How you got into the games industry

Seraph

Chatted with some friends today at Red Storm (North Carolina) about how they got into the industry. It led to some fun discussions, so, I thought why not make a thread about it? Simple poll, let's see if I can figure this out:

skankerzero

some school and taught myself and applied.

Seraph

Ok I think that worked, just a thought on this: I'm sure there's more than one way, but I'm quite curious. I got in via schooling, going to a 4 year university and taking AnimationMentor. But Long before that I created mods, hung out here way too much and was apart of that Quake/Unreal generation (what I need a 3D Card?!?) So in some ways, you could argue self taught too.

Anyways, lets try to limit it down to the things you did to get your first job, which I'll say was schooling for me. As a side note, my nephews are interested in the biz so I'm trying to gauge what school does offer people. Honestly I learned little that a 4-year university could offer me directly. Although indirectly (inspiration, broader knowledge, experience) I think I've been able to excel. That being said, they're aiming for Full Sail. I'm curious what Full Sail, Digipen and other people have to say about getting in.

Have fun with this!

RexM

I can't say I'm in the industry, but I have taught myself and have gotten call backs and emails from various companies' interested in my work.

I was recently contacted by a hiring agency that asked if I was interested in some game jobs, so they submitted me for three jobs available for that one company.

I know I'll eventually get something, it'll just take time.

Hope my post helped, oh and I've even gotten call backs from positions 'requiring' degrees and shipped titles when I had no degree or shipped titles.

I have done freelance for a fairly big company though.

PixelMasher

learned some 3d in highschool and pretty much taught myself the rest and really started to improve once I was in the industry doing 3d every day.

Kwramm

how I got my job? I sent out my folio and applied! ...guess the name of the thread is a bit misleading

but we did have a thread like this some time ago, no?
But if you're asking about my background: schooling + self taught + some luck.

Peris

I worked on mods, levels, 3D, etc.. always as a hobby and passion but never considered it a viable career path. Until someone offered me a job!

heavyness

Went to Art Institute of Pittsburgh back in 1996 for computer animation/multimedia. After that, just continued to work and self teach myself and applying everywhere. After moving back to Cleveland, then Baltimore, back to Cleveland, we moved to Seattle where I finally got into the game industry.

ZacD

I slept my way in.

Ace-Angel

Started at age 15, self taught till age 22, got first gig at 18, online MMO which fell through, now in schooling and soon to be graduated at 23/24.

Fun times...

chadabees

ZacD wrote: »

I slept my way in.

I knew it!

Sauron

killed prev. artist
no, srsly, there are no such schools in my country, is there a chance to get into without 'em?

crazyfool

went to uni for illustration and graphic design, then afterwards taught myself 3d and applied

Funky Bunnies

went to a community college and self-taught, ended up getting my first game art job through here. But after working/talking with others, I've regretted trying to avoid art school though.

e-freak

combination of everything. School just helped me time frame the whole thing, modding gave the background and then it was working up (although "horizontal" (from outsourcer's intern to artist on site) not "vertical" (QA to CEO)).

There's a whole lot of Magic attached to it as well, getting the right connections at the right time helps a lot