Posibility of getting to game industry?

My two cents are just continue like this and try to postulate.

But you'll have to know some things about the game development industry. As I just said, this is now an industry with often more than 100 people working on a single game. So the main danger is that you'll get disappointed once you entered a company because 1) you'll generally do a little part of the game, 2) you might do not what you wanted to do (doing the user interface is good, but you might preferred doing the hard job), 3) big companies might treat you just as a little piece of the puzzle, 4) in little companies you'll have to work hard, a lot and you won't get very well paid, 5) you won't get very well paid in big companies like EA or Ubi, 6) you might leave your country to another one, 7) they may not keep you once the game has been released.

I personally liked companies like ID Software, or Epic years ago just because they started as little, friendly, family-oriented companies. But now ID has been sold and Epic had changed a lot. These companies looked to be the last "real" game companies to my opinion.

This is all what made me never focused too much on the game industry.

On the other hand, you might be lucky and enter a very good company (see companies in the north of Europe and in the east of Europe) and have the job that you want to do.

My final words will be: try to focus on the part you like the most: rendering techniques, audio, physics, user interface, game logics, or artificial intelligence. You won't be able to have good knowledge for all nowadays just because each of them reach very high level: rendering now is mainly physically oriented, physics require a high university level for some specific tasks, game logics are more and more complex, just like AI.

So depending on what you like the most, continue on this way, learn, do it the best you can and maybe try to enter some indie or hobby projects to get more knowledge and experience with.

I hope that I did not killed your will, this was not my intend. You can see my post here (http://www.gamedev.net/topic/638124-anyone-here-a-self-taught-graphics-programmer/page-5#entry5298615) so that you could see my road too...

I hope that I did not killed your will, this was not my intend. You can see my post here (http://www.gamedev.net/topic/638124-anyone-here-a-self-taught-graphics-programmer/page-5#entry5298615) so that you could see my road too...

Amazing. You started at an early age. Youve also been to different IT jobs thats very nice. I wish that happened to me. The engine you were doing is that a 3D engine? Did you release the source code for that?

This topic appears from time to time. Today there's a way of getting into games industry that we didn't have many years ago. It's called self-publishing. I didn't see anything in your post indicating that you have ever made a full game by yourself. Today you can make a game and publish it, make it a part of your professional portfolio. And guess what - you can call yourself a part of games industry! If I were you I would aim to follow this path. I understand you may not have much of free time, so focus on simple game that you can spend some time during weekend, maybe evening, maybe even on your way to work if you commute. Self-publishing is incredible powerful tool nowadays and working on own portfolio not only will make you a better candidate for a job but also will teach you lots of things about this industry and working on games at all.

I hope that I did not killed your will, this was not my intend. You can see my post here (http://www.gamedev.net/topic/638124-anyone-here-a-self-taught-graphics-programmer/page-5#entry5298615) so that you could see my road too...

Amazing. You started at an early age. Youve also been to different IT jobs thats very nice. I wish that happened to me. The engine you were doing is that a 3D engine? Did you release the source code for that?

This is not amazing, this might just look good for some people and less for others :)

The 3D engine is closed source and will remain closed-source as long as I can, he's a bit like my first baby ;)

Just like j_uk_dev said, you have also this opportunity. But it all depends on your aims. You for sure won't be able to develop a new GTA on your own. But you can do real and interesting, fully-finished games that could use specific and technical stuffs that can be useful for game company developers.

And there are also specific game schools now where you can get a descent degree, which also might help you.

Today you can make a game and publish it, make it a part of your professional portfolio

I am aware of this kind of thing. But the chance of making a game that would click to people is much harder. But if for the sake of having a portfolio, i guess I could give it a try.

And there are also specific game schools now where you can get a descent degree, which also might help you.

Theres a topic on the internet that focus on this kind of thing on wether you should get a game course or focus more on general IT degree. Also I find that taking online course is much slower than me experimenting. It might just be my learning style. Been also searching about this online if online course helps, found there is a low chance that that would help you in getting the job. Shame would really love to see your code. As I always want to see and know how people code their program.

You can get into the games industry easily - have lots of projects/demos that you have done by yourself in your spare time.

However, the key to this is showing well polished, clear, to-the-point demos. A well established portfolio that demonstrates what area you want to work in is very important. Don't be over ambitious, you will not have the manpower to finish a large game to a high quality.

I am aware of this kind of thing. But the chance of making a game that would click to people is much harder. But if for the sake of having a portfolio, i guess I could give it a try.

I believe the guy who made Flappy Bird though same way ;)

Portfolio in this industry is incredibly important. Portfolio means experience. Many employers want to see you being able to run the development from start to its finish. It shows your dedication, self-motivation and other things. It is hard to sell a game, but we are not talking about marketing stuff here. Look that many job ads contain a bullet point stating that you have to have at least 1 published title in your career ( and believe me, self-published titles count too ). Also working on your own games rather than corporate AAA titles it's lots of fun due to being able to make all the decisions and shape the game the way you want. Working for a company ( especially big one ) doesn't look like it looked 20-30 years ago, and you have to be ready that sometimes you may need to work on "boring" stuff. Working on your own games will show you how you deal with that "boring" stuff too. Sometimes you would get annoyed because you may need to work on something that in your opinion doesn't make much sense, but still your boss made a decision etc. Hence, my strongest bet is to try self-publishing ;) This will automatically put you in the industry, no matter whether you want it or not :D

If you comfortable c++ then no need to change language.
There are many engines and frameworks for c++ and c# and you have a lot of choices.
Focus on portfolio. Making some small but complete and polished games will help you.
25 is not late. As long as you can handle your game work along with your main work( and rest of your life issues), You have a lot of time.

Portfolio in this industry is incredibly important. Portfolio means experience.

Does simple games count like very very simple?

I am following the beginners guide here on what games to make. I am able to make pong, breakout, snake, currently doing side scroller.

How do you define polished? Like has menus, no bugs? stuff like that?

I cant say if my game is fully polished. I got Menus and sounds. Not much about effects although Im plannig to add one.

2nd. As a person wanting to get into game industry, Is it right to aim for bigger game dev industry? like EA or SE?

Sure. One of the positive things about the game industry is that it's wonderfully neutral to your upbringing, background, educational background, etc. If you can do the job, you'll probably get the job. I feel a little bit like economic downturn in recent years has made it a bit harder than it used to be, but it's absolutely doable.

Will continuing c++ be a good asset for me? or Just use c# which a lot of inie game dev use?

C# is a great, productive language to get a lot of things done in. But C++ gets you the jobs, not C#.

3rd. What are the chances that at my mid 20s I can be able to get into game industry? How high would you think that be?

If you can learn enough to keep up, then you'll get a job. It'll be entry level for sure, and it will be challenging, but it's not an unrealistic goal.

My share;
- it's definately possible
- it also depends on what you want to give for it, bigger studios are not everywhere. Depending on your private situation your opinions might be limited or you have to move (speaking from experience here, not much aaa studios in the netherlands unfortunately)
- go for it and see what happens, you'll never loose because in all cases you'll learn from your application/ try and, maybe you'll get the job

Like others mentioned, you have to be somewhat sure that is what you want, at a bigger studio meaning being a small part of a bigger thing (for me personally that's no issue).

Where are you from and what studios are within "reach"?

Maybe take a look at some websites of various game companies and see what requirements they have for entry level positions, and make your plan accordingly.

I think that "polish" can be a lot of different things that gives your game a better presentation than just the game functionality alone.

Ive been programming for quite a while now but because of tough competition I wasnt able to get a programming jobs.

So, here is the thing.

Competition for jobs (especially entry level jobs) is insanely high in the game industry, because the labor market is flooded with entry level talent. So, lots of competition, low pay (relative to comparable jobs outside of games).

Outside of games, there are people getting really good jobs after doing programming bootcamps, or other non-degree programs, because the labor market is tilted in the other direction -- lots of jobs, not a lot of capable talent.

If you want to get in to professional programming, getting in via games is much much harder.

If you want to get in to professional programming, getting in via games is much much harder.

I think it depends on the location. This era, youre not competing against a certain people but youre competing globally. Here in the country I am working for, theres a lot of IT jobs but less on entry level. Theyre always looking for someone with intermediate exp. Even junior position requires you to have 2 years commercial exp. Another thing is here, they dont acknowledge freelancing as a real experience.

Im reminded of jim carrey statement which I heard once and stuck to my head

You can fail at what you dont love, so you might as well take a chance of doing what you love

I am in a similar predicament. I'm a senior software engineer at my current job which has nothing to do with games. I did however, get into game programming from the days of dos/mode 19 (thanks to Andre Lamothe's books) back in early 2000. On my own (and as part of my studies), I've written every thing from flight simulators to software 3D rasterizers. (I have a YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/user/faisalwho where I've begun showcasing my stuff, including my own 3D game engine + wip game, as well as pioneering new methods.)

I have zero industry experience but I try to stay ahead of the technologies merely as a hobbyist. Lately, I feel like if I was working in the industry, my throughput would be much, much greater as I would be doing something I do on my own anyways.

However, working my way up to my current position making the money I do, I can't afford to take a hit if I try to switch career paths. How can I, a senior programmer enter into this industry maintaining my title and compensation, when I possess the knowledge and work ethic, but lack the industry experience.

I feel my throughput at home rivals that of some senior architects i work with in my current field, only they have the title and the compensation, which I know would be easy for me to acquire if I switched industries.

I am in a similar predicament. I'm a senior software engineer at my current job which has nothing to do with games. I did however, get into game programming from the days of dos/mode 19 (thanks to Andre Lamothe's books) back in early 2000. On my own (and as part of my studies), I've written every thing from flight simulators to software 3D rasterizers. (I have a YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/user/faisalwho where I've begun showcasing my stuff, including my own 3D game engine + wip game, as well as pioneering new methods.)

May i know how did you start? What books did you read? What is your first game?

is a great, productive language to get a lot of things done in. But C++ gets you the jobs, not C#.

HI, just wanna know if this is kind of true? like for example the industry prefers c++ people?

How can I, a senior programmer enter into this industry maintaining my title and compensation, when I possess the knowledge and work ethic, but lack the industry experience.

You probably can't. The game industry wages are significantly depressed versus the software industry as a whole, because of the labor oversupply.

So even if you were brought straight across at a comparable seniority and title, compensation would very likely take a notable hit.