My brother loves not getting paid overtime

March 29, 2005 5:32 AM

My brother needs some advice on breaking into the games industry (different than this question, since he's not asking SHOULD, but HOW)

From my brother:

"I'm graduating from University of Maryland this May with a BS in Computer Science and I really want to go into the Entertainment Software industry. It's not really a friendly industry for someone with pretty much no experience, and because of a scholarship, if I start working it must be in Maryland for at least 3 years. I have a few options I was wondering about:

I've been looking somewhat half-heartedly for a game programmer position in Maryland, but it's pretty slim-pickings. I would go for a QA position as well if it'll get me in. The only notable place is Bethesda Softworks who turned me down at the application phase citing lack of experience. Is this a lost cause, or should I institute some sort of resume blitz?

I have a job right now working for the government, writing tiny scripts and GUIs. They think I'm sent from heaven, but the job really won't take me anywhere and it's hardly engaging or challenging. I will become full-time when I graduate and probably have plenty of time for side projects (a portfolio). I guess I could stick here until my time in Maryland is up and then go wherever I need to, but the pay and interest level are pretty strong arguments against that.

I could also just get a general programmer position, probably with a lot less difficulty, here in Maryland, which would also leave time to work on side-projects, building a portfolio. Will this experience still help my cause, as most positions seem to heavily emphasize "experience in the gaming industry" specifically?

If I continue my schooling I can sidestep the stay in Maryland thing for now, so I've looked about for different game design programs that universities offer (not really interested in another 4 years for a Masters). I guess it's not really for a degree, but you end up with a portfolio and I guess a certificate after a year or two. Those commercials are on all the time for, like, Collins College or whatever, but I get the impression those are kind of a joke, or at least not right for someone who already has a BS from a state university.

Has anyone had any experience with these, whether graduate or not? It's very difficult to tell just from websites whether it's worthwhile for a person who's studied CS but not specifically Game Design/Programming. Here's a few universities that seemed kind of interesting but I really have no concept of what these are like.

George Brown - The Toronto City College
University of Advancing Technology
There's. Also a whole bunch of stuff on GameDev.net that I haven't had the chance to wade through yet.

So, what's the deal here? Worthwhile, or should I just keep trying to score a position somwhere and gain real-life experince?"

Any advice you could provide would be greatly appreciated by both of us. (He wants a job, I want free games.)

posted by emptybowl to Computers & Internet (10 answers total)

He might try making a game of some kind in his spare time. I talked to someone once who works at Bethesda, and he said that one thing that really impresses them in a newbie is if they've produced a finished game. It doesn't have to be really fancy, but it should be finished and polished. Show 'em that, and you'll stand a much better chance of getting a job in the industry.
posted by unreason at 5:48 AM on March 29, 2005

Response by poster: He has told me that he's been working on a game in his spare time. The problem with relying on free time for career development, though, is that a) it's not always reliable and b) it competes with other free time activities, like game PLAYING (something I know he loves), which I believe is why he's asking the question. (Free time portfolio building Vs. structured educational environment) I'm sure he'll be happy to hear your advice, though, unreason, and hopefully it will push him to work more on his game.
posted by emptybowl at 5:54 AM on March 29, 2005

Heh, yeah, I'm trying to make a game in my spare time myself, and it's pretty hard. I guess that's why it impresses them. Oh incidentally, I've never been there, so take this with a grain of salt, but I've heard that Bethesda's a pretty good place to work. He might try Mythic as well, I've heard they're also good, and I think they're in Maryland.
posted by unreason at 5:59 AM on March 29, 2005

Sid Meier's Firaxis is located in Hunt Valley, MD.
posted by hendrixson at 6:10 AM on March 29, 2005

Response by poster: I'll tell him about Mythic, but they're in Fairfax, VA, not Maryland. I'm not sure if he has to work IN Maryland, or in the Maryland/DC area.
posted by emptybowl at 6:11 AM on March 29, 2005

I know a couple of people from the Maryland/DC area that are now working at Mythic, so I don't think the transition is all too dramatic.

Epic Megagames used to be based out of Rockland, MD. I don't know if they still hold an office there -- they appear to be multinational, now.

I've known many people that have found a back door into the games industry through the gaming press. Most press organizations are volunteer based, and are willing to take anyone on that is dedicated and can string a sentence together without drooling too much over their love of the subject matter. For example: For a year I volunteered as the Senior Editor for the Warcry News Network. During that time, 5 of my staff members were hired for various positions at Turbine Software. I received a number of unsolicited job offers myself.
posted by thanotopsis at 8:17 AM on March 29, 2005

He needs to decide what's most important to him. If he wants a job now, and it has to be in the industry, he should apply at some of the bigger companies (like Blizzard or EA - as long as he knows what he's getting into). They're more likely to take people with strong CS backgrounds but no industry experience. If he wants a job specifically in the Maryland area, his odds of getting a game job are very slim. If he wants to make a specific kind of game, his best bet is to complete some a project on his own. If that idea doesn't get him excited, it means maybe the gaming industry isn't for him. Making games is fun, but it's a lot of work.

I wouldn't recommend QA if he wants a programming job. Making a game and finding where a game is broken are related, but very different. I don't think that will get him the experience he needs.

Oh, and the one bit of advice I wish I had known when I was looking: he will be ignored by at least 90% of the companies he talks to because he has no industry experience. That doesn't mean it's impossible, it just means he has to try that much harder.
posted by Sibrax at 9:54 AM on March 29, 2005

Like Sibrax said making games really is a lot of work. I know the end result is fun but the process of getting there isn't. I think it's hard to appreciate the drudgery involved in making a really good game. People also overestimate the net effect that they're going to have on the end result. The fun part of making the games is usually done by the producers (who aren't usually technical).

Also I would advise against going the "QA to get my foot in the door" approach.

- QA is a totally different skill set. Very little carries over to development.
- Once you develop good QA skills your management wouldn't be too keen on "promoting" you to dev.
- It's hard to apply for dev jobs when your work experience is QA.
- There's an implied pecking order in software dev. QA is near the bottom. I know when we would get ex-QA guys they were treated as second class citizens.
- Certain people also take bug reports as personal affronts. Imagine working with a group of people who think you've been out to get them for the past x-months...
posted by srburns at 10:33 AM on March 29, 2005

Yeah, based on what I've heard, you really don't want to do QA.
posted by unreason at 11:13 AM on March 29, 2005

At this point, he's a bit late. I've already made a bunch of games in my spare time,a nd I'm having trouble getting a gaming job, although I do have a few interviews out in california coming up. Yeah, apply to EA, or another sucky company for a few years, and try to move up. Oh, point him to gamasutra if he doesn't know about their job board.
posted by JZig at 12:07 PM on March 29, 2005