Getting into the game industry

[jtec 0]

Since being a young lad of 8 years old i have been a major game player.  From the spectrum days (waiting 30 mins for a game to load, then it crashes right at the end) through to the Xbox and playstations of today, i have never lost interest.  

Im now 27 and really keen on starting a career in the computer game industry within the field of 3d models.  Only problem is where to start?  I've been looking at courses, but most are only 5 week courses which are about 20 hours in total and thats only learning the basics of 3d max.  Are there any schools/college/univercitys in the UK (london) that offer a course that will lead onto a Job making 3d models for the purpose of games?

Anyone here in the industry that can give me tips on how i can get onto the ladder?  

p.s

Any websites with info concerning what i have posted here is also welcome.

[Espectro (DayZ) 0]

I dont know about the UK... But here in denmark we just got a new course in 3d-gaming here in Aalborg university. It takes 5 years, but you get paid to study here in denmark (around 4000Å per month before taxes). Here in aalborg theres a "rough-insurance". So if you start studying here, you will get a little apartment.

Its free to study in denmark, although you have to buy ya own books.

Cheers

//edit

Heres a link to the universitys homepage (in english)

http://en.aau.dk/

Its not too hard to study as an englishman here.. most classes and books are in english

[jtec 0]

Thanks for your reply. Would be nice if i was a single man but my partner would find it hard to move from her current job. Looking more into a place within the UK (London area) for training.

[EiZei 0]

A lot of people have been "noticed" by the games industry after seeing their handiwork in some mods. Of course I would recommend something more popular than OFP if getting noticed is your primary motive.

[wildo 0]

University of Portsmouth - Computer games technology

handy 2 year course to do, luckily for me ive found a games company quite close to me which are looking at either taking me on for a job or work experience (more likely work experience though ive got a feeling of that, unless i knock their socks off), so im pretty much "sorted" (so to speak), but a good thing to do is find a company "close" to you and inquire there

but good luck in finding more course/job info!

oh and a couple of things games companies like to see is:

CV (well duh),

What games you play,

Any previous work (modelling/texturing/animating/etc...),

Familiarity in industry programs (3ds max, maya, etc..),

And showings of your work (Screenshots are accepted, but they like the actual files itself so they can look over it and see how well it is made)

hope that helps

Wildo

[jtec 0]

Thanks for the info guys, really appreciate the help. How did you get the work experiance set up? did you do the course or just contacted the company for a possition within the company?

Also what sort of work would be needed? as ive seen some highly detailed models knocking around on various sites (100000's of polys) and wondered if i have to produce models like that for companies to take note.

As for the headhunting side, it does sound good, but still quite a few highly skilled modellers in communities that dont have the luck of people finding them. Sorta hit and miss.

[Espectro (DayZ) 0]

Actually, its harder to create low poly models that look awesome... atleast its just as impressing.

[WhoCares 0]

In case of lacking technical/artistical skills you can still try to go Placebos way

PS: Of to find himself a new forum to hang around all day

[Messiah 2]

you get paid to study here in denmark (around 4000Å per month before taxes).

are you sure that's not kroner? last time i visited my family in Odense, i was getting around 12 Kr to Å1, hence you're saying that you receive 48000Kr a month? that's alot of money. I'm asuming it more around the Å400 a month mark.

sounds interesting - may have to do some research into that.

Jeff, like other have said, its about trying to spread your CV around and get people to notice you. There are many smaller games companies based around the UK that hire newer graphic designers, as long as their previous work is up to scratch. Unfortunatly, alot of the smaller companies are being swallowed up by corps like EA and you'll be struggling to find people soon.

Go about it like any job, get a qualification in graphic design etc and go from there.

[dm 9]

From the spectrum days (waiting 30 mins for a game to load, then it crashes right at the end) through to the Xbox and playstations of today...

Which still take ages to load and crash at the end!

If you're interested in the programming side of games, the course at The University of Lincoln (from within a lecture there I am posting this) does a good Games Computing Software course. Be mindful that this course is heavy on the programming. There is rumour that the Games Design course is moving to Lincoln from Hull. Nice uni, I enjoy it.

The best way to get a foothold in the industry is to get your mod noticed - noticed for QUALITY, not for being stupidly kiddie.

Many of the current generation of games developers are being recruited from the mod scene, Counter Strike being a clear example of this.

Also, check out the modding competitions which are run by gaming companies. There is a "million dollar mod competition" run annually for Unreal Tournament, which is a great way to get noticed by the industry. IIRC the winners a few years ago went on to make CoD (or similar)

[da12thMonkey 1943]

The two blokes I know who've gone on to work in the games industry just did as much modeling and other graphic design work for their portfolios as they could; whatever it was: architecture, characters, vehicles, objects, still-life scenes. Then they just applied for as many modeler positions as they could. Initially they went for small contract works, IIRC the one bloke made stuff for Best Buy and the other did a few models for a games developer on a limited external contract.

It must be said though, they got knocked back plenty of times before they even got that far, but just carried on making more and more stuff for mods etc while they waited for a company to accept them. Time well spent improving their skills and knowledge of as many tools as they could. to build up a knowledge base of the processes needed to be at the cutting edge of 3D Design.

AFAIK, neither of them took specific Computer Generated Design courses but they did do art courses to help them have a better idea of light+shading, physical form and general design. They included this in their portfolios too.

If I see either of them on MSN in the near future, I'll ask them to give a more insightful account of what it took to get them their jobs.

These are their homepages if you're interested: http://www.steveroyer.com/

http://www.gtapex.com/index2.htm

[Guest RKSL-Rock]

I think the others have said most of it.  There are some basic courses in London but they weren't cheap last time i went looking...(2years ago)  Most of the Art colleges now do Computer Based Art courses so it might be worth looking into those.

Best bit of advice i can give is develop a really good visually and technically impressive portfolio.  Build yourself a good and simple website (as Monkey's friends have) and sell yourself.  All companies and Universities/Colleges will want to see your work before they see you.

After that it’s a case of approaching all the companies and agencies you can find.  It will take some time but you might get lucky.  There are a lot of people out there wanting to do the same thing as you.  You have to be stand out in the crowd to get noticed.  

[jtec 0]

Cheers guys. Have a few models to add to my portfolio from flashpoint models im currently making, will have to make loads more tho, just havent had the time due to textures and real life stuff. Taken all your kind words onboard tho guys. Thx very much

[wildo 0]

Quote[/b] ]Thanks for the info guys, really appreciate the help. How did you get the work experiance set up? did you do the course or just contacted the company for a possition within the company?

Also what sort of work would be needed? as ive seen some highly detailed models knocking around on various sites (100000's of polys) and wondered if i have to produce models like that for companies to take note.

As for the headhunting side, it does sound good, but still quite a few highly skilled modellers in communities that dont have the luck of people finding them. Sorta hit and miss.

A friend from work told me how her son had applied for work experience there and gave me the web address of the company.

Also about producing models, you may think all these fancy high poly stuff is the bees knackers, but will it play ingame?

No it wont, lower poly all the way for games nowdays, if you can produce good textures to match your well on your way

Wildo

[hellfish6 7]

you get paid to study here in denmark (around 4000Å per month before taxes).

Is that right? 4000 GBP a month!? Damn... I should quit, move to Denmark and be a student for the rest of my life...

[Supah 0]

you get paid to study here in denmark (around 4000Å per month before taxes).

Is that right? 4000 GBP a month!? Damn... I should quit, move to Denmark and be a student for the rest of my life...

And then one day ... Hellfish, Gyneacologist, neurosurgeon and Salmon group therapist!

[EiZei 0]

Well.. I am currently studying business computing and I get 38 euros a month from the goverment..

[soul_assassin 1750]

Here in holland you can get up to 700Euro (some of it you will have to pay back when ur done). I get 80 at Aerospace Engineering.

[llauma 0]

you get paid to study here in denmark (around 4000Å per month before taxes).

Is that right? 4000 GBP a month!? Damn... I should quit, move to Denmark and be a student for the rest of my life...

No it's not 4000 GBP.. The Danish prime minister barely gets that.

The good thing though is that its free for all nationalities and at least in sweden foreign students are allowed to work too if they want.

[Messiah 2]

you get paid to study here in denmark (around 4000Å per month before taxes).

Is that right? 4000 GBP a month!? Damn... I should quit, move to Denmark and be a student for the rest of my life...

like i said, i think he meant 4000KR, which is rougly Å360 or so... but hellfish, the income tax is 60% - Hence why i moved to the UK

[Tovarish 0]

No it's not 4000 GBP.. The Danish prime minister barely gets that.

The good thing though is that its free for all nationalities and at least in sweden foreign students are allowed to work too if they want.

Hmm, well, I'm getting pretty disillusioned with the student life in Canada....How's the winter in Sweeden?

[llauma 0]

No it's not 4000 GBP.. The Danish prime minister barely gets that.

The good thing though is that its free for all nationalities and at least in sweden foreign students are allowed to work too if they want.

Hmm, well, I'm getting pretty disillusioned with the student life in Canada....How's the winter in Sweeden?

Dark.. Even though it's not as cold as Alaska it's as north so if you are at work during the day you won't see the sun for a few months.

I'm sure there are plenty of educations which are towards game development incase that's what you want.

[wildo 0]

Also another thing, if you GET employed by a company, you will have an average salary (none of this Å250,000 year bollocks for us) but more so Å19,000 at most unless you become a "prime" member in the job

Wildo

[jtec 0]

Not in it for the money mate, as long as my morgage is paid and i have food in my belly im a happy chappie.

[wildo 0]

Hehsamehere,moneydoesnt bother, illlive with the rents for years to come!:P

justmaking something i like is good enough for me!

Wildo