AvianRR: I can definately sympathize with you but I don''t think its a great idea to immediately jump into a huge programming project (ie: game). I''ve seen a lot of my friends start something like this, spend months upon months working on it only to get frustrated with it and either give up or finish it just for the sake of finishing. Then they have something totally unimpressing that they wasted another 2 years on. This is a huge topic on the gamedev forums.

I, myself, would prefer to work on a team for awhile (under a lead programmer. Someone I can learn from). Working in a team isn''t a problem. I''d RATHER work in a team. Nobody can do it themselves anymore. We''re not in the days of one guy coding in his basement and coming out with DOOM anymore. Some guys can do it I guess but they''re the exception (coding wizards). Communication isn''t the problem for me either. I can convey what I''m thinking quite easily. I can sit and talk about design and flow all day. Doesn''t mean I can code a full blown OO program. You still need the skills to back up the talk (talk the talk, walk the walk).
I found out that I''m eligible for a TN-1 (technical working visa) in a year and a half. If you have ''4 years of University'' or a ''2 year technical diploma + 3 years field experience'' you can get one at the border. I guess I''ll make that a plan of action. Waste my time here for another year or so then go for the gusto. Hopefully I''ll see you in a couple years JizzRoy.

I''ve been thinking a lot about certification lately. As always, it comes down to money. It comes down to either write an exam which will take me one step closer to certification or feed my family for another two weeks (or put fuel in my truck to make it to work to make more money). Ugghh. It''s a vicious circle.
NeHe: Better start swamping BioWare with resumes! (When your brother works there he can get you in ) Or if you wanna live in Vancouver apply with the Homeworld guys (Raven?).
Man, if I had the money I''d go to Digipen. They''re a school in BC (Vancouver I think) that train you specifically for making games. They have a programming course ($10,000!) and a graphic design course ( > $13,000 !). OuCh!
Exo

Money makes the world go ''round.

Hey Jeff, if you start a company, contact me, I would love to meet you and if I qualify join you! Give me one more year though. That way I could get more experiance and a permit

L8r,
The Rainmaker

quote: Original post by tcs

While I think Jeff is a kick-ass coder, I have to say that object orientation is VERY important. I mean using an API like OpenGL is really, really easy. You usualy spend 1-5% of your dev time with OpenGL. The hard part is doing things like BSP trees, ROAM and A* algorithms. And then comes C++. You can''t compare doing a small example or perhaps even doing a larger demo with doing a whole game ! That''s a hell of a difference. I see many many good coders totally fail when they try to make big projects. I needs lots of eperience to do big C++ projects. Everytime I wrote something a bit larger I improve my coding skills. You always learn more and think your old code is crappy.
It''s all about engine design and keeping focused. That''s the tough part!

Yep. Eg. a LOT of demo coders have started game projects, but I don''t know anyone else but Remedy Entertainment who have actually finished a game project. Demo coders can perhaps make excellent 3D engines and such, but it doesn''t prepare you to big projects like a game.

-Jussi

Hey Avian, I do 3d architecural models al the time. I suck at coding but I''d love to participate in something by doing 3d models and/or 2d textures. Let me know if I can help.