Path: chuka.playstation.co.uk!news From: "Jon Watson" Newsgroups: scee.yaroze.freetalk.english Subject: Re: Advice needed! Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 02:06:45 +0100 Organization: PlayStation Net Yaroze (SCEE) Lines: 76 Message-ID: <6qavml$7vo11@chuka.playstation.co.uk> References: <35C8656E.EC8288B0@nospam.easynet.co.uk> <6qap8q$7vo10@chuka.playstation.co.uk> NNTP-Posting-Host: client849b.globalnet.co.uk X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.3110.1 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.3110.3 Just to add my two penneth..... I started at Gremlin Interactive just after my degree course in computer science......I'm currently working on Actua Soccer 3 (Psx)..... What I must say is this - while taking a degree in a computer related subject will help, it is by no means a panacea. Most of my technical skills come from way before my uni course and most of what I learnt at Uni was totally unsuitable....the best way to get into programming is simply to tinker, tinker and tinker some more until you get to the point where you can say, do a front end. From there, you have most of the skills necessary - chuck in a bit of 3d for good measure and hey presto! If you still can't hack it, you might be able to get into the creative side of things - games designing perhaps. If you aint creative, you might wanna try for a producers job (which is a coordinator with some technical and 'people' skills......) If that aint yer bag, just to get a foot in the door, go for a job in QA - it can lead to greater things........ L8r, Jonny Watson Nick Ferguson wrote in message <6qap8q$7vo10@chuka.playstation.co.uk>... > >-- 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..?" > >