<(o)>

Unless you are A) incredibly talented, and B) have nothing better to do for the next year of your life, you''re not going to be able to make a decent ''trailer'' without getting a team together. That said... for 3D character animation on a budget, I recommend Hash Inc''s Animation Master ($300), and Anzovin Studio''s Setup Machine ($50). It''s not Maya, but it''s not $14,000, either.

quote: Original post by Nomax5
There seems no apparent way to become a game designer short of getting a team and developing the entire concept, funding the whole project.

Why not just start with something small that doesn''t require "funding"?



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Your best bet is to just make a mod or do some level design for a popular game. You can find freelance design work on occasion, but its not easy as everyone has their ideas. Stuff like freelance play balance expert is certainly a lot easier than "freelance idea guy" though.

In general, if you want something badly enough and work for it, its definately achievable. Theres a lot of people out there who think they have ideas for games but really have never thought very carefully about games, and/or dont try very hard to think outside the box. Differntiating yourself from those people is really all you need to do to demonstrate your value to a large firm. Doing that demonstrates that you are both hardworking and smart, which 95% of design applicants do not demonstrate, even if it is the case.

Tom


Edited by - Zileas on January 26, 2002 5:19:56 PM