Bit of an update. I left Wayfair in September, now at Darmstadt Graphics Group, doing 3D software development. Relying heavily on my gamedev roots. Great reading through the replies here, thanks all. I'm till hanging around Polycount, you can't get rid of me lol.
http://www.dev-xp.com/ Nice mix of gamedev vet interviews: concept artists, level designers, engineers, enviro artists. Hit the episode page for the full list.
At least $4-5 million...a month, 300-400 workers. And that's just for a startup. More info? Just search for bankupt gamedev studios in the last 5 years.
I like this post from GameDev. It's regarding music composition, but the advice is clearly universal: http://www.gamedev.net/topic/557522-i-want-to-be-a-game-composer/#entry4581665
Back to the T-Shirt designs a bit, had an idea. Created a Discord server if you guys wanna hang out and talk about trains and gamedev. https://discord.gg/r9RUZ4uyaK Old vs New
funny game (more fun sandbox so) http://plasmapong.com/ just saw it on gamedev net image of the day, and its really cool the play with the sandbox (also runs still on crap hardware)
Glad I'm not the only one who felt this. Would be good to know if I just missed out on all the cool stuff or if GDC generally a better shout for gamedevs?
LOL, don't shoot the messenger. Read the job ads to disabuse yourself of a lost cause. Modo use is creeping but Autodesk is gamedev ingrained (for 3 long decades and counting).
Some of the concept art I have work on for the past few months with a gamedev team in Portugal. Unfortunately the game got cancelled. I am now currently available.