Think Make Play
Fiona French
Faculty of Computing
London Metropolitan University
Course Leader BSc Computer Games
QUIZ
• Careers in the games industry
• Related qualifications and skills
• Advice from industry experts
• Girls in games
• Competitions, internships, open source development tools
think make play
How big is the UK market
for “active gamers” ? (nearest
million)
55 +
think make play
Which company gets the
lion’s share?
wii [6.1] ds [5.8] GB [0.9]
PS2 [4.5] PS3 [2] PSP [2]
Xbox [2.3] PC [3.9]
think make play
In which age range/s do F
outnumber M ?
55+ and 30-34
6-9 / 9-15 / 15-20 / 20-25 / 25-30 / 30-35 / 35-45 / 45-55 / 55+
think make play
In what range are over 85%
population active gamers?
6-9 and 9-15
6-9 / 9-15 / 15-20 / 20-25 / 25-30 / 30-35 / 35-45 / 45-55 / 55+
think make play
Game ranking – most played
by men / by women?
Wii sports / GTA / FIFA
Wii sports / Dr Kawashima /
Sims
Careers in the Games Industry
Careers in the Games Industry
Programmer
Artist
Animator
Game Tester
Game Designer
Other roles
Programmer
Graduate with source code
Maths and physics
C++ test at interview
Specialisms: gameplay, AI, physics, online, graphics
engine development, middleware/tools
Every game ships with website…
Artist
2D
3D
- creative, trad art skills
- anatomy, perspective, composition
- communication, time management, teamwork
- Max/Maya modelling, Photoshop
Animator
Eye for movement
Weight, timing, characterisation, staging
Rigging and skinning
Trad art skills, showreel
Designer
Communication, documentation
3D editors, level design, modding
Software engineering – problem-solving
Team player
QA
IT literacy
Teamwork and communication
Deadlines, detail, mature attitude
Other Roles
Audio – music technology
Producer – engineering, management
Admin / HR
ADVICE FROM EXPERTS
Will Sykes
Senior programmer, SCEE Vision RnD
The world of games production includes a lot of late nights,
hard work, stress, pressure and pizza dinners.
But if you’re willing to put the work in then the rewards
of kudos, fulfilment and satisfaction are well worth it.
Will Sykes
Senior programmer, SCEE Vision RnD
The top 5 things to do get on the way to being a games programmer:
•
•
•
•
•
Learn c++ (as soon as you can, even if you only learn a little).
Do A-level maths,
Vector maths and matrices in particular are very useful in games
Write your own simple games in any language (as rubbish as you like).
It will teach you a lot.
Play lots of games.
Never wear a suit.
Donatas Cereska
Programmer for CyberSports
MMOG = multiplayer online game
Working in games industry is the best way to
expose your creativity.
As it is still very much an unexplored area,
it might be a great chance that your idea will
make success. So being in games industry is
more like a lifestyle, than an actual work.
I found it really as a great part of my life.
Alex Whittaker
Senior Programmer at WRInteractive
Games seems to be splitting into two areas at the moment, casual online
and traditional platform so I'd split my advice in two.
For casual games, the key skills are going to be web oriented, javascript,
HTML, PHP, Action Script, Java and Unity is getting increasing market
share.
Games development moves very quickly in this space and you can expect
to see a project through to completion within twelve months which is
clearly good for the CV. The principal platform is desktop browser but
mobile is increasingly important, iPhone and increasingly, Android.
Remember that Android is open source and development set-up costs are
trivial so it is a great platform to start to experiment.
Alex Whittaker
Senior Programmer at WRInteractive
For traditional games, increasingly studio development is moving
offshore, principally North America, both Canada and the US. Few
developers are going to look overseas for junior programmers so that
leaves you competing with a shrinking set of studios in the UK.
Consider getting some expertise in Unreal if you are really set on this
market - there are more and more studios looking to develop on this
platform and again the set-up costs are trivial.
Regardless of which area you go for, key programming skills are the first
requirement - recruiting managers are not expecting a graduate
programmer to be immediately productive - be prepared to explain in
English the fundamentals of object oriented programming in interview.
Alex Whittaker
Senior Programmer at WRInteractive
What is polymorphism? What is encapsulation?
Remember your fundamentals because we know a bright candidate can
pick up any programming language in a few weeks, but it takes a university
course to understand about code complexity, what a cache is and why good
programming practice is important.
Keep a weather eye on what is coming down the line - HTML 5 is upon us,
the C++ 2011 standard is imminent, Cassandra and related distributed
databases are replacing SQL solutions. If you can claim any expertise in
these fields then you can steal a march on more experienced coders who
haven't seen these technologies coming.
Alex Whittaker
Senior Programmer at WRInteractive
http://werinteractive.com/index.php
Finally, if you want to get a career in computer games, remember to enjoy
them and to convey that enjoyment in interview.
You are likely to get paid more and work less in other industries, so if you
do not love games then get a job in a bank!
Christian Jelen
Freelance visual effects supervisor and director
Always have the broadest education you can get.
Artistic knowledge = life-drawing, sculpture, topography
but also maths and programming, also music and film...
When it all comes together, you can find a job.
Take some time out and look on the Internet for tutorials.
Work together with friends, learning by doing something you are interested in.
Christian Jelen
Freelance visual effects supervisor and director
Be a generalist – you don’t just have 1 job nowadays –
be an environment artist, and do characters and do particle effects
- then you can pick up different job descriptions.
Do life drawing, animals, human, nature, carry a sketch pad.
Don’t just talk about it, do it! Have something to show.
Christian Jelen
Freelance visual effects supervisor and director
http://www.jayceee.com/
Maybe think about what you are working on - if you work all day on a game
that just promotes how to kill people - it could change your life a lot to work
on something that changes the environment for example - content awareness
can change your values and your life – this comes with maturity.
Alexander Stiglic
Freelance Maya Generalist
Tell them to watch WAR GAMES movie ! ;)
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wargames/trailers/10901579
Kim Blake
Blitz Games
Do your research:
jobs in games cover a wide range of skills and we want talented and highly
skilled programmers, artists, animators and so on
– not people who can do a bit of everything!
Look at our careers website (www.BlitzAcademy.com) or the Skillset
website (www.skillset.org/games) to get an idea of the different roles and
how they work together.
Kim Blake
Blitz Games
Then work on your core skills – drawing etc. for artists, maths and physics
for programmers – and get really good!
Be realistic and focused; remember that ultimately what will get you a job in
games is proving to us that you can do what you say you can do!
Feel free to email [email protected] for more information.
Kam Star
Managing Director, Playgen
Lots of people want to be a 'game designer' but for a single game designer
you need team of people to actually make the game. Just think - there is
only one writer for a film but a cast of 500 people who make the film.
What the games industry needs the most right now are really bright
programmers who can write the games.
The best way to get in is to have a portfolio and show that you really want
to do it and already are doing it. So if you are into writing code, make some
games, doesn't matter what you make them in, if they can be online even
better. If you're into the art, then create some art and put together your
portfolio.
Kam Star
Managing Director, Playgen
If you want to be in games, just start making games - the industry
only responds to people who 'DO' not people who 'WANT TO DO'
Nigel Canin
CEO at 2Simple.com
Follow your gut and do what you enjoy.
Dave Green
Video Games Events Producer at BAFTA
Games are a unique combination of artistry,
computer science, interaction design and
other fields – it’s good to have a core skill,
but try to find out as much as you can about
other ones.
Obviously play lots of games, but try to work
out what makes them work on every level,
test and disprove your theories, come up with
better theories..!
Costa Jupp
QA Technician at Media Molecule (Sony)
I'd tell a teenager:
If you know you want to be an artist/coder/designer
etc then study that subject rather than going for the
games development courses that try to touch on all areas.
Although you can get a nice idea of the
different areas (good if you are not sure
what you want to do) of games development,
you will be very far off having the
skills to get into the industry (even
a junior position) unless you do a
lot of self-study.
Costa Jupp
QA Technician at Media Molecule (Sony)
Relating more to my role as QA then I'd say:
If they want to try and get into QA in hopes of then
moving up into another job then they need to understand
the difference between Publishing and Development.
In Publishing, QA are treated like dogs, you are a number and they will work
you hard for little pay. You can rise up into other roles within the publisher,
however you need to make sure you work very hard to stand out and get
noticed. It is quite difficult to go from working with a publisher, to working at
a developer.
Costa Jupp
QA Technician at Media Molecule (Sony)
Development QA is a lot more hands on and
technical. There is greater chance to make the leap
to another role (i.e. artist), however at the larger
companies you also need to work hard to get noticed.
When applying for any job, it's
always a good idea to try and look
for small developers (like Media
Molecule once was), as they will
not necessarily have the financial
power to hire veterans and also be
more open to taking on newbies.
Magali Stretton
Game Designer at Rocksteady
MCV Top UK Developer
It takes a lot of different people to make a
video game: 2D-3D artists, animators,
programmers, designers, producers, testers...
So if you love math or drawing or are interested in film animation or
storytelling or interactivity... or simply if you love playing games for hours on
end then there's probably a place for you in this industry.
The most important thing is to find what you'd love to do and what you're
good at and find a way to develop your talent, whether by going to
university or learning by yourself at home with a computer and a strong will.
There are many ways to get into video games but if you really want it and
you are talented you will do it. Dreams can come true!
Nick Burton
Senior Programmer, Incubation Director
Rare Studios
Follow your passion!
If you’re passionate about something, chances are you will be good
at that same thing!
Girls in Games
Is the games industry really macho?
Poor image
Programmers – geeky
Popular belief in masculine culture within computing
Yet study shows CS students more androgynous
Work ethics – maturing
Crunch time – people have
grown up, entitled to paternity leave
Nature of games
… but…
Market is changing …
… more casual, more
female, older
Iconic girls (by boys)
Frag Dolls: sponsored by Ubisoft
BACK TO SCHOOL
• Distance from technology kicks in around 12
• Teenage angst
• Lack of role models
• Peer pressure (more influential for girls)
• Career paths – architect, accountant, lawyer – have
a professional body
• Snobbery – technical like engineer
• ICT curriculum … but why not games?
Competitions and Internships
think make play
Dare to be Digital
think make play
X48
X48
Global Game Jam London
Grl Gmr Tournament
First of its kind, part of London
Games Festival Fringe
26 competitors / pentathlon of games
- Wii Tennis
- Kuri Kuri Mix
- Tekken
- Super Mario Racing
- Unreal Tournament
LAN parties
Extra-curricula Activities
London Games Festival events
Careers Fairs
Gamelab Internships / guest lectures
http://www.gamelablondon.com
Opensource Tools
SDKs - Visual Studio http://create.msdn.com/en-us/home/getting_started
XNA Game Studio
Unity http://unity3d.com/
UDK http://www.udk.com/
Eclipse http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/
Android http://www.android.com/
3D -
Blender http://www.blender.org/
GIMP http://www.gimp.org/
IrfanView http://www.irfanview.com/
Google Sketchup http://sketchup.google.com/
+ Minecraft http://www.minecraft.net/
+ Second Life http://secondlife.com/
+ Audacity http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
References
Various links to articles and companies and competitions
http://www.gamelablondon.com
Datascope Recuitment
http://www.thedoteaters.com
X48 Game Camp
http://www.hideandseekfest.co.uk/
Dare-to-be-Digital
http://icould.com/article/choosing-a-games-degree/
http://icould.com/talk/are-you-considering-a-career-in-video-gaming/
Thanks
Questions or comments welcome.
http://www.thinkmakeplay.co.uk