Full Games List
Featured Games
New Games
Reviews
Media
Images
Blogs
Game Updates
Images Feedback Summary
Game Design Highlights
Tutorials
Articles
Scripts
Utilities / Plugins
Resources
Engines
Engine Bulletins
What is Makerscore?
Past Events
Achievements
Misaos
Forums
Post History
Chat
New to RMN?
Full Store List
RMN Music Pack (free)
THE ONLY HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION THAT MATTERS...FOR GAME DEVELOPERS WHO ARE ALSO GROWNUPS.
Posts
Max McGee
View playlists
CloseHere it is guys. This is really only targeted towards those of you who are 21+, have careers, or people who are at least a few years into college. This is essentially an extension of the "Are you serious?" topic but I want to cut right to the bone and get directly to the crux of the issue with a single hypothetical question.
If someone discovered you (i.e. they played whatever you have made and released on this site and LOVED IT) and was going to employ you, would you be willing to uproot your life (and family, if applicable) and move halfway across the world, risk a pay cut and loss of benefits, to follow your dream? Like if John Q. Professional Game Developer game to your house today and said, I have played and I absolutely loved it, and I want you to join my team, in Timbuctu, Oregon, with an entry level position, we have to leave tomorrow, would you do it?
You'd have to move cross country at least and you'd have to give up your job and present habitaiton.
Like I mean seriously, how much do you love game design and how much is it a hobby? The longer you've been employed (or in school if you're going for four or more years of college) and the older you are, the more your answer interests me.
Obviously a lot of you are very passionate about game making and I want to know, how passionate? And what degree of stability would you give up to actually make games...for a living.
Your thoughts PLZ.
-Max
P.S. Oh, please everybody save your "that would never happen"s, it is a HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION after all.
If someone discovered you (i.e. they played whatever you have made and released on this site and LOVED IT) and was going to employ you, would you be willing to uproot your life (and family, if applicable) and move halfway across the world, risk a pay cut and loss of benefits, to follow your dream? Like if John Q. Professional Game Developer game to your house today and said, I have played and I absolutely loved it, and I want you to join my team, in Timbuctu, Oregon, with an entry level position, we have to leave tomorrow, would you do it?
You'd have to move cross country at least and you'd have to give up your job and present habitaiton.
Like I mean seriously, how much do you love game design and how much is it a hobby? The longer you've been employed (or in school if you're going for four or more years of college) and the older you are, the more your answer interests me.
Obviously a lot of you are very passionate about game making and I want to know, how passionate? And what degree of stability would you give up to actually make games...for a living.
Your thoughts PLZ.
-Max
P.S. Oh, please everybody save your "that would never happen"s, it is a HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION after all.
Clest
0
Well I would, I got nothing holding me here, neither do I have ppl depending on me (no wife, gf, kids, younger brother/sister whatever) and if anything I can still do what I do as long as I own a computer and get internet money, so if a pay cut came I would just tap on my savings to pay the first month of expenses and go back to my freelance works as a spriter.
Yet, my main goal in life is realeasing my own projects on my own way, I would accept said offer more as an experience as much as I do with most clients. I gave up a stable job to work freelancer and I am happy with it :)
By the way: I am 27, coursed 3 years on portuguese/english language and literature in college and now ending my first (from 2) year of Digital graphics creation and prodution in another college, worked with IT for about 2 years, worked as 3D CARD designer of industrial machinery for another 2 and now I work as a freelancer artist spriter for games, sites and software in general.
Yet, my main goal in life is realeasing my own projects on my own way, I would accept said offer more as an experience as much as I do with most clients. I gave up a stable job to work freelancer and I am happy with it :)
By the way: I am 27, coursed 3 years on portuguese/english language and literature in college and now ending my first (from 2) year of Digital graphics creation and prodution in another college, worked with IT for about 2 years, worked as 3D CARD designer of industrial machinery for another 2 and now I work as a freelancer artist spriter for games, sites and software in general.
Once I settled into a pretty good career/income the whole professional game dev thing sorta fell off the radar. I know I'd have to lick boots and be a doormat for years before getting even a hint of creative direction, and I'm having enough fun and satisfaction game making with just RM engines on an amateur basis.
Two years ago I would have taken a professional game dev job if it was in fucking Baghdad.
Two years ago I would have taken a professional game dev job if it was in fucking Baghdad.
demondestiny
889
I'm 27 and have been a restaurant manager for about 2 years now. I am currently in a very serious relationship and am overall happy with my life so i would have to turn the offer down.
A few years ago i might have considered it.
A few years ago i might have considered it.
Blitzen
3253
Definitely not. I make games as a hobby, a diversion, with the knowledge that it is something completely frivilous, and that is part of why I like it as a hobby. If I were to do it for a living, I think I'd probably go nuts knowing that I am capable of doing so much more. I have roots here at home, I plan to live here and work here, and hopefully one day be a school teacher here, and I want to be a part of and contribute to the well being of my community and the people in it, and I think that giving all that up to sit at a computer and do flowcharts and talk to computer nerds about the most efficient rendering process would be a huge disappointment for me.
Neophyte
155
author=Blitzen link=topic=2480.msg45211#msg45211 date=1226984678I agree with this a lot.
Definitely not. I make games as a hobby, a diversion, with the knowledge that it is something completely frivilous, and that is part of why I like it as a hobby. If I were to do it for a living, I think I'd probably go nuts knowing that I am capable of doing so much more. I have roots here at home, I plan to live here and work here, and hopefully one day be a school teacher here, and I want to be a part of and contribute to the well being of my community and the people in it, and I think that giving all that up to sit at a computer and do flowcharts and talk to computer nerds about the most efficient rendering process would be a huge disappointment for me.
Also I can't imagine working on something that isn't my own project. It just couldn't be something I could envision. If I weren't able to create my personal project that I make and enjoy for myself, this opportunity would just be like any other job. But that's just me.
author=Neophyte link=topic=2480.msg45212#msg45212 date=1226984950author=Blitzen link=topic=2480.msg45211#msg45211 date=1226984678I agree with this a lot.
Definitely not. I make games as a hobby, a diversion, with the knowledge that it is something completely frivilous, and that is part of why I like it as a hobby. If I were to do it for a living, I think I'd probably go nuts knowing that I am capable of doing so much more. I have roots here at home, I plan to live here and work here, and hopefully one day be a school teacher here, and I want to be a part of and contribute to the well being of my community and the people in it, and I think that giving all that up to sit at a computer and do flowcharts and talk to computer nerds about the most efficient rendering process would be a huge disappointment for me.
Also I can't imagine working on something that isn't my own project. It just couldn't be something I could envision. If I weren't able to create my personal project that I make and enjoy for myself, this opportunity would just be like any other job. But that's just me.
Hey I'm quoting these people because I agree with them.
author=Feldschlacht IV link=topic=2480.msg45213#msg45213 date=1226985003author=Neophyte link=topic=2480.msg45212#msg45212 date=1226984950author=Blitzen link=topic=2480.msg45211#msg45211 date=1226984678I agree with this a lot.
Definitely not. I make games as a hobby, a diversion, with the knowledge that it is something completely frivilous, and that is part of why I like it as a hobby. If I were to do it for a living, I think I'd probably go nuts knowing that I am capable of doing so much more. I have roots here at home, I plan to live here and work here, and hopefully one day be a school teacher here, and I want to be a part of and contribute to the well being of my community and the people in it, and I think that giving all that up to sit at a computer and do flowcharts and talk to computer nerds about the most efficient rendering process would be a huge disappointment for me.
Also I can't imagine working on something that isn't my own project. It just couldn't be something I could envision. If I weren't able to create my personal project that I make and enjoy for myself, this opportunity would just be like any other job. But that's just me.
Hey I'm quoting these people because I agree with them.
This. Although, I fully intend to make RPGs for a living, but with RM! HA! I'd rather make something quality, not another Laxative Power.
They would have to pay really well. I currently have a pretty good setup at the company I work with, and the stuff I work on is important (National electronic health record anyone? I wrote the TB Skin Test app, among other things). I like what I do.
I am married, and I live in the same city as my family and my wife's family. We are also "planning" on having kids "some day"-ish. Familial support would be needed for this, I suspect.
Then again, I have a cousin who works at Valve (yes, that Valve) and he didn't like living in Seattle, so when he said so, they said "Well, if you could work anywhere in the world, would you work for us?" So they bought him a $5000 rig and he's worked here (in Regina, his hometown), Vancouver, Thailand, New Zealand, Nevada, etc... over the past year or so. (You have to keep in mind that he had a Masters in Comp Sci and was a senior software developer for WETA digital and Pixar and Disney - so he knows his shiznit).
However, game design is a HUGE passion of mine, and I would strongly consider an offer. To answer your question, if the offer was right, I would take it.
I am married, and I live in the same city as my family and my wife's family. We are also "planning" on having kids "some day"-ish. Familial support would be needed for this, I suspect.
Then again, I have a cousin who works at Valve (yes, that Valve) and he didn't like living in Seattle, so when he said so, they said "Well, if you could work anywhere in the world, would you work for us?" So they bought him a $5000 rig and he's worked here (in Regina, his hometown), Vancouver, Thailand, New Zealand, Nevada, etc... over the past year or so. (You have to keep in mind that he had a Masters in Comp Sci and was a senior software developer for WETA digital and Pixar and Disney - so he knows his shiznit).
However, game design is a HUGE passion of mine, and I would strongly consider an offer. To answer your question, if the offer was right, I would take it.
Definitely not. I make games as a hobby, a diversion, with the knowledge that it is something completely frivilous, and that is part of why I like it as a hobby. If I were to do it for a living, I think I'd probably go nuts knowing that I am capable of doing so much more. I have roots here at home, I plan to live here and work here, and hopefully one day be a school teacher here, and I want to be a part of and contribute to the well being of my community and the people in it, and I think that giving all that up to sit at a computer and do flowcharts and talk to computer nerds about the most efficient rendering process would be a huge disappointment for me.
I've got a step cousin who works for Ubisoft and he's not exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer if you know what I mean, so consider the kind of people you are going to be working with as well.
Blitzen is just a small town girl. : )
I agree with this a lot.
Also I can't imagine working on something that isn't my own project. It just couldn't be something I could envision. If I weren't able to create my personal project that I make and enjoy for myself, this opportunity would just be like any other job. But that's just me.
Anyway, everybody knows you have to start at the bottom of the ladder and work your way up in any job. The difference is that a career in game design if successful really could let your games and your ideas reach a large audience as commercial games if you stuck with it and made it to the top which of course has basically 0% chance of happening in your current life situation. I personally wouldn't mind working on others' projects if I knew it was getting me closer to fully realizing mine AND getting me cash money dollars.
Then again, I have a cousin who works at Valve (yes, that Valve) and he didn't like living in Seattle, so when he said so, they said "Well, if you could work anywhere in the world, would you work for us?" So they bought him a $5000 rig and he's worked here (in Regina, his hometown), Vancouver, Thailand, New Zealand, Nevada, etc... over the past year or so. (You have to keep in mind that he had a Masters in Comp Sci and was a senior software developer for WETA digital and Pixar and Disney - so he knows his shiznit).
Well holy fucking shit you have a cousin who works for VALVE. They don't need writers, do they? The sad truth (VERY SAD in the case of travesties upon the English language such as the Gears of War franchise) is that video game companies very seldom hire writers from outside and just use people within the company/project team (producers, level designers, etcetera) without any specialization in writing. Big projects hire pro level writers, but they only hire big name established screenwriters. So as far as I can tell, it's impossible to get a job writing for games unless you're already a famous movie writer which is itself basically impossible. It's heartbreaking, I know, and very frustrating because my girlfriend just won't listen to me when I explain to her that yes, it really, really isn't possible for me to get a job writing for videogames.
I'm interested in hearing Max's response to this. :]
I'll save my answer for the end. Right now I find Kentona's answer the most interesting because he was so very much on the fence.
Good question, non?
author=Max McGee link=topic=2480.msg45223#msg45223 date=1226987577
It's heartbreaking, I know, and very frustrating because my girlfriend just won't listen to me when I explain to her that yes, it really, really isn't possible for me to get a job writing for videogames.
This isn't exactly true, though I'm sure it's close to true.
I know this for a fact because one of my annoying professors started off our year by telling us what some alumni were doing. He mentioned one in particular was writing for videogames in BARCELONA, of all places.
So I guess if you want to move to Barcelona, Max, there's openings there :P
I can't answer this question because I haven't made any games. But if, say, someone saw my art online and they happened to be Top Cow, and said "move somewhere and work for us," I'd consider saying yes. I'd have to talk it over with the boyfriend though.
Also I'd never move to Houston, TX. No offense to people who live there. I've heard too many stories about the bugs that live there (I'm from a desert state so we don't really get bugs much).
Kuroi
0
author=Max McGee link=topic=2480.msg45154#msg45154 date=1226978910
If someone discovered you (i.e. they played whatever you have made and released on this site and LOVED IT) and was going to employ you, would you be willing to uproot your life (and family, if applicable) and move halfway across the world, risk a pay cut and loss of benefits, to follow your dream? Like if John Q. Professional Game Developer game to your house today and said, I have played and I absolutely loved it, and I want you to join my team, in Timbuctu, Oregon, with an entry level position, we have to leave tomorrow, would you do it?
I seriouslly don't know of anyone within the industry who hasn't moved for the job, even if you land lucky with a game being dev'd in your town the next studio is bound to be 2 states away; its how it all works really, they find a cheaper studio and move the team. if you werent ready to uproot your life then you shouldn't get into it if not to be honest; Halo 1, 2 and 3 were made over 7 different studio's and now bungie is in another.
Sorry if im 'Shitting on people's dreams' but its the god's honest truth.
suzuricho
283
I'm not too entirely happy with Germany, and that would only make me go "EXCUSE TO LEAVE!" xD
In all seriousness, I would refuse, though. My babies and Asa come first no matter what dream job I may be offered. Then again, I don't want work in programming, I want work in character design/storyboard. If I could do the work at home but only go in every so often for a meeting, then I would talk it over with Asa.
If he got the job though, I'd almost make him go. XD
In all seriousness, I would refuse, though. My babies and Asa come first no matter what dream job I may be offered. Then again, I don't want work in programming, I want work in character design/storyboard. If I could do the work at home but only go in every so often for a meeting, then I would talk it over with Asa.
If he got the job though, I'd almost make him go. XD
Sam
2200
I'm already on a Games Art & Design course, building up the portfolio and skills required to be offered a job in the industry. Therefore, I already accepted that, to follow my dream, I will have to move a long distance. Probably out of this country. And considering I've yet to leave my hometown for any real stretch of time, I have all my friendsand family here too, that scares me.
However, at the end of the day it's what I have my heart set on.
However, at the end of the day it's what I have my heart set on.
Asalieri
200
In the unlikely event that I could be hired for a job in the videogame industry, it all depends on pay, job description, location, how the economy looks, and for good measure, pay.
The economy isn't too friendly for the videogame industry at the moment. This christmas is going to be dismal, that's for sure, with less people spending and less disposable income being thrown around.
You'd really have to ask me a more specific question to get a more specific answer, to be honest.
The economy isn't too friendly for the videogame industry at the moment. This christmas is going to be dismal, that's for sure, with less people spending and less disposable income being thrown around.
You'd really have to ask me a more specific question to get a more specific answer, to be honest.
author=Asalieri link=topic=2480.msg45296#msg45296 date=1227016700Basically, this, but I'm going to assume some pretenses for this job offer and say HELL, YES!
In the unlikely event that I could be hired for a job in the videogame industry, it all depends on pay, job description, location, how the economy looks, and for good measure, pay.
The economy isn't too friendly for the videogame industry at the moment. This christmas is going to be dismal, that's for sure, with less people spending and less disposable income being thrown around.
You'd really have to ask me a more specific question to get a more specific answer, to be honest.
If a developer came to me because of something I made, I would be more than thrilled. Game making is something I would love to make a career out of, and for someone to come to me one day and just open the door to the industry for me would be too good an opportunity to pass up.
*HOWEVER*
Coming back to reality, here, I recognize that the chances of this are slim to none. Oh, sure, I've made a few RPGs, but, I mean, look at them. There's a reason why I'm not that popular, and appearances mean everything in today's world (no matter how much I disagree with it). This is why I didn't put all my eggs in the game dev basket.
I'm going to college for an Accounting degree. It's a high-demand field that gives pretty decent pay. I'll always be able to make games on my compy, no matter what kind of job I find. So, if something comes of my creations in the future, then...great! If no, then at least I have something successful to work with if/when that day comes.
I'm realistic and optimistic. ;)
Asa you don't get the job because as far as I can tell you haven't made anything. Which makes me a sad panda. Make a game you critical bum so everyone can tear it apart, we don't need you to be the GameCriticBoy of RMN. :P
Wow, you are like a 1950s house wife. I can see the whole feminist movement went right over your head. : )
Anyway, in response to your nitpick about programming versus character design/storyboard, assume the job, while entry level, is in exactly the area or areas of game design you are most interested in, i.e. your "Dream job" in that one limited sense.
In all seriousness, I would refuse, though. My babies and Asa come first no matter what dream job I may be offered. Then again, I don't want work in programming, I want work in character design/storyboard. If I could do the work at home but only go in every so often for a meeting, then I would talk it over with Asa.
Wow, you are like a 1950s house wife. I can see the whole feminist movement went right over your head. : )
Anyway, in response to your nitpick about programming versus character design/storyboard, assume the job, while entry level, is in exactly the area or areas of game design you are most interested in, i.e. your "Dream job" in that one limited sense.
Sasuke
0
I'd probably consider it, but wouldn't they want you to have some type of degree/programming experience first? Usually depends on what studio hires you, if it's Japanese. chances are you'll be moving out of the country, defiantly wouldn't mind that^^
Asalieri
200
author=Max McGee link=topic=2480.msg45364#msg45364 date=1227035168
Asa you don't get the job because as far as I can tell you haven't made anything. Which makes me a sad panda. Make a game you critical bumso everyone can tear it apart, we don't need you to be the GameCriticBoy of RMN. :P
What, you want me to make any crap? See, right now I don't feel any inspiration hitting me. You'll just have to be a sad panda until I can make something I can live with. (although it's looking like it'll be mostly RTP from me.)
Although I would love to be torn apart, though...
