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So...what do you want to be?

polycounter lvl 18
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JKim3 polycounter lvl 18
Mainly, just curious about what people's goals are for their position in the industry. I mean, do you want to be an art director? Or just a simple character artist so you don't have to deal with all the management and politics? What about a producer, using game art as your way into the industry? What types of games do you want to work on? Platformer, action, adventure, puzzle, etc? Does that even matter to you? Like, are you the type that as long as your department is interesting (art, animation, audio, vfx?), you couldn't give a rat's ass what genre it is, as long as it's good? Oh, also, console, mobile, portable, or pc? original ip, franchise, or license?

For me, I want to be a lead game designer. I want to define the mechanics, base story, characters, and all that crap. But, I don't really want to have to deal with the clients and their bullshit, but I'll probably have to. Ah wells. One main mechanic that i really want to work on is the combat mechanics. I've been studying action games for a while, what they do right, what they do wrong, and feel that with some more experience in design I could be able to do something good. I already have a bunch of ideas, but then again, who doesn't. The games that I would love to work on are action games. After that, I'd really love to do some crazy-concept game filled with stupid humor. Working on a type of party game would be great. A bunch of mini-games centered around fucked up, quick concepts that you put some story and multiplayer into so you have a single game. No worry about continuity, logic, or any of that stuff. Just let ideas flow. Also tackling a real puzzle game would be a huge challenge that could turn out to be so damn rewarding. I'm currently working as a level designer, but hope to have my title bumped up to game designer with my next job or in this company. Which ever comes first.

I prefer console games to pc games. Also, I'd like to establish my own franchise.

Ah, dreams. So idealistic. I have yet to have my soul crushed by the industry, working only for a pay cheque. grin.gif

Replies

  • skankerzero
    for me, it's not really 'what I want to be'. It's more 'what I want to do'.

    I want to tell my own stories with my own characters one day either through game, comic, or other media.
  • Weiser_Cain
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    Weiser_Cain polycounter lvl 18
    Well I like character design and I like making worlds for people to play in.
    I'd like to make my own game one day though it looks like I'd be better off making a comic book and or movie before anyone would be willing to give me the resources I'd need to make the game I want.
  • rawkstar
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    rawkstar polycounter lvl 19
    After awhile of doing stuff I've reached the point of doing what I've always wanted and it GOOD smile.gif so now I don't think I have any other goals besides getting even better at what I do, which is pretty much a natural drive by now. I love where I'm at, there is no other company that I dream about working at, there is no game I wish I was working on (except fallout 3) and thats mainly because I've been such a huge fan of the first 2 rpgs for so long... its just in my blood now.

    oh yeah

    I want to make characters for fallout 3 smile.gif

    Don't want to be an art director, maybe eventually but not at least for another 5-10 years. Don't want to start my own company, don't want to revolutionize the business with some grand new franchise. Would like to work with some of the people I was looking up to before I got into the industry, artists and designers, work with people who made the original fallout and some other games I loved when I was growing up, that would rock my world. thats about all I want.
  • Daz
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    Daz polycounter lvl 18
    Art direction isn't what it's cracked up to be. Well, at least not at the co. I work for it isn't. You really don't have overall creative vision. The exec producer does.

    I want to make massive wads of cash so I can then chill for the rest of my life.

    So, with that goal in mind, Im gonna make the first kickass pr0n game. Who wants in?!
  • pogonip
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    pogonip polycounter lvl 18
    Lead concept artist on a huge title that needs a lot of creative vision like a final fantasy type game or a MMO like world of war craft .

    edit * Daz if you need a texture artist let me know ..LOL laugh.gif
  • Weiser_Cain
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    Weiser_Cain polycounter lvl 18
    Well if I was just going to be going into porn I've been wasting my time and money with this computer crap.
  • rooster
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    rooster mod
    I volunteer for motion capture!

    edit: and as far as dreams go, any position at the big V would do nicely..
  • Thegodzero
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    Thegodzero polycounter lvl 18
    I want to be an artists with a secure position at a company in the north west who makes RPG's and/or RTS's and make enough to support a family while owning a house. Oh and i want frys with that.
  • CheapAlert
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    CheapAlert polycounter lvl 18
    Art's just one of my hobbies, I don't have the efficiency to become a game artist at this moment so i'll be a comp techie for now.

    My life-long ambition is to be a gargoyle artist, though (as in carving)
  • Ribking
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    Ribking polycounter lvl 18
    There are few artists out of all I have had the pleasure of working with that share my passion for games as a whole. Most would discuss with me how they thought games look and what could have been done better, and what was truely a big step as far as art goes. Many would talk with me about how great a game was and why they thought so. But when I get into gameplay mechanics discussions and the thinking behind the differences of playing an RPG, CRPG, and an interactive book....suddenly I'm a "loser" who "has no life". That always burns me up inside. So few of my peers seem to share the passion I have for the industry and it's direction. Perhaps I've been at the wrong companies? Many forum members here seem to share that same passion....though I wonder how so many of you have such high post counts. Between my worktime and my playtime, I can barely read all of the new topics, let alone do any major posting.

    That being said, I am well on my way to being a hybrid game artist/designer/engineer. It reminds me of multiclassing in the 3E DnD ruleset. I'd consider myself a ART10/DES4/ENG2. A while ago, I realized that I am more of a gamer than a game artist. I want to be responsible for more than just the look and feel of things. I've been working on some major ideas, but as JKim3 said, everyone has some major ideas, so that really means nothing.

    I am working hard to realize my ideas, and I hope that sometime in the future I will be able to say that I was responsible for influencing the direction of the gaming industry.

    That, and get out of debt.
  • Kevin Johnstone
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    Kevin Johnstone polycounter lvl 19
    Daz: 'Mutant Nazi Porn Bitches From Mars' is the best selling game I want to make. I've said for years that this would sell really well as it appeals to everyone smile.gif

    And likewise, I just want to make a ton of cash so I can stop selling my soul for a living and just make 'art' for myself rather than 'artifice' for others.

    r.
  • Prs-Phil
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    Prs-Phil polycounter lvl 18
    One day I´m going to be president of the United states laugh.gif
  • Josh_Singh
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    Josh_Singh polycounter lvl 18
    I would like to try my hand at game design. It looks from what Ive seen from our designers, even a monkey can do it.
    I got this level design from one of our designers the other day and I swear, It could have been drawn in crayon on a baby wipe.
  • ElysiumGX
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    ElysiumGX polycounter lvl 18
    So far I've had some luck as a character modeler, map object designer, texture artist, effects artist, concept artist, and HUD designer for various mod projects. I've had fun with 'em all. So in the industry I'd like a little bit of everything. It's a tough decision for me considering most of those in the industry aren't artists, or aren't encouraged to be. But for now, I just want to help some mod projects get from start to finish while improving my workflow. And in time, hopefully begin my own game project so I can tell a story to educate and entertain children. In a mod, I have freedom that will most likely be taken away once I get a paying gig. So when I'm not working, I'll still take the time to do my own thing, and continue practising tradition art.
  • tpe
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    tpe polycounter lvl 18
    hey daz let me know if and when you need talent then, coul be i can bring some xperience too, from my dark, sorded and very secret past that is wink.gif didnt sell too well but there were lots of rip offs after that marketed theirs better, we did have a full page add in playboy tho. And it was quite an experience doing the casting and photography.

    Now i am looking forward to classifying new insects in fiji and giving them silly names like bushmaggot or flyusloosezipperus, after i kick the kids out that is.

    tpe
  • rawkstar
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    rawkstar polycounter lvl 19
    its been done, theres a shitload of japanese pr0n games out there and they actually all look pretty damn good too. fully textured nipples and the works. You could break new grounds with a normal mapped pr0n game though...
  • Steve Schulze
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    Steve Schulze polycounter lvl 18
    Well I've been in this industry for a mere nine months and have had a chance to try my hand at the full gamut of games related art from rocks and tilable textures to high poly rendered characters and landscapes for a promo movie... I love my job. I think I'll be staying right where I am for quite a while, though I might be interested in pursuing the design thing in future, if only to see what its like to sit at the helm of an entire project.

    The rendered cutscene thing is something I enjoy. Perhaps once I'm done with the game art I might go for a job at Blur Studios or similar production house.
  • Frank
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    Frank polycounter lvl 18
    [ QUOTE ]
    Daz: 'Mutant Nazi Porn Bitches From Mars' is the best selling game I want to make. I've said for years that this would sell really well as it appeals to everyone smile.gif

    [/ QUOTE ]
    ....DUDE. That's so true it's not even funny. laugh.gif

    [ QUOTE ]
    And likewise, I just want to make a ton of cash so I can stop selling my soul for a living and just make 'art' for myself rather than 'artifice' for others.

    [/ QUOTE ]
    My goal is similar to this, but I want to create and release games and other media that I think is cool without worrying if it's going to be a financial success. So actually, I guess it's the same, really, but Ror didn't mention if he'd want his art to be released to the public.

    So, er...what Ror said. blush.gif

    Frank the Avenger
  • AstroZombie
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    AstroZombie polycounter lvl 18
    Lead designer is definitely where I would like to end up eventually.
  • CheapAlert
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    CheapAlert polycounter lvl 18
    [ QUOTE ]
    its been done, theres a shitload of japanese pr0n games out there and they actually all look pretty damn good too. fully textured nipples and the works. You could break new grounds with a normal mapped pr0n game though...

    [/ QUOTE ]

    Don't forget to add support for forcefeedback joysticks and mice.
  • BIOS
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    BIOS polycounter lvl 18
    level designer for EPIC is my dream job.
  • b1ll
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    b1ll polycounter lvl 18
    I dunno.

    Be rich and stop working sound good.

    Doing characters for others is not always that fun.

    b1ll
  • TechSmith
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    TechSmith polycounter lvl 18
    I'm with b1ll. Be rich and no work.
  • Slayerjerman
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    Slayerjerman polycounter lvl 18
    Ditto with b1ll & TechSmith...

    Own the company and tell ppl what to do and play games all day for 'research'...eheeheh
  • Malekyth
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    Malekyth polycounter lvl 18
    I've wanted to work in the porn biz in some way, for years. wink.gif

    CG porn? The perfect crossover ticket. Sign me up, boys!
  • Daz
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    Daz polycounter lvl 18
    I allready have the helmet made Ror! We're halfway there!

    I mean you know the erm, ahem, Nazi helmet, as oppoosed to er, any other kind.
  • Vermeulen
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    Vermeulen polycounter lvl 18
    well i am trying to get into law, but as a hobbie all i want to do is make small fun internet games, really enjoyed working on nexuiz, i'd never want a 9-5 job in the industry
  • Kevin Johnstone
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    Kevin Johnstone polycounter lvl 19
    And I already have the big stick, i mean the truncheon, you know, that the erm, nazi's carried , cough.

    r.
  • Moz
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    Moz polycounter lvl 18
    I want to fly aeroplanes really. Helicopters are a passion of mine.

    But so is art.

    Ofcourse being an unemployeed ass doesn't give me options for either.
  • Hooker with a Penis
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    Hooker with a Penis polycounter lvl 18
    To be honest, I'm not sure what I want to end up doing. I thoroughly enjoy and understand programming and art, and now I'm looking into psychology because I have a hard-on for memory research (inspired by the early 80's-90's thing with the so-called 'survivor syndrome' and repressed memory therapy cases).

    I'm multi-talented, so I really don't know what I'll pick in the end.

    POST SPREE.
  • rawkstar
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    rawkstar polycounter lvl 19
    lots of hot chicks study psychology, you can't go wrong with that one.
  • MoP
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    MoP polycounter lvl 18
    Every mother and her brother studies Psychology. Hardly any of them ever actually use it though...
  • diZzyWalnut
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    diZzyWalnut polycounter lvl 18
    Well,I'm too old to get in 3D industry, ( it's just my hobby )- so easy way, I would to like to stay cool and happy as always I'm.
  • EmAr
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    EmAr polycounter lvl 18
    I want to get into the industry somehow, and hopefully will. We are trying to start a company here but it's not easy for two university students although it's been done even here(Turkey). Modeling, texturing and animating characters and environments all sound cool to me. Also, I'm a self-practicing musician/composer. If we somehow get to complete a game/demo, I have to touch the soundtrack too cool.gif If all these fail I'll have to do the work of a materials engineer. Not I underestimate it but I just entered the university because I had nothing better to do as I had the opportunity. Oh, and the department provides a very cool technology related vocabulary hehehe
  • sledgy
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    sledgy polycounter lvl 18
    Studying psychology would still be useful, just not useful enough to bring you home a paycheck unless you practice as a doctor. I bet they're still useful skills to have though. A friend of mine has 2 psychology degrees and a networking degree - guess which one brings home the bacon?

    Why do they call doctors' offices "practices" anyway? I don't want them practicing on me I want it done right the first time!
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