[game_edu] College Students (Art/Animation) Inquiries into Game Industry

[Adam Moore]

Vincent,

Game Career Guide is almost entirely focused on helping students prepare for a career in games.

http://www.gamecareerguide.com/


> They've asked for resources to learn more about the (non-technical) aspects of industry e.g. where the jobs are and how to find them, lifestyles, courses they should pursue, etc.


Most of the jobs are on the coast, with more on the west coast than the east coast. Point them to the game dev map - it will let them look up which companies are located where. http://www.gamedevmap.com/

As for finding jobs... apart from going to the company websites, the students should be buying Expo passes to GDC and trolling the career pavilion and networking at the parties and hotel lobbies. They'll also need to build a portfolio - preferably online.


> They also would like to know how their current studies and skills (art/animation both traditional & computer) will be able to translate to the game industry.


I recommend having them look at the job postings for the positions they want and treating these postings as to-do lists.

The best thing these students can do RIGHT NOW is to get on a team and try to make a game, even if only in their free time with a group of students. A student who has worked on 3 student projects has more experience than the student that is waiting to get a job to make games...even if all 3 projects ultimately fail. If they want to make games professionally, the sooner they start trying to make games, the more they'll have to talk about when they finally do get their first interview.

Adam Moore 
The University of Advancing Technology 
Content Developer
(650) 383-8660

-----Original Message-----
From: game_edu-bounces at igda.org [mailto:game_edu-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Peter Border
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 11:13 AM
To: IGDA Game Education Listserv
Subject: Re: [game_edu] College Students (Art/Animation) Inquiries into Game Industry

Look in www.gamasutra.com
I think they have considerable resources about breaking into the business.
 
Peter Border
Game and Application Design Chairman
Globe University/Minnesota School of Business
1401 West 76th St
Richfield, MN 55423
pborder at msbcollege.edu
________________________________________
From: game_edu-bounces at igda.org [game_edu-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Vincent Stefanelli [vslo at verizon.net]
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 12:55 PM
To: game_edu at igda.org
Subject: [game_edu] College Students (Art/Animation) Inquiries into Game        Industry

Greetings,

I've been asked to speak with Art and Animation Students at a local university.
The school's Art and Animation Program is quite good but it only has a couple very basic courses for game development.

The students are interested in knowing about the Game Industry and how they might be better prepared to gain employment in the industry.

My experience with games has been providing music and sfx for games so although I'll be able to give them a good "outsider's" view of the industry, I could use some advice on a couple points:

* They've asked for resources to learn more about the (non-technical) aspects of industry e.g. where the jobs are and how to find them, lifestyles, courses they should pursue, etc.
	
** They also would like to know how their current studies and skills (art/animation both traditional & computer) will be able to translate to the game industry.

Any suggestions on what advice and resources to offer them?

Thank you,

Vinny Stefanelli
814.873.4500 (cell)
www.youtube.com/vincentstefanelli


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