Resources

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone, I have compiled these resources to help aspiring developers learn more about game development and to help aid them in their quest in breaking into the games industry. I hope that you find it of some use. If you have any comments or wish to make or any suggestions to how I can improve this resource list then please post and tell me. Thanks.
——–
READING
——–

BREAKING INTO THE GAMES INDUSTRY

Game Plan: The Insider’s Guide to Breaking In and Succeeding in the Computer and Video Game Business
by Alan Gershenfeld, Mark Loparco, Cecilia Barajas
ISBN: 0312275048

Get in the Game: Careers in the Game Industry
by Marc Mencher
ISBN: 0735713073

Break Into The Game Industry: How to Get A Job Making Video Games
Ernest Adams
ISBN: 0072226609

GAME DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT

Game Design: Theory and Practice
by Richard Rouse
ISBN: 1556227353

Ultimate Game Design: Building Game Worlds
by Tom Meigs
ISBN: 0072228997

Chris Crawford on Game Design
by Chris Crawford
ISBN: 0131460994

Andrew Rollings and Ernest Adams on Game Design
by Andrew Rollings (Author), Ernest Adams (Author)
ISBN: 1592730019

Game Architecture and Design: A New Edition
by Andrew Rollings (Author), Dave Morris (Author)
ISBN: 0735713634
Note: Make sure you buy the new edition.

Game Design: Secret of the Sages
by Marc Saltzman (Editor)

Game Design: The Art and Business of Creating Games
by Bob Bates
ISBN: 0761531653

(Thanks to Dan Merchant for compiling this list of books.)
———-
WEBSITES
———-

http://www.igda.com A great site that I highly recommend.

http://www.igda.org/breakingin/career_paths.htm This here will give you a hand in deciding what career choice is for you.

http://www.igda.org/Forums/showthread.php?threadid=8833 Jeff Ward presents an impressive FAQ on breaking into the industry.

http://www.gamasutra.com The site is book marked by many gaming gods.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/ All the latest news from the games industry.

http://www.sloperama.com If you are serious about game development then read every single lesson on this site.

http://www.gamedev.net A useful site with an excellent starter tutorial.

http://www.cliffyb.com/how-to-get-hired.htm Cliff Bleszinski of Epic Games gives his advice on how to get an industry job.

http://www.ihfsoft.com A site where you can see complete game design documents and other useful and informative stuff.

http://www.randomterrain.com/gamedesign/ Fi’s Quotes on Game Design; quotes and insights from famous game designers and others.

http://www.gametutorials.com Has a wealth of information, especially if you aspire to program.

http://www.gamestester.com Has a lot of info on game testing, which is of course the best and most common way to break into the games industry.

If you are into programming, also use http://groups.google.com/ to find newsgroups about programming (start with the comp.games.development.* hierarchy), or use Outlook Express and list groups with the keyword “programming” in the name.

http://www.dperry.com Shiny President David Perry’s personal site offers a lot of advice to aspiring game developers.

http://www.codemasters.co.uk/jobs/careers/index.php Be sure to read, British developer and publisher, Codemasters guide on careers. Well worth a look for graphic artists, programmers and quality assurance technicians.

http://www.blitzgames.com/gameon/ British Independents Blitz Games present their advice on breaking into the games industry.

http://www.dperry.com/jobs/directory.htm Complete compilation of game development companies in the UK, Europe and United States.

http://felix.nomoretangerines.com/index2.php Frontier’s Stuart Fraser aka Felix of Mars offers his help to aspiring developers.

http://www.gamedesignlab.com A new site up which has a good few interesting articles.

———–
TOOL LINKS
———–

3D Studio Max – This is the tool of the professional artist and level layout designer. Most companies who use this software require knowledge of this package for all designers. It is also a great package for visualizing any idea you may have in 3D. Knowledge of this is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for all designers.

Maya – A high end 3D package which is being used by developers who can afford it’s hefty price tag. For that price you get the most powerful 3D software package on the market. New real time plug-ins and proprietary add-ons make use of real time development right in the Maya interface. Working knowledge of Maya is highly is recommended, though learning on your own may prove to be challenging.

QUark – One of the best freeware, open source, level editors available. It has plug-ins for quake, half-life, Hexen, and many others. It also exports .map files that can be read by most modern engines. There is a beta of a new version that’s supposed to handle Quake 3 type curves and multi layered textures.

Genesis 3D – This is an open source 3D engine with a good community support. Genesis3D is an Open Source 3D Game Development Engine, with a license designed to allow use of the game in commercial, or non-commercial applications for free.

Milkshape – Here is nice low end 3D modeling package. MilkShape 3D is a low-polygon modeler, which was initially designed for Half-Life. During the development, many file formats have been added. MilkShape 3D currently supports 37 different file formats from 27 different games/ engines/programs.

3D Rad – Little expensive but still a great game creation tool kit. 3D Rad is a Basic-like language, specifically suited for 3D games creation.

Valve Hammer Editor – Extremely useful level editor for Half-Life.]

[Anonymous]

Dexterity Software Indie Forums is where loads of shareware game developer types hang out. Gives a really nice perspective on what the current shareware games world is like now.
Also, while you’re at it, check the articles there http://www.dexterity.com/articles/.

[Anonymous]

One or two links…

Resource Links

ELSPA
http://www.elspa.com/

Chart Track
http://www.charttrack.co.uk/

VSC
http://www.videostandards.org.uk/

BBFC
http://www.bbfc.co.uk/

ESRB
http://www.esrb.org/

IDSA
http://www.idsa.com/

IGDA
http://www.igda.org/

===================

Trade Shows

E3
http://www.e3expo.com/

ECTS
http://www.ects.com/

GDCE
http://www.gdc-europe.com/

GDC
http://www.gdconf.com/

PlayStation Experience
http://www.playstationexperience.com/

London Games Week
http://www.londongamesweek.com

GC
http://www.gc-germany.de/

Milia
http://www.milia.com/

===================

Research

DIGRA
http://www.digra.org/

===================

Awards

BAFTA
http://www.bafta.org/

===================

Others
http://www.joystickjunkies.com

====================================

Irish Games Sites…

Gameire.com
http://www.gameire.com/

RTE Games
http://www.rte.ie/arts/newsgamingindex.html

Player of Games
http://www.playerofgames.com/

gameservers.ie
http://www.gameservers.ie

gamedevelopers.ie
http://www.gamedevelopers.ie

Quake.ie
http://www.Quake.ie/

Fortress.ie (CS and Half-life)
http://www.Fortress.ie/

Boards.ie (Games Forums)
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=12

====================================

Games Sites

GamesIndustry.biz
http://gamesindustry.biz/

indie
http://www.indiemagazine.co.uk/

MCV
http://www.mcvuk.com/

EuroGamer
http://www.eurogamer.net/

Spong
http://www.spong.com/

GamesRadar
http://www.gamesradar.co.uk/

GamesDomain
http://www.gamesdomain.com/

GameSpot
http://www.gamespot.com/

IGN
http://www.ign.com/

Total Video Games
http://www.totalvideogames.net/

Gamespy
http://www.gamespy.com/

Media and Games Online Network
http://www.mgon.com/

“Fan Sites”/ others

The Magic Box
http://www.the-magicbox.com/

Games Asylum
http://www.gamesasylum.com/

GamersEurope
http://www.gamerseurope.com/

Mad Gamers
http://www.madgamers.net/

The D Pad
http://www.thedpad.com/

Game Revolution
http://www.game-revolution.com/

Gamers.com
http://www.gamers.com/

N-Sider
http://www.n-sider.com/

Games Paper
http://www.gamespaper.com/

Segalife
http://www.segalife.com/

Video Games Life
http://www.videogameslife.com/

Darkstation
http://www.darkstation.com/

Gamersmark
http://www.gamersmark.com/

Gamesurge
http://www.gamesurge.com/

netjak
http://www.netjak.com/

Solinari
http://www.solinari.com/

Game Critics
http://www.gamecritics.com/

Gamers Temple
http://www.gamerstemple.com/

Unknown Player
http://www.unknownplayer.com/

Games-Xpress
http://www.games-xpress.co.uk/

The Games Not Over
http://www.thegamesnotover.com/

Game Style
http://www.gamestyle.co.uk/

Planet Gamecube
http://planetgamecube.com/

Games First
http://www.gamesfirst.com

=====================================

Games Magazines

PC Gamer (US)
http://www.pcgamer.com/

PC Gamer (UK)
http://www.pcgamer.co.uk/

PC Zone
http://www.pczone.co.uk/

Edge
http://www.edge-online.com/

=====================================
Non games only coverage

The Register
http://www.theregister.co.uk/

The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/gameswatch/

Metacritic
http://www.metacritic.com/games/

====================================

Humour and “Non Main Stream” Game Sites

Penny Arcade
http://www.penny-arcade.com/

UK Resistance
http://www.ukresistance.co.uk/

Utopiaproject
http://www.utopiaproject.co.uk/

Blessed Magazine
http://www.blessedmagazine.com/

Uncle Clive
http://www.uncleclive.co.uk/

Fatbabies
http://www.fatbabies.com/

====================================

Cheats, Hints and Tips Sites

Game FAQs
http://www.gamefaqs.com/

GameWinners
http://www.gamewinners.com/

Cheat Area.
http://www.cheatarea.com/

Cheat Cave
http://www.cheatcave.com/

IGN codes
http://codes.ign.com/

Cheat Channel
http://www.cheatchannel.com/

Cheats Network
http://www.cheatsnetwork.com/

Freaky Cheats
http://www.freaky-cheats.com/

[Anonymous]

====================================

Publishers/Developers
0 – 9

3D Realms
http://www.3drealms.com/

A

A#
http://www.a-sharp.com/

Acclaim Entertainment
http://www.Acclaim.com

Activision
http://www.activision.co.uk/

Adventuresoft
http://www.adventuresoft.com/

Argonaut
http://www.argonaut.com/

B

BAM Entertainment
http://www.bam4fun.com/

Brightstar Entertainment
http://www.brightstargames.com/

BioWare
http://ww.bioware.com/

Blizzard
http://www.blizzard.com/

Bluebyte
http://www.bluebyte.com/

Bullfrog
http://www.bullfrog.co.uk/

C

CanDo Games
http://www.candomultimedia.com/

Capcom
http://www.capcomeuro.com/

CDV Software
http://www.cdv.de

Cenega
http://cenega.com

Codemasters
http://www.codemasters.com/

ChartTrack
http://www.charttrack.com/

Climax
http://www.climax.co.uk/

Crave Entertainment
http://www.cravegames.com/

Criterion Games
http://www.criteriongames.com/

Cryo Interactive
http://www.cryo-interactive.com/

D

Deep Voodoo Games (Belfast)
http://www.deepvoodoo.com/

Disney Interactive
http://www.disneyinteractive.com/

E

ELSPA
http://www.elspa.com/

Eidos
http://www.eidos.com

EA
http://www.ie.ea.com/

Empire Interactive Europe
http://www.empire.co.uk/

F

Fox Interactive
http://www.foxinteractive.com/

Funcom
http://www.funcom.com/

G

Gremlin
http://www.gremlin.com/

Grolier Interactive
http://www.gi.grolier.com/

GOD Games
http://www.godgames.com/

GT
http://www.gtgames.com/

H

Hasbro
http://www.hasbrointeractive.com/

Havas
http://www.havasinteractive.com/

Havok
http://www.havok.com/

I

id Software
http://www.idsoftware.com/

IDSA – Interactive Digital Software Association (U.S.)
http://www.idsa.com/

Infogrames
http://www.infogrames.com/

Intel
http://www.intel.ie/

Interplay
http://www.interplay.com/

Io Interactive
http://www.ioi.dk/

J

Jester Interactive
http://www.jesterinteractive.com/

JoWood
http://www.jowood.com/

K

Kaboom Studios
http://www.kaboomstudios.com/

Konami Of Europe
http://www.konami-europe.com/

Kemco
http://www.kemco-europe.com/

L

Lego Media International
http://www.lego.com

Lithtech
http://www.lithtech.com/

Lionhead Studios
http://www.lionhead.com/

LucasArts
http://www.lucasarts.com/

M

Majesco
http://www.majesco.com/

Metro 3D
http://www.metro3d.com/

MGM Interactive
http://www.mgm.com/

MicroProse
http://www.hasbrointeractive.com/microprose/

Microsoft
http://www.microsoft.com/
http://www.xbox.com/

Midas Interactive Entertainment
http://www.midasinteractive.co.uk

Midway Games
http://www.midwayeuro.com

Mindscape
http://www.mindscape.com/

Monte Cristo Games
http://www.montecristogames.com/

N

Nintendo
http://www.nintendo.co.uk

Nokia
http://www.nokia.com/
http://www.nokiagame.com/

NovaLogic
http://www.novalogic.co.uk/

Namco
http://www.namco.com/

O

P

Plutonium Games
http://www.plutoniumgames.com/

Powerquest UK
http://www.powerquest.com/

Project Three Interactive [P3int]
http://www.p3int.com

Psygnosis
http://www.psygnosis.com/

Q

R

Rage
http://www.rage.com/

Rebellion
http://www.rebellion.co.uk/

Rock Star
http://www.rockstargames.com/
http://www.rockstarnorth.com/

S

Sammy Europe
http://www.sammyeurope.co.uk

SCi
http://www.sci.co.uk/

SEGA
http://www.sega.com/

Sierra
http://www.sierra.com/

Sony Computer Entertainmentt
http://www.playstation.ie/

Sold Out
http://www.sold-out.co.uk/

Square Europe
http://www.square-europe.com
http://www.square.co.uk

Strategy First
http://www.strategyfirst.com/

T

Talonsoft
http://www.talonsoft.com/

Take 2 Interactive Europe
http://www.take2europe.com/

TDK Recording Media Europe SA
http://www.tdk-mediactive.com/

THQ
http://www.thq.co.uk/

Titus Software
http://www.titusgames.com/

Torc Interactive
http://www.torcinteractive.com/

U

Ubi Soft
http://www.udisoft.com/

V

Valusoft
http://www.valusoft.com/

Virgin Interactive Entertainment
http://www.vie.co.uk/

Vivendi Universal Interactive
http://www.vivendi-universal-interactive.co.uk

W

Warthog
http://www.warthog.co.uk/

Westwood
http://www.westwood.com/

Wild Tangent
http://www.wildtangent.com/

X

XBox
http://www.xbox.com/

Y

Z

Zoo Digital Publishing
http://www.digitalworldwide.com/

[Anonymous]

This is proving to be a most useful thread, I’ll have a dig around and try and add a few more

[Anonymous]

Below is a list of current Game Developers in the UK that I found in one of the Uni sites. It would be a good idea to have a comprehensive list of Irish developers attached to this site also.

A
Anco Software http://www.anco.co.uk
Aqua Pacific http://www.aqua-pacific.com
Argonaut http://www.argonaut.com
Atomic Planet Entertainment http://www.atomic-planet.com
Attention to Detail http://www.atd.co.uk
Awesome Developments http://www.awesome.uk.com
B
Big Blue Box http://www.bigbluebox.com
Bitmap Brothers http://www.bitmap-brothers.co.uk
Bits Corp http://www.bitscorp.com
Bizarre Creations http://www.bizarrecreations.com
Black Cactus http://www.blackcactus.com
Blade Interactive http://www.bladeinteractive.com
Blitz Games http://www.BlitzGames.com
Blue 52 http://www.blue52.co.uk
Brat Designs http://www.brat-designs.com
Broadsword Interactive http://www.broadsword.co.uk
Bulldog Interactive http://www.bulldoginteractive.com
C
Clearwater Interactive http://www.cw-i.com
Climax http://www.climax.co.uk
Computer Artworks http://www.artworks.co.uk
Confounding Factor http://www.confounding-factor.com
Covert Operations http://www.covert.co.uk
Crawfish Interactive http://www.crawfishinteractive.com
Creative Assembly http://www.creative-assembly.co.uk
Creative Asylum http://www.creative-asylum.com
Criterion Software http://www.criterionstudios.com
Curlymonsters http://www.curlymonsters.com
D
Dark Black http://www.darkblack.co.uk
Data Design Interactive http://www.datadesign.co.uk
DC Studios http://www.dc-studios.com
Deep Red http://www.deepred.co.uk
Deibus Studios http://www.deibus.com
Denki http://www.denki.co.uk
Digital Integration http://www.digint.co.uk
E
Elixir Studios http://www.elixir-studios.co.uk
Eurocom http://www.eurocom.co.uk
Eutechnyx http://www.eutechnyx.com
Evolution Studios http://www.evos.net
F
Free Radical Design http://www.freeredicaldesign.co.uk
Frontier Developments http://www.frontier.co.uk
G
Gameworld Seven http://www.GW7.co.uk
Genepool http://www.genepool-uk.com
H
Hailstorm http://www.hailstorm.co.uk
Headfirst Productions http://www.headfirst.co.uk
Hotgen Studios http://www.hotgen.com
Hothouse Creations http://www.hothousecreations.com
I
Intelligent Games http://www.igl.co.uk
Intrepid Games http://www.intrepidgames.com
IOMO http://www.ioproductions.co.uk
J
Jester Int. http://www.jesterinteractive.co.uk
Just Add Monsters http://www.justaddmonsters.com
K
King of the Jungle http://www.kingofthejungle.co.uk
Kuju Entertainment http://www.kuju.com
L
Lionhead Studios http://www.lionhead.com
Lost Toys http://www.losttoys.com
M
Maverick Developments http://www.maverickdev.com
Mobius http://www.mobiusent.com
Mucky Foot http://www.muckyfoot.com
N
Nicely Crafted Games http://www.nicelycrafted.com
Nomadic Studios http://www.nomadicstudios.com
P
Particle Systems http://www.particle-systems.com
Pitbull Syndicate http://www.pitbull.co.uk
Pivotal Games http://www.pivotalgames.com
Pixelogic http://www.pixelogic.co.uk
Pocket Studios http://www.pocket-studios.com
Q
QubeSoft http://www.qubesoft.com
R
Rage http://www.rage.com
Rare http://www.rareware.com
Razorworks http://www.razorworks.com
Rebellion http://www.rebellion.co.uk
Red Lemon Studios http://www.redlemon.com
Reflections http://www.reflectionsinteractive.com
Revolution Software http://www.revolution.co.uk
Rockstar Studios http://www.dma.co.uk
Runecraft http://www.runecraft.co.uk
S
Silicon Dreams http://www.sdstudio.com
Simian Industries Limited http://www.simianindustries.com
Small Rockets http://www.smallrockets.com
Smart Dog http://www.smartdog.co.uk
Smoking Gun Productions http://www.smoking-gun.co.uk
Sports Interactive http://www.sportsinteractive.co.uk
Stainless Games http://www.stainlessgames.com
Steel Monkeys http://www.steelmonkeys.com
Studio 3 Interactive http://www.studio3.co.uk
Studio 33 http://www.studio33.co.uk
Supersonic Software http://www.supersonic-software.com
T
Team 17 Software http://www.team17.com
The Code Monkeys http://www.codemonkeys.com
Travellers Tales http://www.t-tales.com
V
Virtucraft http://www.virtucraft.com
VIS Interactive http://www.vis-plc.com
Visual Sciences http://www.vissci.com
Vulcan Software http://www.vulcan.co.uk
W
Warthog http://www.warthog.co.uk
Wide Games http://www.widegames.com
Z
Zed Two http://www.zedtwo.com

[Anonymous]

A good place to go if your looking to find games companies in the UK is http://www.datascope.co.uk. Click on the programmers link and from there click on the gateway to games link. It has a list of many resources as well as a pretty exhaustive list of games companies in the UK.

[Anonymous]

One problem that aspiring game artists often ask me about is where they can find software to develop their basic skills with. In the past, most seem end up with a hack of Max, Maya or Softimage which, while not to be condoned was understandable. However most have now released free or limited use versions of their software for student and amateur use.

There’s a great full feature (but watermarked) version of Maya available from their site at Maya Personal Learning

And also a 30 day trial (boo) of Max available from the Discreet site at Max 30 day which is better than nothing I guess but doesn’t really give you much tim to get to grips with it.

Softimage with dev tools for Half Life 2 on the way is available from here Softimage/Half Life and one for general use here Softimage/xsi exp which might be useful.

These are the big players in games dev but if your interest is more general Rhino is worth a look
Rhino 3D .Rhino experience won’t particularily enhance your CV as much as the others but it’s a great piece of software.

An alternative route to 3d software without watermarks or use restrictions is OEM-cheap.biz. I have no idea of the legality of their approach or the degree of service they offer but the site has been around for a while now without any word of the bigger corps coming down on them. Max for $270 and P’shop for $60. Short of blatant piracy or shopping in Singapore (discreet piracy) this seems to be the only way to play with Photoshop or Corel Draw. If anyone has any feedback on this site please let me know.

[Anonymous]

For the record:
The Developers Lost Toys and Mucky Foot folded last year. These were old mates of mine from (the also defunct) Bullfrog. They’d managed to stay afloat for a reasonable amount of time but sadly succumbed to the rocks and sharks that inhabit the britsoft seas (what a metaphor). The good news is that most of the talented people have been scooped up by other companies, including Lionhead

[Anonymous]

Is there anywhere in Dyblin that actually sells graphics software?

[Anonymous]

Is there anywhere in Dublin that buy software????!!!!!!

Sorry for going off the topic a little!:)

[Anonymous]

For the game journalists out there I’ve managed to find a few links on the subject.

Advice on breaking in
http://pc.ign.com/articles/092/092589p1.html
http://www.gamingillustrated.com/fitz1007.php
http://www.gamingillustrated.com/fitzgerald803.php

One man’s commentary on game journalism…
here.

A friend just made me aware of Game Press.

[Anonymous]

Is there anywhere in Dyblin that actually sells graphics software? [/quote:0967c05404]

http://www.eurotek.ie

[Anonymous]

Great insight how game engines work… a series in 11 parts

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,594,00.asp

[Anonymous]

Is there anywhere in Dublin that buy software????!!!!!![/quote:07ce375fdd] Multimedia Solutions off Stephens Green… can’t remember their URL

[Anonymous]

Is it this one, Tony?

http://www.multimedia.ie/new_ms/index.html

[Anonymous]

that’s the one!

[Aphra K]

Hi all,

Skillset in the UK have some pretty useful overviews of the different occupations in game companies and the key skills involved…should provide useful input into our own careers initiative ..

see here

let me know what you think…

Aphra.

[Anonymous]

If I may add an “offline resource” of sorts to this thread (because you just never know):

Steph’s near-complete EDGE collection, starting Apr 94 to present :eek:

Not easy to consult, granted, but if you want to consult & have an article reference or issue date or preview/testcreen name etc., drop me a pm or email.

[Anonymous]

http://www2.ravensoft.com/getajob.htm

—————-
Level Design:
Level designers create the game world and its architecture inside a 2D/3D level editor.
Most game engines come with their own editor, so the training doesn’t necessarily
transfer from one game to another.

Tools of the Trade – A 2D/3D level editor is used to create world architecture that the
designer textures and populates with models, enemies and scripts. Editors vary from game
to game.

Useful Skills – A general art background is very useful. Knowledge of architecture
and design concepts is also useful. General programming knowledge is recommended
for the scripting aspect of design. Knowledge of one or more sets of editing tools
that have shipped with various PC games over the years is essential.

Recommended Education – There really isn’t much I can equate to level design educational
courses. The level designer is a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. I’d say that
general art courses, drafting courses and programming courses would all be useful to
a level designer, but there’s no substitute for downloading and using tools on the
Internet for a good self-education.

———————–

Programming:
Programmers are a significant part of every gaming company. They work the magic in the mystical
lines of code to make games work. No Programmers = No Game

Tools of the Trade – Right now the most common programming language is Visual C++.
Programmers write their code in C++ and check it in and out of our database with
SourceSafe or PerForce. Programmers have their hands in every aspect of a game’s development
so they end up using a variety of software packages to work the magic.

Useful Skills – Besides an extensive knowledge of game programming, various programming
languages and mathematics, here’s a list of other desirable traits in programming
candidates:

–Planning: If you can’t plan a project properly, it really won’t get done on time
or the way you intended. This is something that is taught in both a trade school/Computer
Programming curriculum and a B.S./Computer Science type of program. It is one thing that
can often be difficult for a self-trained programmer to do.

–Working in a group: The days of the lone wolf programmer in large game companies
are long past. Working on a section to better the whole of a project requires the
disciplines of code modularity, as well as communications and leadership. This usually
can be learned from any large project. These are usually more prevalent in a
theory-based/B.S. curriculum, although any gaming project you and some friends can whip
up on your own can often substitute.

–Algorithms and Data Structures: Basic coding stuff. The most basic procedures and
data organization methods are of course crucial to any large-scale project. If a person
isn’t familiar with the most basic of them, he really can’t be given much responsibility
for code planning. The basics are taught in any self-respecting degree program, although
again a theory-based/B.S. curriculum is going to go more into depth on these, guiding
a student towards creating his own algorithms and doing more research.

–Initiative and Drive to Learn: Although the past points have been biased towards school,
there are too many people that just go for the degree, and don’t gain much towards becoming
a game programmer. Little of what is taught in most computer classes is directly applicable
to creating a game in itself. B.S./Computer Science programs are actually the worst in this
respect, due to the large amount of theory taught compared to a small amount of application
coding. It takes a willingness to apply these things to games, and a drive to learn new
ways to make those games better. This is often what coders who did not go to college have
in spades.

–Experience: In the end, however, true coding experience can carry a lot of weight.
Someone in school often needs a dose of what real, practical coding is like. This
can come from getting a student programming job, or by using some of that initiative
we talked about above and creating their own work, their own game, whatever interests
them. When we seek someone that we say has a “solid” C/C++ programming background,
usually it means that the person has been using it in a real project of some sort.

–Can finish what one starts: This is the main reason we are interested in long
projects. For every one resume from a candidate that worked a long project from
start to finished, we receive a dozen from people that started one thing, jumped
to the next, got bored, went on, etc. Long projects take a lot of planning at the
beginning to make sure they reach the end, and once the initial excitement wears off,
the project doesn’t go away.

–Love of games and creative programming: We value this most of all. I think it is a
tragedy when a non-game person is hired over a die-hard game lover. This doesn’t mean
that you really HAVE to describe your first experience with an Apple II… If someone
can show their ability to be creative and hopefully USE that creativity in some code
work that they’ve done, then that’s a very good first step.

———————–

[Anonymous]

http://www.probegames.com and gamesrecruit.com have the most comprehensive (especially the later) list of jobs etc.

datascope are really good though, i only had my c.v. in with them for a day and i had an interview in the UK, although it wasent the kind of game job i wanted. work for 6 months unpaid to prove i was of the calibre of a cambridge student (now i know cambridge students and most can fart on about s\w eng and theory but most cant program for crap), if i didnt prove myself i would be fire(fair enough if your getting paid, alot of companies do this now).

Also this particular company (which really sounds like an amateur rack), the manager type tells me when i asked him if they had any industry veterans they were working with or consulting or even any publisher, since none of them had previous experience.
he replies, “what do we need industry for, how hard is a game, clock in 100 weeks with cambridge\oxford grads and boom we make a AAA title”. you can imagine i didnt attend 2nd rounds, when i heard this.

also this guy told me that i would have to work 25% of my time, developing databases and websites for their primary investor. haha, the chancers out there. :-)

[Anonymous]

OH MY GOD!!

The gamesindustry.biz job section has a really good selection of jobs from all agencies.
Game Ops aren’t bad either. I was with them when I was in Dundee and they sorted out several interviews for me. Got a call one monday asked if I wanted to do some mobile stuff for DC Studios in Glasgow…I was on the plane to start work on the Thursday. If you want to work for Codies, it’d be a good place to go…the people who run it…husband is producer at Codies, wife runs Game Ops :) ( or used to be anyway… )

[Anonymous]

http://www.cgtalk.com/archive/index.php/f-28.html

Good stuff for artists.

(Also its sad to look at how many companies are gone from the above lists…)

[Anonymous]

http://www.cgtalk.com/archive/index.php/f-28.html

Good stuff for artists.

(Also its sad to look at how many companies are gone from the above lists…)[/quote:daf9e55bfd]

Maybe it’s just that page but I found that a lot of the ads on there are from 2002, 2001? Or did I miss something?

[Anonymous]

Doh, youre right…they should clean it up or update it :?

[Anonymous]

While waiting for a new release by the Darwinia guys,
which are not on the developers list, I think a peak at
the Introversion blog is a good start for potential indie
startup folks here in Ireland.

http://www.introversion.co.uk/blog/index.php

of special note are the "I don’t want a real job" strand
and the "It’s all in your head" one.

A great read, from the "last of the bedroom coders"

No! they don’t pay me :p

[Author]

Posts