I spent some time in the gaming industry, though currently I design business services. The time I spent in the industry wasn''t as a programmer, but rather as a tester. This actually gave me a good idea of what it was like to be a programmer due the fact that I had to interact with the programming team heavily. I actually got to talk to the programmers; got to play their games. One thing I found out very quickly - you start to hate your product. This is where replayability can save a game programmer''s mind. Because as a game programmer, just like every other programmer, you end up spending an inordinate amount of time with your product, though the tedium of being a tester is far worse than the tedium of being the programmer.
If I may make a suggestion, attempt to get a tester job at a local company if you can; I understand that this may not be a possibility, but if you can you get to see the inside without having a four year degree. Talk to the programmers when you can and get a feel for the company and the industry in general.
Orion
p.s. In the end though, I find myself still drawn to the gaming industry. Like everyone in this forum, I feel I have great ideas that I can bring to the industry, though now I try to take a realistic position. I may end up back in gaming, but only after I have fleged out my "great" (sarcasm) ideas just a little more.
Questions for the Pros... is it worth it?
My $.02:
I spent 6 years writing business applications before getting into the industry. I''d never willingly go back. I make decent money (enough to live in a nice neighborhood and not really want much) and get to work on some cool stuff. It''s not all fun, since the industry is demanding at times, but the atmosphere can''t be beat and for some companies the perks are great (we get all the soda we can drink and a free health club membership among other things). I get to go to work in shorts and a t-shirt during the summer (actually during the winter sometimes too ), plays games during lunch and after work, and generally have fun. The type of people I work with can''t be beat either. Everyone''s pretty cool and mostly geeks like me, something I couldn''t find in the business app world.
Breakaway Games
I spent 6 years writing business applications before getting into the industry. I''d never willingly go back. I make decent money (enough to live in a nice neighborhood and not really want much) and get to work on some cool stuff. It''s not all fun, since the industry is demanding at times, but the atmosphere can''t be beat and for some companies the perks are great (we get all the soda we can drink and a free health club membership among other things). I get to go to work in shorts and a t-shirt during the summer (actually during the winter sometimes too ), plays games during lunch and after work, and generally have fun. The type of people I work with can''t be beat either. Everyone''s pretty cool and mostly geeks like me, something I couldn''t find in the business app world.
Breakaway Games
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