Salary question for game programmers
Author
I'm looking to hire an individual with enough skill to program the majority of a game for me and I'm trying to determine what sort of amount it's going to cost me to get what I need.
So my question is basically, how much, as a skilled programmer, do you feel that you would work for (per week), on a project that would last anywhere from 6 to 12 months? Minimum? Preferred? This would be an 8 hour a day job working from home, with daily to bi-daily reports on progress.
This is also for US citizens only, since I'm not really certain how this would break down for other countries.
Oh and also, if this is posted in the wrong place, my apologies... This isn't a "help wanted" thread, it's more of just a wanting to know for my benefit kind of thing. I'm not actually looking to hire yet.
Also if you aren't comfortable posting what you'd be willing to work for, then you can just PM your answer to me. Thanks a lot. :)
If you aren't a game programmer than feel free to also give an estimate on what you think it would cost... but at least let me know that you aren't a programmer.
Simulation contractors can usually get between $50-$120 per hour, depending on experience. I don't think there are really comparable numbers for game devs (who usually don't work as contractors) but I would imagine that if you pay real market rates, you are looking at at least $1500/week.
Of course, you could get some kid taking a semester off from school who's willing to work for much less, but I thought I'd give you some perspective based on the somewhat-related sim field.
Of course, you could get some kid taking a semester off from school who's willing to work for much less, but I thought I'd give you some perspective based on the somewhat-related sim field.
around 150K would be my guess.
assumptions made:
done as a contract so no benefits, nor long term employment provided.
by skilled you mean someone with more than 3 years professional experience.
There is some variability depending on where said person lives.
assumptions made:
done as a contract so no benefits, nor long term employment provided.
by skilled you mean someone with more than 3 years professional experience.
There is some variability depending on where said person lives.
It also depends on the kind of game.
I'd happily work for 900 a week (as an example), but i don't have the skills to make just any game, just casual games at a competitive and polished level. I have experience with graphical guis and 2d games mainly but not so strong with things like realistic 3d physics (but nothing would stop me to get into it if i have to, but i have no experience in the subject), etc etc.
Unless you make more clear what is required, no programmer can say "ok, i'm able and willing to do it for XXXX a week, and these are my credentials". The requirement for each game could vary a lot.
You don't need to pay a John Carmack level to make the next Bejeweled.
PD: I don't reside in the US and wouldn't quit my current "day job" and wouldn't want to work for another 8 hours a day so i would only accept something between 3 and 4 hours a day.
Maybe i'll go completely freelance at some point :).
Good luck with your search :)
I'd happily work for 900 a week (as an example), but i don't have the skills to make just any game, just casual games at a competitive and polished level. I have experience with graphical guis and 2d games mainly but not so strong with things like realistic 3d physics (but nothing would stop me to get into it if i have to, but i have no experience in the subject), etc etc.
Unless you make more clear what is required, no programmer can say "ok, i'm able and willing to do it for XXXX a week, and these are my credentials". The requirement for each game could vary a lot.
You don't need to pay a John Carmack level to make the next Bejeweled.
PD: I don't reside in the US and wouldn't quit my current "day job" and wouldn't want to work for another 8 hours a day so i would only accept something between 3 and 4 hours a day.
Maybe i'll go completely freelance at some point :).
Good luck with your search :)
Author
For a little bit more info on the game... It would be along the lines of games like Gunbound, Gunz, Drift City, or any of the other Korean/asian games that have online play but small enough engines and amount of content to not be considered a massive online game.
To go into further detail. I'd basically need a movement engine capable of having multiple players run around a small isolated area, some ball physics, networking to support online play, displaying a GUI, lobby, chat system, the basics of most online games, as well as a simple enemy AI.
I'm not entirely sure there is one programmer who could cover all of that, but I'm just giving some info on what needs done. :)
To go into further detail. I'd basically need a movement engine capable of having multiple players run around a small isolated area, some ball physics, networking to support online play, displaying a GUI, lobby, chat system, the basics of most online games, as well as a simple enemy AI.
I'm not entirely sure there is one programmer who could cover all of that, but I'm just giving some info on what needs done. :)
I would suggest that you go and look at the credits for one of the comparable games you are quoting to see if they were done by one programmer, five, ten or one hundred. Sounds like more than a one man project to me.
Quote:Original post by Konidias
To go into further detail. I'd basically need a movement engine capable of having multiple players run around a small isolated area...
Heh... that could look like this:
Or this:
Gunz is a peer to peer mmo. You could find a programmer who could do the code part but I doubt it would take 6 months. 12 months, two engineers should be able to recreate the technical aspects of the game. Then you need people who create content which will probably require more than two people.
A large part of what you'll pay for if you hire a remote developer is the area in which he lives. A programmer who lives in a metropolitan area, such as New York or San Francisco will be significantly more expensive than one who lives in a rural area. The other big factor is experience. For a programmer in San Francisco with 3 - 5 years of experience, under the terms of a one year contract, 130,000 - 150,000 per annum would probably be fair. You should be able to extrapolate to different cities by comparing cost of living. Personally I don't know of many freelance programmers working solo within game development. I'm sure there is someone though.
I would approach the developers being let go by Flagship Studios since they have experience and most of the skills you require.
A large part of what you'll pay for if you hire a remote developer is the area in which he lives. A programmer who lives in a metropolitan area, such as New York or San Francisco will be significantly more expensive than one who lives in a rural area. The other big factor is experience. For a programmer in San Francisco with 3 - 5 years of experience, under the terms of a one year contract, 130,000 - 150,000 per annum would probably be fair. You should be able to extrapolate to different cities by comparing cost of living. Personally I don't know of many freelance programmers working solo within game development. I'm sure there is someone though.
I would approach the developers being let go by Flagship Studios since they have experience and most of the skills you require.
I recommend you look at the latest game industry salary survey. It's at gamecareerguide.com.
Author
Okay a little more info is needed on the game I guess. :)
It's not world of warcraft that's for sure. It's a pretty simple 3d game with not too crazy graphics, about 10 people in a "level" at any given time, competing against eachother. The "levels" would not require any terrain maps or anything like that. Just flat interior room levels, and collision detection to keep people inside certain boundaries...
So basically just a few 3D characters moving around in a closed off room.
I've done a little 2D programming before and I know it wasn't that hard to make the same sort of thing... but I don't really have experience with 3D so I don't know how much harder that would be.
The most complicated stuff would be ball physics and good collision and networking. Outside of that, I'm not looking to make anything that would really require a dozen people.
Though it might require more than 1 programmer... I'm just curious as to how much it would cost per programmer. I'm definitely willing to shell out the money if I know the person is skilled and responsible. (like not going to spend 6 hours of the work day watching tv and the other 2 actually working)
Thanks for the link Tom, I'll check it out. :)
It's not world of warcraft that's for sure. It's a pretty simple 3d game with not too crazy graphics, about 10 people in a "level" at any given time, competing against eachother. The "levels" would not require any terrain maps or anything like that. Just flat interior room levels, and collision detection to keep people inside certain boundaries...
So basically just a few 3D characters moving around in a closed off room.
I've done a little 2D programming before and I know it wasn't that hard to make the same sort of thing... but I don't really have experience with 3D so I don't know how much harder that would be.
The most complicated stuff would be ball physics and good collision and networking. Outside of that, I'm not looking to make anything that would really require a dozen people.
Though it might require more than 1 programmer... I'm just curious as to how much it would cost per programmer. I'm definitely willing to shell out the money if I know the person is skilled and responsible. (like not going to spend 6 hours of the work day watching tv and the other 2 actually working)
Thanks for the link Tom, I'll check it out. :)
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