Well.. you generally have (and I am likely to miss/combine roles, so be wary):

 

Concept (either story or levels)

Design (drawing/modeling)

Texturing

Rigging

Animation

Programming

QA

 

Pick something and become exceptionally good at it. If you need to work with existing models (eg: texturing, rigging, animation) - do not make your own. Download some off the net and work with them. Since you will be rarely working with your own models in the field, you may as well get used to working with other people's models ASAP. The same can kind of be said with texturing. You get a model, learn to texture them as they are presented to you. While this can be tricky, this is part of becoming a pro.

 

I find that rigging/animation is the easier to work with as you can use wire-frame of crude single coloured textures to dictate differences in the object. You goal, after all, is not to make it look pretty, but to make it move in a specific manner, or be movable correctly. Sometimes these two roles are combined, but more often than not they are separate departments.

 

 

All in all, good luck. And remember - pick something early and focus on just that.

OK, as this is my first post back on this forum in about 3-4 years, I'm going to try and make it as worthwhile as possible. :D

 

Funnily enough, you're half in the same boat as me when it comes to decisions regarding your career. Although, I'm actually studying Computer Sciences, but I previously did a foundation course into the subject which covered all aspects (at which point I didn't have a clue what to do). I found your post a little naive in thinking that there is only two elements in producing games. If you read the credits on games, there are sometimes hundreds of people who make the game what it essentially is. This ranges from Graphics designers, storywriters, script editors, 3D modelling, marketing, and so forth. What I'm trying to get at is that there is probably a career in games development for you, but you just have to find what you a) Enjoy and B) Are actually good at. If you're innovative and have ideas that would make a captivating storyline, write a few in a letter and send it off to games companies. Mention that your idea is your own and it's original. Also, send off a copy of your CV or reference (i think that's what everyone else calls it who isn't in the UK. :P) . And don't set your sights too high, I doubt you're going to walk into Lionhead Studios or Blizzard. Look into smaller companies which are situated in an area which you can easily get to. Another thing you have to realise is that there is a billion-and-one people who love gaming and aspire to work in the gaming industry, so try to stand out!

 

I hope this was helpful. :)

i'm in compsci program right now. and yes, it's a lot of math initially in the first two years. focuses more on coding later on. it's hard, but to be fair i'm in one of the best universities in the country.

 

if i were you, i'd just go to a tech school or w/e that focuses on hands-on rather than theory.

 

tbh it's not what i expected, feels like i debugged enough to last me a lifetime.

 

Well.. I have no idea how my university compares to any other one.. We have a synchrotron though. :P Only one on the continent I'm pretty sure..

 

There have been times where I've thought about going to tech school instead of university.. mostly AFTER I started going to university. :P To the topic creator: (If you're serious about this) tech school is much more hands on, and you don't worry about all the *extra* stuff, the stuff that is really unnecessary to just do the job you wanna do. However, as far as I know, and I hope it's really true, a degree has a higher standing than a diploma. I hope future employers will look at my future resume and be like "Oooohh, a degree, she must know her [cabbage]. Lets get her!" (Not meaning a diploma means you don't know your stuff, you certainly must know your stuff. :P I'm just trying to.... I don't know, I'll leave now. xD

Where are you from? From what I've heard experience trumps the difference in education. I'm hoping to spend one year in an intership if I could find a spot

 

My friend in another university interns at IBM :mellow:

There is a lot more to a game then programming and art. Take Runescape for example. There are Customer/Player support representatives,idea creators, game testers, etc. I worked at a telephone help service for Blizzard a few years back. They gave us great benefits ( including free World of Warcraft membership for one account ) and it was very fun. I have talked with a huge variety of players and people in general.

 

Just look at the aspects which support the game industry itself as well.

 

As for your drawing issue, it doesn't take much to learn 3D modeling with blender or Maya. I just watched several you tube videos on the subject then practiced what I saw in my free time until I could do it without checking back to the video.

 

Jagex has some openings right now in the following areas:

 

3D Modeller

Animator

Executive Games Producer

GUI Artist

Game Content Developer

Games Designer

Pixel Artist

 

Some companies, like Jagex, will train you if you show a willing attitude towards the gaming industry and learning to work in it.