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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Old Hampshire, Old England (LOL)
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yeah, you should be a pro at c++ before you start any directx etc...
TRY MY SUGGESTIONS AT YOUR OWN RISK!
james.bennet1@ntlworld.com
james.bennet1@ntlworld.com
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Join Date: Jan 2007
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Originally Posted by CoolGamer48 
If all the people who program games hate it, why do they stay there? I mean games still come out - there have to be some people who don't leave for different jobs (or die).
well well may be poor chaps just dont know anything else except games development and hence dont leave it for their bread.
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Join Date: Nov 2004
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As long as the number of people lured into the industry by the idea of fame and fortune is enough to make up for the people leaving it for normal work weeks, life outside the office, and preventing burnout at 30 there will continue to be enough people to churn out games.
And yes, then there are the people who don't know anything else and can't adept to other work.
And yes, then there are the people who don't know anything else and can't adept to other work.
42 Private messages asking for help will be ignored
In the frozen land of Nador they were forced to eat Steve's iMinstrels, and there was much rejoicing.
In the frozen land of Nador they were forced to eat Steve's iMinstrels, and there was much rejoicing.
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Join Date: Jan 2008
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Posting Whiz
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Originally Posted by jwenting
As long as the number of people lured into the industry by the idea of fame and fortune is enough to make up for the people leaving it for normal work weeks, life outside the office, and preventing burnout at 30 there will continue to be enough people to churn out games.
And yes, then there are the people who don't know anything else and can't adept to other work.
Just curious - were you actually a game programmer somewhere? Or do you know people that have been and then left? Or do you have another source?
I'm a student. If my statements seem too absolute, feel free to coat them with "In my opinion..." or "I believe...".
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Join Date: Jan 2007
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Originally Posted by CoolGamer48
Just curious - were you actually a game programmer somewhere? Or do you know people that have been and then left? Or do you have another source?
eheheheh I guess he is a games programmer currently and observing the industry.
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Join Date: Nov 2004
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I've done my research into the industry, and have had some contacts in it.
42 Private messages asking for help will be ignored
In the frozen land of Nador they were forced to eat Steve's iMinstrels, and there was much rejoicing.
In the frozen land of Nador they were forced to eat Steve's iMinstrels, and there was much rejoicing.
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Join Date: May 2007
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Originally Posted by CoolGamer48
Just curious - were you actually a game programmer somewhere? Or do you know people that have been and then left? Or do you have another source?
There is plenty of info available out on the net about the working conditions associated with professional games development. Search around a bit and you will find more than enough to give you an idea of the stress levels involved. This should get you started: http://ea-spouse.livejournal.com/
I'm sure there are great places to work developing games and I'm sure there are people who absolutely love doing it, but it's generally known for high pressure, stress, and burnout as jwenting said.
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Join Date: May 2008
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First of all, games programming is an obsession or disease, if you ask me.
During production of each game there are "crunch time" periods where the team must finish a specific set of features by a set date. During crunch time, it`s normal to require 6 days per week and 12-16 hrs a day. Sometimes it lasts just 4 weeks, but more common are 3-6 months-long crunch periods.
Of course, it doesn`t happen just once per year, but at least 2-3 times. That`s the reason why some people, who`ve had their share of these stressfull periods, just plain quit, even though they don`t have any other job found yet. They simply can`t go on.
It`s possible, if you`re 25 and stupid. If you live in your parent`s basement. But if you`ve got a wife and kids, kids might not notice they have a father, since you leave early morning while they sleep and come back late evening when they already sleep. Seeing a father 4 days out of 31 (on Sundays) doesn`t really create an emotional tie, at all.
Considering, that these days the games are written by teams of 100-200 people, what are the chances that some junior coder gets a chance to code something big and relevant ? Neagtive. There are lots of non-junior coders lurking by and awaiting for the first senior coder to drop dead and fight for a chance to replace him (only to follow his footsteps few months/years later).
If that sounds like an ideal life to you, by all means, go on and pursue your dream.
But you have been warned...
Oh, and I forgot the added "bonus" of low wages. Realistically, even if they doubled the salary of the average senior games coder, I wouldn`t go there. Compared to the cushy 9-5 job that I have as a lead programmer, I`d start thinking about it, if they tripled the salary. But, to go there work for just a double the salary of a senior games coder, I`d have to be mad. And those, who do it for just the single salary ? Oh, poor guys ... See ? I told ya - it`s a disease and it should be cured...
But since there are always 100:1 CV`s for each advertised position for a games coder, no wonder there is no problem in replacing the dead/fallen-off guys.
During production of each game there are "crunch time" periods where the team must finish a specific set of features by a set date. During crunch time, it`s normal to require 6 days per week and 12-16 hrs a day. Sometimes it lasts just 4 weeks, but more common are 3-6 months-long crunch periods.
Of course, it doesn`t happen just once per year, but at least 2-3 times. That`s the reason why some people, who`ve had their share of these stressfull periods, just plain quit, even though they don`t have any other job found yet. They simply can`t go on.
It`s possible, if you`re 25 and stupid. If you live in your parent`s basement. But if you`ve got a wife and kids, kids might not notice they have a father, since you leave early morning while they sleep and come back late evening when they already sleep. Seeing a father 4 days out of 31 (on Sundays) doesn`t really create an emotional tie, at all.
Considering, that these days the games are written by teams of 100-200 people, what are the chances that some junior coder gets a chance to code something big and relevant ? Neagtive. There are lots of non-junior coders lurking by and awaiting for the first senior coder to drop dead and fight for a chance to replace him (only to follow his footsteps few months/years later).
If that sounds like an ideal life to you, by all means, go on and pursue your dream.
But you have been warned...
Oh, and I forgot the added "bonus" of low wages. Realistically, even if they doubled the salary of the average senior games coder, I wouldn`t go there. Compared to the cushy 9-5 job that I have as a lead programmer, I`d start thinking about it, if they tripled the salary. But, to go there work for just a double the salary of a senior games coder, I`d have to be mad. And those, who do it for just the single salary ? Oh, poor guys ... See ? I told ya - it`s a disease and it should be cured...
But since there are always 100:1 CV`s for each advertised position for a games coder, no wonder there is no problem in replacing the dead/fallen-off guys.
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Join Date: Jan 2007
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Originally Posted by wtf4096
First of all, games programming is an obsession or disease, if you ask me.
During production of each game there are "crunch time" periods where the team must finish a specific set of features by a set date. During crunch time, it`s normal to require 6 days per week and 12-16 hrs a day. Sometimes it lasts just 4 weeks, but more common are 3-6 months-long crunch periods.
Of course, it doesn`t happen just once per year, but at least 2-3 times. That`s the reason why some people, who`ve had their share of these stressfull periods, just plain quit, even though they don`t have any other job found yet. They simply can`t go on.
It`s possible, if you`re 25 and stupid. If you live in your parent`s basement. But if you`ve got a wife and kids, kids might not notice they have a father, since you leave early morning while they sleep and come back late evening when they already sleep. Seeing a father 4 days out of 31 (on Sundays) doesn`t really create an emotional tie, at all.
Considering, that these days the games are written by teams of 100-200 people, what are the chances that some junior coder gets a chance to code something big and relevant ? Neagtive. There are lots of non-junior coders lurking by and awaiting for the first senior coder to drop dead and fight for a chance to replace him (only to follow his footsteps few months/years later).
If that sounds like an ideal life to you, by all means, go on and pursue your dream.
But you have been warned...
Oh, and I forgot the added "bonus" of low wages. Realistically, even if they doubled the salary of the average senior games coder, I wouldn`t go there. Compared to the cushy 9-5 job that I have as a lead programmer, I`d start thinking about it, if they tripled the salary. But, to go there work for just a double the salary of a senior games coder, I`d have to be mad. And those, who do it for just the single salary ? Oh, poor guys ... See ? I told ya - it`s a disease and it should be cured...
But since there are always 100:1 CV`s for each advertised position for a games coder, no wonder there is no problem in replacing the dead/fallen-off guys.
hmmmm Thanks Buddy...
I will not ever dream to be a games programmer in some company.
But still I have some space for 3ds in my heart and I have decided I will continue learning slowly slowly in 3ds, may be some day I will be able to make something cool!
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Join Date: May 2008
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Of course. Do it as a hobby. However, doing it as a hobby and as a daily job are two VERY different things.
If you want to create games, you don`t have to recreate whole engine from scratch. Just use some well-known free alternative (Ogre/...) and concentrate your efforts on gameplay. It`s gonna take at least one year to accomplish anything partially meaningful, but if you really want it, it shouldn`t be an issue.
If you want to create games, you don`t have to recreate whole engine from scratch. Just use some well-known free alternative (Ogre/...) and concentrate your efforts on gameplay. It`s gonna take at least one year to accomplish anything partially meaningful, but if you really want it, it shouldn`t be an issue.
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