{"id":2049,"date":"2015-08-10T14:24:32","date_gmt":"2015-08-10T14:24:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mertboru.com\/?p=2049"},"modified":"2022-07-25T10:28:12","modified_gmt":"2022-07-25T10:28:12","slug":"so-you-want-to-be-a-video-game-developer-huh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/mertboru.com\/?p=2049","title":{"rendered":"So you want to be a video game developer, huh?"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Cover Photo: \u00a91961 – Toho Co., Ltd.<\/em><\/span>
\nAkira Kurosawa’s “Yojimbo”<\/em><\/span>)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

No problem.<\/p>\n

Read this, then we’ll talk about it\u00a0\ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

Myths & Facts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many people believe that video game developers earn millions, live in Hawaii<\/a>, drive a Ferrari<\/a>, and date Victoria’s Secret supermodels<\/a>. Well, maybe some of my colleagues do… Not me, for sure.<\/span><\/p>\n

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“Hey, where are the supermodels ?!”<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Contrary to popular belief, career in video game development is full of challenges. Besides dealing with coding hurdles and release date stress, where time is your enemy in both cases, you need to handle egocentric teamwork meetings while keeping an eye on the tight budget. If that is not enough, you need to refine your skills forever and ever<\/strong> to make sure that you are keeping up with the latest technological achievements, even before they are released. – “Hey, where are the supermodels?!”<\/i><\/p>\n

Despite all challenges, a game developer’s life is actually more upbeat than speculated. Forget about all the challenges for a minute; the best part is the necessity of refining skills. When you keep on sharpening your technical\/artistic skills, you’ll have a chance of tweaking industry standard workflows. With every tweak, you’ll add a bit of haute couture<\/a> touch both to the project you’re working on, and to your signature development methods. The more you sculpt a unique style, the more you stand out from the rest. And, that makes a real<\/em> difference, by all means.<\/p>\n

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Education necessary?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Most preferably yes, but not essential. <\/span>I studied both Science<\/em> and Arts<\/em>, but have always considered myself an autodidact<\/a> <\/span>\u2013<\/span><\/span><\/span> a self-taught person. Nobody taught me how to develop video games! Through rewarding self-discipline skills, studying various topics in Mathematics<\/em>, Physics<\/em>, Architecture<\/em>, Sculpture<\/em> and Philosophy<\/em> helped me to increase self-knowledge and unleash my creative potential. I’m an advocate of the mantra, “never stop learning.”<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Regarding the opportunity for learning new tricks, a new video game project still makes my heart beat like a butterfly, even after 30+ years of active coding. – I keep the spirit alive!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Self-education is, I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is.”<\/em> – (Isaac Asimov)<\/span><\/p>\n

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Manners Maketh Man<\/strong><\/p>\n

Video game development is challenging, sore and tough. Doing video game business<\/span> is worse!<\/p>\n

Because of cheap and dirty business tricks that you\u00a0are not familiar with yet, your heart can be easily broken. You may lose self confidence by getting discouraged, no matter how talented you are. Misery plagues creativity! When days turn into nights, melancholy takes over. Then, your talent starts to fade away. At the final phase, you start asking yourself “What have I done to deserve this?”<\/em>, and the more you question your manners the more you lose self confidence. A perfect vicious circle! – Yep,<\/em> I’ve been there. I know what I’m talking about.<\/em><\/p>\n

No worries! It’s not your fault.<\/p>\n

Unlike typical businessmen<\/strong> -underestimating your skills in a hot meeting, while puffing the fume of an expensive cigar right into your eyes- game developers are artists<\/span><\/strong>. I’m afraid, <\/span>raw capitalist tricks work on us, simply because we are fragile<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Here is the cure… Act by the book! Follow the unwritten rules and guidelines of professionalism, and be happy \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n