...And yet, there doesn't seem to be a clear-cut route. This isn't like being a doctor, where it's "head over to med school for xyz years...and you're a doctor!" A doctor had his or her credentials to prove he/she is allowed to operate, but what proves that I am capable of designing an entier game? Let me get this straight, so nobody is confused. I don't want to be a programmer. I have dabbled in Warcraft 3's Triggers, Flash's ActionScript, and some of C#. It's intriguing to see how code, and games work, what with functions, methodes, variables, scripts, and interesting to see it all put together, but it's not really me. I have fairly good problem solving skills, which helped me find bugs when I did my AS coding, but I have a fairly short patience for coding. I know how game engines are built and used, but the thought of learning an entier language from scatch boggles me. I like exploring the mathimatical theory behind different rendering and collision techniques, but I don't like actually coding them. I don't want to be a Graphics Artist, or GUI designer, or what have you. I have a pretty good knowledge of 3ds Max, and how 3d progams work, and I like using it, especially to animate, but it's not something I'd like to do as a job. So...how do I prove I can design? I doubt I can just march into any company's building, kick down the door and be all like 'everyone stop what you're doing! I've got this fricken' gnarly idea...' Actually, that would be kind of cool. But really, should I be taking certain courses in College/Univ, is there a certain type of path I should go down...? Like everyone else who wants to design, I have an extensive knowledge of what makes games tick, on the technical side of things and the playing side of things. Whenever I play a game, I'm always looking for what was done well, or could have been done better. When I play old N64 games, I love looking at the various graphical techniques used. Back in the day when Battlefield 2 was released, a team making a mod it's predacessor (Battlefield 1942...EA has removed any memory of BF: Vietnam) and decided to move it over to BF2. Considering this was one of those teams that changed their ideas every two days, I decided to finish the mod by myself. I put in an entier other team, new vehicles, different weapons, new maps, got someone to add AI and did voiceovers for the mod, and actually got it done. It was far from perfect, (I sucked at modelling/texturing then) but it was pretty cool none the less. I think the old team has moved on to BF2142 now... Anyways, my real request is for someone to give me direction to how I can (hopefully) become a game designer. Thanks in advance, IronWarrior

Why not build a game of your own to prove your skills? Use an existing engine, find free tools or resources, and devote some time to it. That's all it requires. You need some technical skills to be a great designer anyway. The more, the better, so no time will be wasted.

Quote:Why not build a game of your own to prove your skills? Use an existing engine, find free tools or resources, and devote some time to it. That's all it requires. You need some technical skills to be a great designer anyway. The more, the better, so no time will be wasted.

Hmmmm...any engines in mind? I could google it, but people's opinions are usually better than google. If you do have anything in mind, what level of coding would it require? Would it be a scripting engine, like ActionScript (where lots of things are done for you) or would it require something like C++?

Quote:Seeing you don't want to do art or code, and assuming you don't have friends in these areas, and assuming you don't have more money than sense, you're left with option #3.

If I were to 'ave a go at building a game, I would of course contribute to art and assets. I mean as a job, I wouldn't want to be an artist.

EDIT: My 'quote' tags weren't working, but now everything's all okay.

Quote:Original post by IronWarrior

Quote:Why not build a game of your own to prove your skills? Use an existing engine, find free tools or resources, and devote some time to it. That's all it requires. You need some technical skills to be a great designer anyway. The more, the better, so no time will be wasted.

Hmmmm...any engines in mind? I could google it, but people's opinions are usually better than google. If you do have anything in mind, what level of coding would it require? Would it be a scripting engine, like ActionScript (where lots of things are done for you) or would it require something like C++?

I'm afraid I don't have any experience with them. I've heard them mentioned in the forums, but that's about it. If it were me, I would probably check out each engine's website forum for feedback, to see what it was big on and what it was missing. There are several people that come here that can probably help as well. Let's hope their attention wanders this way.

Quote:Original post by Hodgman
The problem is that to make a game you either need:
1) Talent, in multiple different fields.

There's actually a benefit to this that you never hear about. When an artist becomes a programmer, or vice versa, they gain an ability that a team of developers will never obtain. The ability to spoil themselves without restraint.

You want that material to shine? No problem, just modify the renderer code to allow optional shining. You want gear-turning sounds during that robot animation? Easy, just convert the joint rotations to volume inputs. You want to know the exact skin location of the nostrils for programming purposes? Simple, just add handle objects to your model exports. There's no one to hassle you about the work exceeding the result. If you want it, you just do it, and you have it.

[Edited by - Kest on September 20, 2008 2:52:22 AM]

Why worry about programming and art if what you really want to do is design? You don't have to make computer games, there are lots of types of games out there. Tabletop games, board games, sports, card games, whatever. One of the elements that makes a great designer (IMO) is the ability to work within the limitations of any given medium. Once you have an understanding of design concepts then the medium shouldn't really matter.

Rank 1 Game Designer:

Includes:
Building maps -> laying out rough geometry, placing units, design pacing of the level
Design & Script encounters
Design & Script in-game cinematic moments

Does Not Include:
Designing game mechanics
Creating ideas for a new game
Realy anything that you're currently thinking of as "design"

So. To build a portfolio that will get you on the designer track:

1) find a moddable engine: any RTS game, Crysis, Unreal, Source, etc
2) build complete, playable and FUN levels with encounters for the game
3) Dabble in modifying the game's weapons and such to make it your own

If you don't have fun doing that then don't bother becoming a designer because that's what you'll be doing the first 3-5 years

The Will Wright level of game designer isn't possible until you've been a successful normal designer (see above) for ~10 years.

-me

Quote:try

https://www.digipen.edu/prospective-students/academics/degree-programs/bs-game-design/

Or

https://www.digipen.edu/prospective-students/academics/degree-programs/ba-game-design/

Let me know how it goes.

Hmm, interesting to see the curiculum of the courses, how they begin with theory and drawing.

Quote:There's actually a benefit to this that you never hear about. When an artist becomes a programmer, or vice versa, they gain an ability that a team of developers will never obtain. The ability to spoil themselves without restraint.

You want that material to shine? No problem, just modify the renderer code to allow optional shining. You want gear-turning sounds during that robot animation? Easy, just convert the joint rotations to volume inputs. You want to know the exact skin location of the nostrils for programming purposes? Simple, just add handle objects to your model exports. There's no one to hassle you about the work exceeding the result. If you want it, you just do it, and you have it.

Good advice, but I didn't write that quote ;). I agree that you should have an understanding of how games function on the base level to design them, since you'll have a better idea of what is and isn't possible.

Quote:So. To build a portfolio that will get you on the designer track:

1) find a moddable engine: any RTS game, Crysis, Unreal, Source, etc
2) build complete, playable and FUN levels with encounters for the game
3) Dabble in modifying the game's weapons and such to make it your own

I do like modding/mapping, but do companies actually look at those on a resume? Would they help my chances?


Also, if anyone does have any idea on a good engine that would be useful, feel free to toss it out.

Thanks for all the replies!