Post by redonihunter in Trying to switch into game dev — go self-taught or pay for a course?

Viewing post in Trying to switch into game dev — go self-taught or pay for a course?

Do not quit your day job.

You might hear anectodes from successful people chasing their dreams, quitting their jobs and this working out. You do not hear from the thousands more people where this did not work out quite that well.

Also, you ask this on Itch. The developers and hobby enthusiasts are self employed. They are not "in the industry". They are indie. A very few have releases on the bigger platforms like Steam and you will even find some very small game studios here. Talking a few people. Nothing like whatever you work for by working on a back end.

You might want to ask at a place where actual employed non indie game developers hang. Although some of them might still visit Itch. But it does not sound like you want to become an indie game developer, but an employed one. Look here to get a glimpse of the general professional level on Itch. https://itch.io/board/10020/help-wanted-or-offered Maybe join a game jam for fun. https://itch.io/board/533649/game-jams

Sounds like you can code. Many people look for coders in those collabs / jam collabs. But this will be "indie" experience. Not professional game development experience.

Like Reply

AlbertoNasare358 days ago(+1)

thanks!

My idea was to enter the industry (either an indie company or a big one) before trying to make my own projects. I’ve found that getting a job without previous experience is difficult, so I’m trying everything I can.

I guess in this case, it’s better to work on things like this board to have a better chance of getting into the industry.

The main reason I’m interested in this master’s program is that the instructors already work in the industry and have connections with current video game companies. The program is very focused on learning practical skills used in the industry. If it didn’t cost $10,000, the choice would be easy...

Like Reply

redonihunter358 days ago(+1)

Sounds like a scam. Especially if they lure you with their own connections.

Or is this an actual reputeable university and the enroll price of one of those countries where education costs a fortune?

Maybe start with remote courses that are meant for people that have a job. Or better, do some jam games for free and fun. You can code. You will quickly learn, if game making is even something you wanna do. Apart from story, a game is nothing more than a complex algorithm. Making this fun and rewarding is game design. But coding it in the first place, would be a skill you should already have.

I think there is a big difference between a specialist coder working for a game studio and a solo developer or tiny studio. Solo developers very often do their own art and basically everything. Creating a game is such a big field of individual skills you can apply. Writing. Game design. Graphics. Classic AI. Level design. And so on. Including marketing.

Like Reply