Editor's note: Chris is a man with a dream, even if that dream clashes with the harsh reality of adulthood: He wants to be a game designer. Find out how he's going to make that happen. -Brett
I can easily pinpoint the exact moment I knew what career path I wanted to pursue.
I was 10. My friend Matt and I sat in his parents' entertainment room, snacking on Doritos and chasing them with Barq's Root Beer. Greasy controllers covered in nacho cheese flavoring rested in our hands, our eyes fixated on the television set. We were playing Skitchin' for the Sega Genesis.
Sometime around 2 a.m., Matt and I held a conversation involving video games.
"I wish when I got older I could play video games all day!" I exclaimed. My excitement made the sentence sound like one word.
"There are jobs where people do play video games -- as testers," Matt replied.
And that was that. I made up my mind roughly two hours into a new day, as I stared into the cathode tube and my hands mindlessly shoved food and drink down my gullet: I would become a video game tester.
Years later, reality kicked in, and my dream of playing video games for pay evaporated. Game testing doesn't earn you enough money to support a family, I realized. Luckily, plenty of money can be found in game development, so I refocused my dreams there. I would become a video game designer.
This is the path I travel today.
No day passes without me writing about, talking about, playing, watching, or designing games. In fact, just recently my friend Ed suggested a game idea to me. It involves insects, scientists, and mechs. Instantly my mind conjured a game in playable form, then began decontructing the parts of it into several manageable, bite-sized pieces. We've since started to turn that idea into reality.
What we know is this: The level designs need to be varied -- although we haven't decided whether the game will be 2D or 3D yet. Ed, a sculptor, will sculpt the enemy models. He's also come up with a name that I like. It describes the game perfectly and is nearly as briliant as "Snakes on a Plane." I would tell you the name, but I hope to one day make this game, and I'd be disappointed if anyone stole Ed's idea.
Making the decision to pursue game design as a career is a frightening one, to be sure. So many underdeveloped, completely garbage games exist in the marketplace, and I'd hate to add to that ever-growing list.
Still, I'm determined to use my enthusiasm for games to develop quality products and show the game industry what I'm capable of making.
Now, I'm sitting in my children's playroom, filling out scholarship applications and struggling to remember proper essay techniques. I'm also snacking on store-brand tortilla chips, chasing them with tap water. My hands are covered in who-knows-what from cleaning up after kids. My eyes are glued to the computer screen, but I'm longing to break away and play some video games.
At about 10:30 p.m., my wife and I held a conversation involving reality.
"I'm nearly done filling out these applications," I said groggily. I waited for her response, but she was already asleep, tuckered out from raising our three kids all day. My youngest rested in her arms.
I turned back to the computer screen, opened up the Article Editor on Bitmob and began typing -- typing about something I love to discuss and hope to take a part in the creation of: video games.
And that was that.
You can follow me on Twitter if you'd like: @CosmoRoss. I occassionally write for the superb Cerebral Pop, and I try to contribute to Bitmob as much as possible. I'm married and have three kids.
It's a great dream to have, but a difficult one to realise.
I'm torn between seeking a career as some kind of writer and throwing my hat into the game design ring. Unfortunately, both are risky and terrifying.
To do it while raising a family must be on another level of scary. Good luck with those applications.
Indeed, breaking into the games industry is an incredibly difficult task - as I've come to find out over the past several months. I had a similar revelation one day when I was playing Nintendo years ago, but that led me to programming instead. Both paths are equally important, and careers in both paths are extremely competitive and require so much work just to get an interview - nevermind the actual job.
Fortunately, we live in an area of the country that is booming with development studios and employers seeking talented designers/developers with a real passion for their craft. I've found that, if you can demonstrate that burning passion (and, yeah, in most cases a degree) you have a good chance of finally landing that dream job.
I hope you follow your dream man. I really do. I know exactly what it is like. When I was about 6 my father and my cousin pulled out the old VHS camera and made our own Indiana Jones movie. It didn't hit me until a year later when I was sitting in church that I wanted to do that everyday. And that was that.
I probably made 20 or more little movies over the next 20 years (I am now 26) but as I got older it became harder and harder to keep it up. My friends were all moving on and couldn't help with the fims anymore. I couldn't find actors. I was running out of money, etc. I started playing games more and more to ease the emptiness that not making a movie can create when, again, it hit me. Video Games are the new movies. They can do anything a feature film can and then some.
It has got to be easier to get into compared to Hollywood, and there are so many place to start. Problem is, I couldn't program a VCR let alone a full game. Plus the lack of funds to go to school and learn how to actually program a game is a big road block. I hope one day I can fufill these dreams, just like you. And hey, maybe in a few years I'll see ya at E3 showing off your awesome new game with a title so badass it makes Valve blush.
@ Ernie: You're living the dream! I can't wait to see your final product, by the way.
@ Ed Grabowski: You'd be surprised how much money the government is willing to give you to go to school. As it stands, I don't have to pay much money. And like I mentioned, I'm applying for scholarships, which, if I get any, will take care of the rest.
Programming games is only one part of a game design degree. I'm terrible at programming, but the courses I'm taking are focusing on level design and story.
Don't give up! If you want any more info on going to school for a degree in game design, email me. The lady I'm talking to is extremely helpful and she would be able to tell you exactly how much money you'll need.
Email me here: jcosmocohen [at] gmail [dot] com.
Follow your dreams as I know I try every day ...
Interesting article.. I find myself in a similar position. I recently graduated from college with a degree in Psychology. I am trying to decide what to do now (I always planned on going to grad school). Growing up, everyone always told me to think about what it is I loved to do, and then find a way to do that for a living. Well, what I love to do is play games, but its more than that. I love everything about them. I cannot think of a more fulfilling career than one in game design. I haven't reached the point of actually applying yet, I am trying to do a little more research before I jump in head first. Please keep us updated on how things are going for you, it would be nice to know what I am possibly getting myself into!
@Chris: As someone who's currently at school for game design, I wish you the best! It's a competitive industry we're all trying to get into, but I can tell that you've got the heart and the passion to do it!
@Andrew: I'm sure that some game company wants your psychology experience to help them design an addictive game ;)
This was a really touching read. That last bit was awesome - especially you not knowing what was on your hands!
It reminds me of the story I heard of JK Rowling. Supposedly, she wrote the first Harry Potter book while on Social Assistance, and had to struggle for a few more years before getting it published, and even then Harry Potter took a couple years to take off.
So like everyone else said, NEVER GIVE UP!!!!! :)