Hiyas, just thought for variety I''d throw in a different kinda game design question. How do you guys all intend to turn games design from just a dream into a reality? My case, I''m 20, I''m stuck in Nottingham in a job with little potential, paper shuffling, for reasonable money.... but at heart it is sooooo not what I want from life. When I get home I spend most of my free time either playing games or working on stuff related to designing/programming. I think even if I do manage to come up with some killer ideas, unless I can provide a demo or a VERY impressive/realistic design doc to a company, I''m stuck in this pretty much dead end job which is holding me back from my ultimate goal. If I could mess around with my work hours or not have to pay rent or something, I''d have so much more freedom and time to work on my ideas, it would be heaven. What got me thinking here was a job that was advertised in the paper today, working as a technician for a school that is literally 2 minutes walk away (just round the corner). It''s more pay, right on my doorstep. I could come home and work on my ideas at lunch, get paid more and have more freedom in general, and being computer related I''d gain better knowledge of networks (the school has a 600+ PC network) and generally be that little bit further towards my goal of working in game design/programming. Add onto this 2 minutes travel time instead of 1 hour or so which is the norm..... this in itself would be a dream move if it works. But, I''m never one to count my eggs before they''ve hatched.... what if I dont get the job? Thats why I''m here, what ways do you use to avoid the dull monotony of doing what must be done in order to get closer to that illusive day when you''re sitting there; cheesy smile on your face, awesome demo in hand, at least with something to show people why you and your ideas are the next big thing. What advice or further raised questions do you have to help? Anyone have any suggestions? Self employment is an idea, being my own boss would greatly increase my flexibility, but I''m not much of an entrepreneur so far as business is concerned. Anyways thought I''d throw in some spice of life and see what ideas you guys/gals can help throw around to help me and perhaps others stuck in the same situation, cheers, Steve AKA Mephs

Go for the job at the school. The worst that they can do is say no.

I enjoyed working for a school more than the life of a commercial game programmer. If you do want to try for a commercial game company, that job won''t look bad on a resume.

quit your social life, quit playing games. Spend all the time coding your own game

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Original post by berserk
quit your social life, quit playing games. Spend all the time coding your own game

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Umm... do I have a social life now? (frantically searches house for a "social life")

Quit playing games.... hmm maybe, I''m playing a lot less EQ since I decided to focus on game design again, but I think it has to be a balance..... whats the point designing games if you''re out of touch with the games world, effectively, your design be a little more out of touch I think. But what the hey, design and coding first, games and a life 2nd... =) hehe fine by me... but still any further ideas anyone?

oh yea, here''s one more: quit wasting time on surfing these forums and get back to WORK

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Original post by berserk
oh yea, here''s one more: quit wasting time on surfing these forums and get back to WORK

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Hey!! I''m sittin here readin up as I wait for replies, made it through the sections in my book on mesh''s, particles, input and am now onto sound (and all the dull windows basics of course). I think I''m doin pretty good =) Now continuing with the sound section and then networking and I''ll soon be ready to start coding my base engine. Can''t wait to start seein some progress....
/em lowers head and skulks away back to his book =p

who do you consider more important, make a game or an engine?
if you want a game, you should use one of the existing engines

Both, I dont wanna use an existing engine because learning to effectively use someone elses engine may tke almost as long as it will to code my own. If I code my own I have much lower level understanding of coding the game and can implement much more of my own ideas. I don''t want my imagination to be limited by what someone elses engine can do. Plus what sells you better to a prospective employer?

"I have a basic engine entirely coded by myself from scratch which is used to make XXXX game which you can play {hands over demo}"

or

"I have here a mod for an existing engine here ya go {passes over demo}"

Both are potentially appealing and, okies the employer may be more impressed by a game that has had the time from someone not also coding the engine.... but to say you have created the entire thing from an empty project... impresssive or what!! (so long as the engine and game are!)

Just my thoughts... as always maybe others dont agree but its my opinion

I don''t think I really agree with that way of thinking berserk.Especially if he''s just starting out.Yeah using an existing game engine might be easier but he misses the lesson that goes along with doing it yourself.

Alright now that that''s out the way time for the life choice topic.As for me I love games and I want to make them but pretty
much it''s a hobby for me.But I do want to be a comicbook artist
another one of those dream jobs.So I know where you''re coming
from.

The best thing I can tell you is to get your feet wet as much as you can.In my case it means getting out there and showing my
portfolios at conventions.When opportunities come up for drawing
I''m one of the first to volunteer for it.In your case if you''re at a high enough level that would mean helping people on projects.Maybe you can team up with someone here.This job you''re
talking about is an excellent opportunity I say go for it.

Anything and everything that you can do so that you don''t come into your job interview empty handed.I hope I helped some.But that''s what you get when advice is free.

The road to hell is paved in good intentions

Well my problem previously had been this. Basically coming up with enough to show your skills. I found previously I got to the point where I got stuck, didnt understand something, which deterred me. Perhaps I was too young as this time around I''m never reaching a complete dead end, much more resourceful at finding alternative methods and of course with free internet (or should I say unmetered...something i didnt always have previously) I have much better resources to help me out when I do get stuck at a total dead end. This time round I really feel that so long as there is always forward movement, I will not fail, I will have something I can show people instead of a half harted attempt that didnt quite make it. I guess then what I''m after is to find ways to help accelerate this process. While I''m now confident that I have what it takes to make at least a demo (whether good or bad), what concerns me is the potential timescale to have anything worthwhile, I dont wanna be sitting here coding for 3 years before I have something to show from it that realistically stands a chance of gaining the respect I yearn from a publisher. Maybe I ask the impossible though, it will be done when its done I suppose but perhaps as always is possible, I may have overlooked something..... I guess essentially berserk is right... shut up talkin and DO IT!! hehe so that I shall... but it wouldnt hurt to ask for any other hints in speeding up the process without resorting to using others work (sorry but using anothers engine just isnt for me at the moment)

Anyways don''t doubt the effectiveness of your advice, even though it wasnt specifically what I was hoping for (although I did glean some ideas from it) it has helped me refine my question further, which is cool and will help me more in the long run =)