 |
By Jaap Suter December 1999 |
|
By Jaap Suter December 1999 |
|
"Rare certainly rates talent above any particular qualification, and the demo is basically your way of making a first impression, so yes, it has to be good. But that's not to rule out degree qualifications entirely, because they're always a good springboard into the industry (not everyone's as flexible as we are) - whether it's CS, Maths or one of the Sciences, they're all solid choices." "1. What value does a computer science degree hav these days? I mean, isn't a cool demo worth much more? We do not place much emphasis on college degrees. I, myself, didn't finish college because doing so would have forced me to miss my prime opportunity window to start Apogee. Bill Gates didn't finish college. If you're smart, motivated and willing to self-educate yourself on the topics that matter (for me that was marketing and business management) then college is not critical. Self-motivation and perseverce are far, far more important. And, yes, if you're a developer, an impressive demo or portfolio will get you farther than a degree. 2. I don't have the idea that Computer science university is learning me anything usefull (besides very little math). Do you think I should finish school, or get in the industry? If you have a strong demo or whatnot, then you should submit it to several developers and see what sort of interest you get. 3. How often do you recruite programmers who don't have a C.S. degree? We never have made a degree a requirement." "A comp sci degree counts for quite a lot - especially since its quite hard for people to break the "need experience to get into the industry" cycle. A cool demo helps as well ... but demonstrates mainly technical competence, and doesn't rull out plagarism (which we've seen ... and you have to keep a wide eye on the demo scene to know all the demos out there). In addition a comp sci degree shows that you have a general apitude to computer based problem solving - these days a firm knowldge of 3D maths and AI are probably more use than being able to create fancy special effects. After all, if we recruit we'd like people to be flexible in their approach, Main question is - where to get your degree. Worth considering UK Universities such as Abertay and Middlesex which actually offer computer games components in their courses." "1. What value does a computer science degree hav these days? I mean, isn't a cool demo worth much more? ANSWER: You are either woefully uninformed, misguided, or Einsteinian in natural talent to think that a CS degree is less important than a cool demo. Cool demo's may come and go. In 5 years it is outdated and practically functionless. When you have no schooling or training how will you compete with the hotshots coming out of colleges with the new technology in tow? Get the degree. You may even wind up hating the game industry. If so, how will you compete for the good jobs then? What would you have to offer? 2. I don't have the idea that Computer science university is learning me anything usefull (besides very little math). Do you think I should finish school, or get in the industry? ANSWER: SEE ABOVE 3. How often do you recruite programmers who don't have a C.S. degree? ANSWER: Nobody goes out of their way looking for non-degreed or educationally second class programmers. Would you? If you are an owner of a company and you need to invest large sums of money in a project, who would you rather go for? You try and get the best people first and always ask for as much qualifications as possible. THINK!" "How to Get Into The Game Biz You want to get in the gaming biz but you don't know how. Here are your options: -Get a job as a tester and work your way up from there. -Learn a skill and get damned good at it. For instance, pick up the Unreal Editor and start making incredible maps. Get a copy of Photoshop and a tablet and start painting textures/skins or concept art. Get a copy of Visual C++ and learn how to program, or learn UnrealScript or QuakeC. Or, make a mod for a popular 3d shooter. The key is to pick an aspect and get damned good at it. Then: -Promote yourself. Put up a website. Harass and get to know developers and news guys. Maybe even post news for Planetunreal or Planetquake or some other website. If your website is up there and you're pimping it but you're not getting a lot of replies then your content might not be good enough. Always show off your best work. -Play games: Know games inside and out! -Understand other forms of entertainment! Read a book, watch TV, go see a movie and understand what is good and what is bad, what is hot and what is not. It will help you later on. College is cool to do, but it is the last thing I look at when I get email looking for jobs. I look at: 1. Portfolio. 2. Age/location. For instance, if you're 16 and you live in Germany the odds are against you. Immagration is a bitch. However, if you're 23 and live in the states then you're halfway there. 3. Prior titles worked on, if any. 4. Education. An education is good for making you a well rounded, healthy adult. College also teaches you a lot about writing, mathematics, etc... but there aren't a lot of schools that will teach you how to animate incredibly well or program like a god. Practice and skill and a drive to learn will teach you this. Good luck!" "Here are the answers to your questions....the Sierra Online answers anyway. 1. What value does a computer science degree hav these days? I mean, isn't a cool demo worth much more? Actually a degree is very valuable. It's important to know behind the scenes programming. However, without a cool demo, and a degree, a new grad is tough to find a place for. 2. I don't have the idea that Computer science university is learning me anything usefull (besides very little math). Do you think I should finish school, or get in the industry? If you are in your second year, you probably haven't been too chalenged yet. I would reccomend getting an internship that will teach you how your C.S. education is going to benefit you. 3. How often do you recruite programmers who don't have a C.S. degree? I have done it before...however, the candidates have been in the game industry for over 10 years....or they have completed 4 years of university and have a great demo." "1. What value does a computer science degree hav these days? I mean, isn't a cool demo worth much more? It shows you can go through something no matter how long it takes. Getting a degree isn't exactly easy, particularly in your last year or two. Yes, a demo will help and its all fancy and stuff, but it might have taken you a couple weeks to finish it. Games nowadays take about 18 months on average. So you have to figure that if you can get through four or five years of college/university then you can get through anything. That seems to be the real purpose of it anyways...to show you how to work, get things done on time, and to refine your skills; not to learn the latest techniques on collision detection or visibility determination. 2. I don't have the idea that Computer science university is learning me anything usefull (besides very little math). Do you think I should finish school, or get in the industry? Finish school. Are you in a hurry to die? Let's say you aren't as good as you thought you were, and you lose your job and can't get another one in the industry. Here you are stuck without a job and degreeless to prove that you have gone through a four or five year education. Now what are you going to do? Work at a fast food joint? I've faced a similar problem with friends of mine and myself choosing between college baseball and being drafted to play professional ball. What if we aren't good enough once we actually do get a chance and we don't have a degree? Think about it. A degree isn't going to kill you or your chances of getting in the industry. It'll just give you time to grow and learn. 3. How often do you recruite programmers who don't have a C.S. degree? I'm not a professional or owner of a company so I can't totally answer this, but I can say that you need to take a look at job postings throughout the entire software industry. Figure out the ratio of those companies looking for CS degrees to those not. A degree shows time and commitment. It's all about paying your dues in college/university, and if I were a company, I'd respect a potential hiree that has paid his/her dues. One last note. I can't stand it when people say you don't need a degree to get a job. They're very correct in that statement. But those people also make at times half of what a person with a degree makes. I consider it absolute laziness when a person isn't willing to finish a program at a college/university and his/her degree. It shows a lack of responsibility, self-determination, and pride. It's almost as though people are just trying to rush their lives through so they can die before anyone else. Sounds like a GREAT plan to me." "1. What value does a computer science degree hav these days? I mean, isn't a cool demo worth much more? A demo is worth a lot. However, school teaches you a few things that you need. I believe the most important things are: - The ability to find information, even information that you where not neccessarily interested in. This helps when exploring new territory during projects, and prevents that you specialize too much because everything else is 'just not your business'. - The ability to finish a project on schedule, even when the project (partly) consists of things that you do not find interesting. Call it 'discipline'. You need that. - Strong logical skills. - Social skills - Again, not just with people you like, but also with 'less attractive people' that you maybe even depend upon. For school, that would be teachers, for a job, especially a fresh one, that would be a bad manager. Besides this, school provides you with a good excuse to have enough spare time to learn the things that you consider 'important'. It prevents that you get too much one-sided. 2. I don't have the idea that Computer science university is learning me anything usefull (besides very little math). Do you think I should finish school, or get in the industry? You should finish school. If you don't, personally I would find it harder to take you seriously and trust you for my large projects. I woudl probably just 'test' you longer before I would give you more responsibilities. After all, you haven't proven anything, except that you quit things that you do not find interesting or usefull at first sight. 3. How often do you recruite programmers who don't have a C.S. degree? Did it only once. Never had any regrets. :)" If you would like to contact the author of this document, Jaap Suter, click here. If you've experience in the industry, and care to share your opinions on the whole "to quit or not" question, please send an e-mail to web@flipcode.com. Click Here For The Previous Page |