Career in Making Games, like video game programmer? Need some insight?

Question

One, how hard is it to get into something like that, second, how would I start this?

Answer 1

em i dont think there is a game maker job lol because a lot of diffrent fields of jobs work on 1 game.... but id guess you would want to get into computer programming. because they basicaly make the the games

Answer 2

Most game studios employ between 50 and 100 people, but large companies (like EA or Activision) employing thousands of people in several studios all over the world.



Just to get an idea of the job market, take a look at this map/list for all game development studios in US:

http://www.gamedevmap.com/index.php?query=United+States&Submit=Search



Now, in order to understand the different types of careers available in game development, like programming, take a look at this site: http://getinmedia.com/industry/games



There you will find in-depth career profiles that discuss the specific duties of each career, as well as the skills/education required, and what to expect.



Here are a couple of examples in programming (there are many more on the site):



AI (Artificial Intelligence) Programmer: http://getinmedia.com/careers/ai-programmer



UI (User Interface) Programmer: http://getinmedia.com/careers/user-interface-programmer



On the site, you will also find profiles for game careers related to art and design, as well as producing and creative direction.



Generally, to pursue a career as a game programmer, you must have an education in computer science, or a degree in areas like game design or game development. There are several colleges/universities that offer degrees related to the video game industry. It is also a very competitive industry. However, those with a solid education and talent can and do find full-time careers. Again, just look at how many studios there are.



So, my advice to you is to start with a college degree. Also, I would recommend picking up a book or two and start teaching yourself programming codes, as well as the common software. That information is also in the profiles I gave you.



For an idea of what sort of salary to expect, you can take a look at this article that breaks down the professional salary survey of the industry for last year:



http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/34304/Game_Developer_Reveals_2010_Game_Industry_Salary_Survey_Results.php

Answer 3

lots of the great companies have their very own programming languages, you look interested in gadget progression... Hate to tell ya yet that is composed of programming too... stable wisdom of C, lua, undemanding, etc will placed you in stable step for an internship with one such company... lots of the important labels hire people who've different potential gadgets however, so having stable layout wisdom is an advantage too