What to do
Help making a decision
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gamer2
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Help making a decision
OK for the longest time, I have been interested in a career in game design. But recent events have got me interested in Film. I like to make games but film seems more....interesting.
What to do
What to do
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Metallica Man X
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heck, I've got 3 jobs, lol, so why can't somebody have 2 careers?
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warmachine
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I'll help you out a little here.
Do you like working [read: coding] for eighty hours a week? How about only seeing your family maybe once a week, even if they live a few miles away? Having more deadlines and responsibilities than you know what to do with? Oh, and not getting paid for months at a time.
If you don't like any of those prospects, then don't get into game design. I know guys that worked back in the SNES days, and it wasn't as bad then, but now? Game design is nothing like what "colleges" make it out to be on television. There is no "tightening up the graphics on level three," nor is there a boss in the world that "needs another video game designed when you're done with this one." I know I sound harsh, but this is the truth; designing video games is frakkin' hard and probably the most stressful career in the world (outside of active combat in the military), but the payoff can be sweet (*cough*gearsofwar*cough*).
As for film, it isn't a walk in the park either, but is arguably less stressful and probably more fun to work with. There are, however, just as many facets to learn and work with in film as there are in game design and equally as many pitfalls, just on a different scale. Everything from working with actual film to direction techniques to lighting and sound. Just like with game design, you essentially create an story, build an environment, add characters and bring it to life, only you work with real people (which are not always as forgiving as 3D models
). Just as with Gears, the film-making experience can be very rewarding and captivating. For example, some time ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Nick Spano (Donny, of Even Stevens fame) who, at the time, was working alongside a few other lesser-known directors on something fairly groundbreaking: an independent film shot completely in digital media. While I can't promise that you will be involved in something so avant-garde (at least it was at the time), I can just about promise that you will more than likely have a lot more fun in film.
Not that I'm a film fanboy, 'cause I'm not, but game design is a long and arduous task; so are making movies (real movies, not home movies). In light of all this, I do not want to dissuade you from game design if that is what you feel called to do; it's hard, but if you're willing to put up with a lot of crap, then it can be rewarding and fun.
Officially, I suggest film-making, as you can release your creative talent over a wider field (direction, writing, FX, etc.) and would be able to really get into the art, whereas with games, you just code (unless you develop the story or do art, otherwise, you're pretty much a programmer).
Do you like working [read: coding] for eighty hours a week? How about only seeing your family maybe once a week, even if they live a few miles away? Having more deadlines and responsibilities than you know what to do with? Oh, and not getting paid for months at a time.
If you don't like any of those prospects, then don't get into game design. I know guys that worked back in the SNES days, and it wasn't as bad then, but now? Game design is nothing like what "colleges" make it out to be on television. There is no "tightening up the graphics on level three," nor is there a boss in the world that "needs another video game designed when you're done with this one." I know I sound harsh, but this is the truth; designing video games is frakkin' hard and probably the most stressful career in the world (outside of active combat in the military), but the payoff can be sweet (*cough*gearsofwar*cough*).
As for film, it isn't a walk in the park either, but is arguably less stressful and probably more fun to work with. There are, however, just as many facets to learn and work with in film as there are in game design and equally as many pitfalls, just on a different scale. Everything from working with actual film to direction techniques to lighting and sound. Just like with game design, you essentially create an story, build an environment, add characters and bring it to life, only you work with real people (which are not always as forgiving as 3D models
). Just as with Gears, the film-making experience can be very rewarding and captivating. For example, some time ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Nick Spano (Donny, of Even Stevens fame) who, at the time, was working alongside a few other lesser-known directors on something fairly groundbreaking: an independent film shot completely in digital media. While I can't promise that you will be involved in something so avant-garde (at least it was at the time), I can just about promise that you will more than likely have a lot more fun in film.Not that I'm a film fanboy, 'cause I'm not, but game design is a long and arduous task; so are making movies (real movies, not home movies). In light of all this, I do not want to dissuade you from game design if that is what you feel called to do; it's hard, but if you're willing to put up with a lot of crap, then it can be rewarding and fun.
Officially, I suggest film-making, as you can release your creative talent over a wider field (direction, writing, FX, etc.) and would be able to really get into the art, whereas with games, you just code (unless you develop the story or do art, otherwise, you're pretty much a programmer).
NUCLEAR