Path: chuka.playstation.co.uk!news From: "Nick Ferguson" Newsgroups: scee.yaroze.freetalk.english Subject: Re: Advice needed! Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 00:17:57 +0100 Organization: PlayStation Net Yaroze (SCEE) Lines: 53 Message-ID: <6qap8q$7vo10@chuka.playstation.co.uk> References: <35C8656E.EC8288B0@nospam.easynet.co.uk> NNTP-Posting-Host: 195.2.150.46 X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.3115.0 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.3110.3 -- Hey all, My problem is that I've only got one year at university left until I graduate into the big bad world. Now, a 2:1 in Psychology (MA Hons) from Edinburgh Uni might prove I have a brain, but I'm concerned that it isn't really a CS-like enough degree to get me into programming (I should have done a 'Mr Frosty' and stuck some AI on there!). Although what I want to do is really more game design/producing (or even journalism) I have really enjoyed the Yaroze programming I've done so far (I'm averaging from 2pm-10pm on my GDUK entry with minimum breaks for food, water, bog, etc) and my driving goal is to get better. Alas, at the moment I see my university work as *interfering* with what I'm really interested in (Yaroze/games stuff). Bugger. On the other hand, I didn't exactly do the obvious A-levels (English, Economics, Politics and Geography) or degree course. Oh. When I get into 3D sometime round Xmas, I'm concerned that my maths will let me down etc etc I guess the one thing I have going is that I'm dead keen. I also *do* actually know a shedload about games and game design plus I can articulate vaguely intelligently about them. I suppose everyone can fall into the trap of freaking out about their lack of formal qualifications, but one of the things I learnt about hiring and firing this year (I had to hire some people as part of my summer job) was that the CV is one thing, but meeting people in RL totally changes your impression of who's right for the job. If you get to theinterview stage, I suspect that even someone like me could have a good chance! I'd like to think that the industry has a place for someone like me - I suspect I'll never get good enough to be a great programmer, although that sure as hell won't stop me from trying! I'm also not much of an artist or musician either. So, what *am* I good for? Good point! I'm rather hoping that there's a place for me as a co-ordinator. It's not a matter of being in charge, but just making sure everything ties together. That's what I'd like. I imagine being a games journo for a decent mag and getting all the benefits of working in the industry (without having to shell out for them) would be good, too :-) At the end of the day, if I could work on a game as awesome and important as (say) Rare's Goldeneye or Street Fighter II and know I'd had significant creative input and was significantly responsible for the whole thing coming about, I'd die happy... Erp! That was all a bit private. Oh, what the heck... think of this as a bonus diary entry Nick "after a few pints" F --------------------------- http://www.saqnet.co.uk/users/nickf http://www.n64gazetta.com http://www.netyaroze-europe.com/~rookie1 ICQ #9464742 "Why don't we just wait here a while, see what happens..?"