computer career

[RogueHart]

asked on bbs already

from about age 6 ive always wanted to be a video game programmer. but recently i took the time to seriously think about it and honestly. i already program games. already doing what i wanted. the only thing is i need to make money but video game programming is no longer what i want to shoot for. for many reasons. i dont want to relocate across the country, dont want to rely on a 3rd party company that may go under in a month, you dont need a degree to get a job as a game programmer (ive checked lots of companies and their minimum requirement for a job is a high school diploma and an example of your work), i can already program my own games so theres no reason to spend $60k for a degree.

all of my marketable skills lie in computers so any suggestions as to the careers i should look into?

[digip]

Well, if your good, build somehting like the "Fantasctic Contraption" game, and then get some advertisers on the site. Eventually embedding them into the game, so when people take it and place it on other sites, the ads still generate you business. Those little flash game sites seem to do pretty well. You can just sit home all day and make them or from wherever you want to travel to, and sinces it's all indernet based, you can live anywhere while runnin gyoru business. Also make pay for versions that contain extra levels, so if the game is really good, you can make pay for downloadable versions of the game, and your set. (Easier said than done though, but good luck)

[RogueHart]

Well, if your good, build somehting like the "Fantasctic Contraption" game, and then get some advertisers on the site. Eventually embedding them into the game, so when people take it and place it on other sites, the ads still generate you business. Those little flash game sites seem to do pretty well. You can just sit home all day and make them or from wherever you want to travel to, and sinces it's all indernet based, you can live anywhere while runnin gyoru business. Also make pay for versions that contain extra levels, so if the game is really good, you can make pay for downloadable versions of the game, and your set. (Easier said than done though, but good luck)

i already plan to do that at some point. maybe cash in on this rash of free2play games. but thats in the distant future for now lol. once i start making some worthwhile single player games ill start hosting them for free download. maybe get a few donations from thankful players

[Sparda]

No one really has a career in computing, they just do it as their job.

[Swathe]

No one really has a career in computing, they just do it as their job.

I would like to think I have a career but who knows what will happen I guess. It took me so long to get into IT due to seeral circumstances, but now I'm in I definitely don't want to leave so I kind of relish my job atm. Plus my boss is a pretty big n00b in regards to most things so I can usually do what I want at work without him knowing lol.

[digip]

I would like to think I have a career but who knows what will happen I guess. It took me so long to get into IT due to seeral circumstances, but now I'm in I definitely don't want to leave so I kind of relish my job atm. Plus my boss is a pretty big n00b in regards to most things so I can usually do what I want at work without him knowing lol.

He just read this post and will be calling you shortly...

[RogueHart]

No one really has a career in computing, they just do it as their job.

depends on what your job is

[ret]

No one really has a career in computing, they just do it as their job.

that comment is a bit far fetched. There are many sysadmins who have made that a career.

[Swathe]

He just read this post and will be calling you shortly...

lol he wouldn't even know how to find here...i think....:D

[Rab]

Well, video game programming is notoriously mathematical, which means you need to be pretty good. so I don't see why you would have a problem applying for any regular programming jobs in your chosen language - except that you don't have a degree.

I've been to University, in the UK, and here I wouldn't be able to get a job without my degree - but if you can you're very lucky. Right now, I get the impression you don't have a job, or are just about to finish school - so your priority is getting a job, don't be picky, you need an income. Once you have that, you have all the time in the world to think about what you really want to do.

[VaKo]

that comment is a bit far fetched. There are many sysadmins who have made that a career.

Is it a career or is it getting paid to do things with computers you would probally do anyway?

[enkgok]

Is it a career or is it getting paid to do things with computers you would probally do anyway?

Cheers

Not to sound like a parent. Education is one of best investment someone can do. Maybe in future you want to do art or produce movies. It is a lot harder to switch carriers without a degree. I am professor in Game Design and I have work in the Game Industry for long time. Not as programmer but as an artist.

I don’t want sound like a jerk. I suggest taking another class that deals with computers. Not as programming. Maybe taking an art class that deals programming as an art genre. One most important skill to have is communication and learn how to work in a collaborated projects. If your university has an good art program they will focus on this.

Also, from an art side. New Media art form is getting a big look at in art world. I love it. You can do anything you want. Then you will be your own boss. Also, then we get away from commercial games and you can do anything you want in your games. Maybe you want to something like GFP Bunny (Edurado Kac) or hacking as art like Corey Archangel (his Mario he showed it in Whitney Biennial).

I can list 100’s artists or programmers who do programming as art or vice versus.

Take look at this book. “New Philosophy For New Media by Mark B.N. Hansen. Yes, Philosophy but it is really kewl shit.

[RogueHart]

Cheers

Not to sound like a parent. Education is one of best investment someone can do. Maybe in future you want to do art or produce movies. It is a lot harder to switch carriers without a degree. I am professor in Game Design and I have work in the Game Industry for long time. Not as programmer but as an artist.

I don’t want sound like a jerk. I suggest taking another class that deals with computers. Not as programming. Maybe taking an art class that deals programming as an art genre. One most important skill to have is communication and learn how to work in a collaborated projects. If your university has an good art program they will focus on this.

Also, from an art side. New Media art form is getting a big look at in art world. I love it. You can do anything you want. Then you will be your own boss. Also, then we get away from commercial games and you can do anything you want in your games. Maybe you want to something like GFP Bunny (Edurado Kac) or hacking as art like Corey Archangel (his Mario he showed it in Whitney Biennial).

I can list 100’s artists or programmers who do programming as art or vice versus.

Take look at this book. “New Philosophy For New Media by Mark B.N. Hansen. Yes, Philosophy but it is really kewl shit.

im not turning down an education. just wondering what other careers i should look into. im still programming as i dont do well with art unless i use copyright bases for something like a signature. im highly logical and am more suited for programming or maintenance. ill still program games. i'd still take a class if the employers in other fields would hire me based on a game degree. id love to take the classes just to learn from them. but money is far too big of an issue to specialize so much. id rather work on my own games anyway. storyline, character design, gameplay. id rather control it all than just follow a general guideline for the game. i just want to program games for the fun not the money. any money made will more than likely be donations from appreciative fans.

[MRGRIM]

Computing Career :) You will quickly learn "Same shit, different day"

[geekdba]

Also not to mention in IT, we are normally the first to be made redundant, they look and the situation and say things like "the system runs fine why do we need so many"

[MRGRIM]

Also not to mention in IT, we are normally the first to be made redundant, they look and the situation and say things like "the system runs fine why do we need so many"

Sigh, there is so little IT literacy where I work! I don't abuse them ;) I mean the problem is all the people with power listen to hear-say... last week someone came in and told me they needed to be moved away from our Exchange server to AOL ... after drilling down into why exactly, "someone" in the pub told him AOL is secure ...

Oh well, I advise, then do what I'm told at least I can reclaim some space on our backups.

[Nophix]

Also not to mention in IT, we are normally the first to be made redundant, they look and the situation and say things like "the system runs fine why do we need so many"

SO true! When I started with the current company, there were 5 guys in my dept. Now, we have 3, and will not be getting any more. We have to have 3 minimum, simply for on-call rotation(a week at a time, and have to have 15 minute response time).

It is also very much same thing-different day. My group does primarily end-user support for a sales and customer service team, as well as training and coporate offices. I get tickets every day with the same questions. Keep in mind, we support a large remote-user base over VPN, and this gets fun...

My most famous one... " Why aren't my network drives mapping??"

"Are you connected to the VPN?"

"I can got on MSN."

"That's the internet, how about the little paddlock icon by your clock?"

"It's unlocked"

"Click that, and click connect".

"Hey, I havemy x: drive again!"

"Have a nice day, I'll talk to you tomorrow."

Yes, that is exactly how it usually goes.

[MRGRIM]

"That's the internet, how about the little paddlock icon by your clock?"

"It's unlocked"

"Click that, and click connect".

"Ok Done. BUT WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING?!?!"

Maybe your users are more IT friendly than mine ;) I had a customer once (Keep in mind I supported SME’s... emphasis on small) who would want a document pretty much for every problem they had, the MD hated paying for IT support yet wanted me to spend hours writing page's on possible solutions and resolutions for a blown PSU ;) sometimes I miss consulting

[James0331]

No one really has a career in computing, they just do it as their job.

I would disagree with that. There is a big difference between IT support and Computer Science. In the former, you help people figure out why their mouse won't work (they accidentally kicked out the plug). In the later, you study the fundamental computational theory that dictates the way problems are solved. Tell the guys who develop chips for Intel or create the processing algorithms for the LHC that they don't have real careers.

Either way, you should go to college. I have friends that were in my PhD program that talk about going back. More education = More opportunity.

[thatguyisjames]

ive done IT since i took my computer repair class in freshmen year. ( about 6 years now ) currently working on 2 desktops. ive tryed multiple times to get my foot in the door and start a IT job. thing is more and more i think about it. some of the users are right, Admins are disposable, anyone can set settings, anyone can click icons. what makes admins above is there level of knowledge, thing is once they set up the server, they just need to maintain it. ( 5 to 3, thats omost half out of there job, just cuz they wernt needed)

idk basicly what im geting at is i agree with some of them, IT career is kinda a joke, its just kinda a side job you do.

dont get me wrong IBM and Intel do have careers, its just for the average IT specialist, that is like trying to touch the sky.

so as the time goes by, i still work a dead end job, and fix computers in my spare time.

im thinking of going to collage for automotive diagnostics/repair, still computer based, just cars will always need fixed. so the job security is good.

just something to think about.

[Nophix]

im thinking of going to collage for automotive diagnostics/repair, still computer based, just cars will always need fixed. so the job security is good.

just something to think about.

I will tell you from experience that this is a very bad idea if you want to make a living. I was an ASE certified mechanic, and got toyota, Ford, and VW certified before I even got out of High School. I worked in the industry, not only as a repair technician, but in much higher-level jobs doing performance and engineering. I even worked for the race dept at a very well-known aftermarket parts supplier.

I will tell you now, there is NO money in mechanics. Out of the 40-50k you may make in a year, expect to put about 15k or more back into your tools. Now, keep in mind, you will need a large investment in tools just to get you started. Cheap Craftsmen stuff won't work either. There is a reason pro's use high-price tools. They break less, and if they break, you are without that tool.

I mean, by all means, if it makes you feel good, do it. But it is murder on your back, and most mechanics make less money after 10-20 years than an IT guy does starting out.