I'm at Purdue, double majoring in Computer Science and English. I have one year left before graduation. I like both computers and rhetoric, and I was hoping to combine them and do writing for the computer industry or do usability testing. I've made it through my CS classes with acceptable grades, but the farther along I get, the less I like the topics covered. I've realized I get no redeeming value from doing projects on dynamic register allocation. I have no passionate interest in researching whether there exists an algorithm to do matrix multiplication in faster than O(n^log2 7) time. I just don't enjoy it. The programming projects I enjoy the most are the ones that have the least to do with my academic background... things like building PHP-based dynamic web pages, or putting together games in SDL or writing practical little Linux tools. With that being said, how about a career in the gaming industry? Would that be something I enjoy, or is it another career of algorithm analysis and theoretical computing? I don't want to spend the rest of my life determining if I can solve random problems in polynomial time. Any insight? Thanks, and sorry for the novel. :)

Well, there are some roles you could take without doing any "hardcore" programming... Being exposed to the general topics of CS gives you a "background" for certain tasks in the industry, where a "non-programmer" could have problems to fit in.

Which roles? That depends on what exactly you would like to do. Game Design? Level Design? Definetely not a tools programmer =/

Son Of Cain

Quote:Original post by trax
With that being said, how about a career in the gaming industry? Would that be something I enjoy, or is it another career of algorithm analysis and theoretical computing? I don't want to spend the rest of my life determining if I can solve random problems in polynomial time.

Any insight?

Thanks, and sorry for the novel. :)

In this industry you worry about the end product and finishing it within a set deadline. You don't have the time to worry about determining random problems.

I feel the same way you do. I'm an electronic engineer and I've just started a master in Mechanical and Environmental Informatic at Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan and the reason I took this was because I tough it would be fun to implement enviroment and mechanic simulation into softwares and games. Well, usually school is not the way you think is going to be, some things are not directly apliable but in the long run you will see that many of the things can get you out of a pickle.
I will like to get into the gamming industry after I finish my masters, but there I have a major setback, I'm from Panama and there are no gamming companies there and it's really hard to get an international company to hire foreigner, specially after 911.
Having said that, the first thing you have to stop thinking about is money. I've always tought that what ever you do has to come from your heart and what ever comes from there will make you happy. If you like doing web pages, just do it. If your good you will succeed and you will be happy. This applies to everything in you life. I you don't feel it don't do it or you will regret it.
When it comes to game programming if you like to try it, try it, but don't get in to it for the wrong reasons.
I think this is the best advice I could give you.

Quote:Having said that, the first thing you have to stop thinking about is money. I've always tought that what ever you do has to come from your heart and what ever comes from there will make you happy. If you like doing web pages, just do it. If your good you will succeed and you will be happy. This applies to everything in you life. I you don't feel it don't do it or you will regret it.

I totally agree!

But hey, I'm from Brazil... and you say there's resistance to hire foreigners? Oh my God...

I thought of taking the same path as you (seek Japan =). Could you please share your experiences? Was it too hard to get there? (I know the procedures, but I'm asking universities). I'm finishing my CS degree this year, and my aim is to seek a master's degree outside Brazil, to try out a position in the game industry. That is what I want to do, by heart =D

Son Of Cain

Quote:Original post by mvtapia
Having said that, the first thing you have to stop thinking about is money. I've always tought that what ever you do has to come from your heart and what ever comes from there will make you happy.

Yes and no.
Yes you should work on something that makes you happy but no, you shouldn't forget the money. Other people are making a lot of money from games and will happily pay development staff too little, if they accept it. Development staff are worth a decent wage and it is up to them to ensure they get it otherwise people will take advantage.

Quote:Original post by mvtapia
Having said that, the first thing you have to stop thinking about is money.

I completely disagree. Money is your ticket to doing things you've always dreamed about. Oftentimes it's a ticket to doing things you didn't even dream about. Travel, new hobbies, business opportunities, etc. If you only make enough to make ends meet, your quality of life (and therefore happiness) will be significantly lower.

Remember... money is neither a necessary, nor a sufficient condition for happiness. I know quite a few single income families in my neighborhood who are pulling in 6 figures a year but have crumbling marriages, bad relationships with their kids, and an obsession with keeping up with the Joneses. I don't know about you guys, but I'd trade that for a decent punch card job and a loving family in a heartbeat.

I'm not trying to say that good income = poor lifestyle. Quite the opposite, provided that you don't look to your income as your sole source of livelihood. But making $100,000+ a year doesn't gaurantee happiness.

To each his own, I guess.