Should I enter the games industry?

March 13, 2005 1:45 PM

I'm a graduating senior and am considering getting into the Computer/Video games industry. I've seen a few comments from insiders/ex insiders and could use some advice. Should I enter the industry? What should I look for in companies that I apply to?

I'm a CompSci/Psychology major and heavily enjoy games of all types, and have been making games as an amateur since I was 10. I took various classes here at college to prepare myself to program games, but now I'm not so sure about it. I really like the culture and flexibility, but the articles on EA and such have made me uneasy. This isn't about programming games, if I don't get a job in the industry per se, I'll end up writing open source games or something. Anyone have and advice to offer about the industry?

posted by JZig to work & money (7 comments total)

The recent GDC coverage (this boingboing post comes to mind) would be worth reading.
posted by rfordh at 2:04 PM on March 13, 2005

i guess you read the ea spouse rant?
posted by andrew cooke at 2:06 PM on March 13, 2005

Well, EA is the worst. Most game companies aren't that bad. Unfortunately, even if you never work for EA directly, chances are you will work on an EA published game at some point, and they will make sure that your employer works you as hard or harder than they work their own employees. They actually send producers down to stay with the team and make sure everyone is putting in the hours! Both EA games I've worked on, and every EA game I've spoken to people who've worked on them have been nightmarish.

But the real downside of the games industry is this: go to your local EB or Best Buy or whatever and pick up a game at random. Chances are it's a piece of crap. 90% of all the games that are published are basically unplayable. Well, someone has to make those games, and that someone is you.

On the other hand, it's a lot of fun, and you get to work with smart, creative people just like you who are really enthusiastic about what they do. And you play a lot of video games at work (research!).

Anyway, I've been in the industry for almost 10 years, and my email's in my profile if you have any more specific questions.
posted by electro at 3:02 PM on March 13, 2005

I reccommend a thorough reading/sorting of all the links ea_spouse posts on her LJ. They cover the entire gaming industry, not just EA.
posted by scazza at 4:11 PM on March 13, 2005

Having a close friend who recently broke into the gaming industry, I can say this. You have to love your job. If you can work 60 hours a week, every single week without fail, with a mediocre paycheck, then you might be a decent candidate.

If the EA articles make you uneasy, you need to seriously question yourself. They are the worst of the lot, but you will be sacrificing a lot of time for the job even in ideal conditions.

Make as many contacts in the industry as you can. You want to know someone, because working as a nameless nobody for a large company can kill your interest in the job faster than anything.

Finally, prepare yourself to constantly re-learn everything you know every few years. You probably already know this, but the speed of technology makes video game design one of the harshest industries in terms of knowledge obsolescence.
posted by Saydur at 5:22 PM on March 13, 2005

A guy I went to school with works for EA now, and absolutely loves it. He got into it because he did a co-op with them while he was still a comp sci student at university. He may be the exception rather than the rule (judging by some of the other reactions mentioned in this thread), but he is doing what he loves and what he has wanted to do for at least as long as I have known him-- designing video games.

I wish I could provide more details but my contact with him these days is rare, at best-- I just know his MSN name often gloats at some benefit he is getting (paid vacations, promotions and raises, company trips and so on).

Sometimes it is irritating to this humanities graduate student. :)
posted by synecdoche at 5:35 PM on March 13, 2005

If you really love video games, you should try for a video game job. If you've heard that video game makers make lots of money and live a rockstar lifestyle, and *that* attracts you, then run away now.

Making video games is very hard work and the probability of success is very low. So you have to put in a ton of hours simply to have a chance at success. If you run the numbers, you will probably find that you are better off getting a comfortable job and playing the lottery. If you really love video games, that comfortable job will be an 80-hour-a-week game industry job.

If you go with a startup, ask lots of questions about their financing situation and distribution contracts. Don't be surprised if they want an NDA in order to talk. If they don't want to talk at all thank them and, go on to the next interview.

A few years ago, Microsoft was a very good place for Americans to start out in the industry, you may want to check with them.
posted by b1tr0t at 6:56 PM on March 13, 2005