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/biz/ - Business & Finance

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993810 No.993810 [Reply] [Original]

I want to work in the video game industry, I don't mind starting out as a GM (Game Master \ Game Manager) in fact I'd love to work as a GM for an internship and even a first job. I've played this one video game for 8 years now, and going on my 9th, and I'm one of the top players. Its more of a niche game so its not that famous, but I've been very committed to it, and I'm one of the most well liked and well known players.

Anyways, I was thinking of going into CS or Software Engineering, since that looks very good for this type of job, but I'm wondering if there are other degrees I can do to break out into the world of gaming? What about a Finance degree, or maybe Economics? Would things like these, plus my achievements in many different games and gaming communities allow me to get a job in a gaming company, do you think just going and doing CS or SE will make me better off in the future? I'm much more interested in SE than CS, since I would like to be a part of a product from beginning to end and not just its development, but its continued developer.

Also, since CS and SE are basically the same world wide, does it matter which university I go to, I mean it would help to go to a top one, but they are very hard to get into, so would something like Top 30 - Top 20 be good enough, or should I try my best to get into a Top 15 - Top 10?

Thanks everyone!

>> No.993861

Are you Meteoses?

>> No.993879

>>993861

What?

>> No.994588
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994588

>>993810
>GAME MASTER

>> No.994604

>>993810
Why would being a GM look good for compsci jobs? You do know GMs are basically NEETs who work for free/a small wage to ban people and play the game all day right? They're not programmers or anything in the slightest.

Maybe try to get a programming job for this game if you want to look good.

>> No.994619

>>993810
Pretty sure this is bait because no real person should be stupid enough to think that liking to play video games translates into being good at making them but just in case: No, you don't want to work in the video game industry.

You are correct that CS is the correct path if you want to get into this stuff but unless you are already doing this stuff on the side or immediately find that you just intensely enjoy fixing bugs and math you are unlikely to do well in this degree plan. Once you graduate with your CS degree you have two choices to get into vidya:

1. Work on small indie projects
>The chances of financial success are effectively 0%. Even moderately successful indie game devs struggle to eke out a basic living. If you are lucky enough to strike it big in this you're lucky enough to play the lotto and will probably end up richer for it.
>You will likely not play much if any video games for the foreseeable future since you will spend all your waking hours (and many of the hours you should be sleeping) working. You will not even play your own video game that much. You will spend the vast majority (more than 99%) of your time staring at screens of code that don't work the way you want them to.
>You will be lonely and grow distant from your friends, family, and romantic interests as you burn out your very soul on the game that will never make any real money.

(cont)

>> No.994631

>>994619
2. Work for an established company
>Unlike the above, pay and benefits are at least stable. You will make enough to eat food and drive a car. Also unlike the above getting the job is difficult because so many people will be applying for it. You need to be an exceptional performer and have a really stand out portfolio to even have a shot. Supply of video game programmers far exceeds demand.
>Job security is nonexistent. Expect to be laid off and change companies or be out of work frequently as projects end. You will have to compete for jobs over and over again with fresh new faces who desperately want to work in vidya.
>Pay is extremely low for the same reasons. If you don't like what you are offered there are ten people behind you who would suck a dick to work for that salary.
>Your bosses will almost universally be assholes. The companies know you are only there temporarily and only seek to extract the value from you before replacing you. The management style needed for this kind of business plan is downright toxic.
>Your hours will not be as long as an indie devs but expect to work your ass off. 60 hour weeks are the norm. You may be asked to sleep in your cubicle during crunch times.
>No one cares about your creativity. Your ideas will not be valued and no one wants to see your original take on whatever project is being worked on. Follow the line, do it quickly, and don't fuck it up. That's the name of the game.