Hey, I'm 13 and I've been playing games since I was 5. About 3 years ago I got the idea that I could make games for a living. And, after searching around the internet and learning the basics of how to create a game I got interested in C++ but, later I saw someone post a model somewhere and it hit me that I wanted to model. Lately I've been hearing people saying how it's not worth it getting into the game industry because it doesn't pay enough and to get hired by a company that DOES pay you'd need to be extremely talented. That got me thinking if I should be still doing this because I've been modeling for about 6 months and I still can't make anything truly impressive. For those of you who didn't see my work in the MONGOLIAN WAR thread here are the links: http://pictures34.bravehost.com/render4.jpg http://pictures34.bravehost.com/ak1.jpg I know I'll improve within the next year or so but I don't think I can cut it at this pace. Infact, I've been considering going into investment because my brother has made about 20,000 dollars in 4 months from a good program. Sounds good no? But, I also know that if I get good enough at modeling I can also make that kind of money. Even more if the game I'm involved in becomes a hit. I'm kind of confused about what I should do...

If you enjoy modeling do it. Your only 13 the job market for the game industry will probably change alot before you finish post-secondary. Who knows if that will be a good or bad thing but if you practice enough you can create excelent models by the time you graduate so you shouldn't have too many problems. You have a few years to become an exceptional modeler, (the kind the big companies hire)

Basicly your young enough that you have time to improve if you work hard enough.

I just want to experience life. If I have JUST enough money to pay my bills when I grow up wtf could I do? Go to Hawaii every decade? Nah man I wanna do everything I can. And I can with the right amount of money.

But other than that, thanks guys.

Thanks. I'll continue modeling then :)

I just hope it's worth it!

Here's another thing to consider: it takes years and years to become a great artist, but it only takes like a year (or less) of business school to become a soulless money-seeking businessman. So if you decide later that you want to follow your brother into the investment world, you can. For now, stick with the art :)

I'm 15 and I'm kinda in the same boat. I've been modelling for about 9 months and doing c++ for a couple months. Just keep working at it and you will become among the best. You have a pretty big advantage because of how early you're starting and you shouldn't stop because the job market may or may not be unstable in 5-9 years. Check out www.polycount.com, www.cgtalk.com and www.cgchat.com if you haven't already. I found them to be extremely beneficial in my progress in modelling. Join in the challenges, show them your art, listen to their critiques, and critique some of their work. Just being part of the community will help you because of how influential their work is and their knowledge of the industry will also help you out.

I'm somewhat in the same boat also, maybe a row boat. I'm new to the forums, but I am concerned about the gaming field. My friend is into game programming a lot, he's wanting to make his own company out of high school + college. I'm starting to help him with projects and learn under him. He knows C++ and a lot of DBPro, he used DBPro to make some pretty cool stuff. He wants to use C++ from now on, so he's switching over to it. My main concern, is that I don't know if this is something I want to do as a career. I really like it, but, I mean, I want something to be able to fall back on if something didn't work out. I'm 16 and I get told by friends from how much I plan this out and want to accel, that I will be fine. I just think that what if I wanted to be a computer tech, or a normal programmer, or maybe a white hat/net admin. I really like what I've gotten into, and I understand that it would be an industry like any other. It would be a job. I guess my question is, is game programming worth it as a job? (I know opinions will be biased :) )