Gaming companies and positions

Being an aspiring digital artist and animator, the realization has come quickly that the world of an artist for gaming companies is a competitive one. People are hired, if better comes in, then they are laid-off.

Even now, it seems there are so many of my kind that finding a job to look into with my talents is rare as well...

Any programmers out there thinking about starting a gaming company? Or anyone out there have any good contacts?

Just a suggestion..... i'm fearful for my future.... O.o

-Dunlavy

Take a look at this little project. Was started as an indie project, never got completed but about half the team ended up being hired by developers. The best you can do is have a big portfolio of professional work and get as much exposure as you can, mods, indie projects etc.

http://www.thegameinitiative.com/seattle/
check this out

crap, posted then read the date.

my apologies.

No problems, atleast you tried..... this is going to be hard.... I need to learn modeling better....

I've visited these offices. Nice place to work, if you can get it.

The process, as I understand it, is to get a day job to pay the bills. One of the bills should be something like Unreal Tournament, for which you can make your own maps, bots, skins, weapons, vehicles, etc. Upload to net, get feedback from players, tweak map, repeat. This gives you experience not only with the tools, but with actual players. Should give you a leg up over the competition.

If shooters aren't your style, there are other options, like making an Ultima-style game with Exult. http://exult.sourceforge.net/

Bitman, that only applies if you want to be a level designer. Dunlavy said he's an artist/animator, in which case he needs to learn both 3DMax and Maya like the back of his hand, and then have a wide-ranging portfolio of digital work.

What city are you in, Dunlavy?