i want to make games: where's the (start) button? - cgbc 2013 presentation by josh caratelli

I want to make games! Where’s the

button?@josh_caratelli

yoshicarats@hotmail.com

• Josh Caratelli• 16, High School Student

• Been lucky enough to have worked in and been around the games industry:

Who am I?

Credited – Additional Art

Why am I telling you this?

Because I’m still learning

Googled “How do I get into

the games industry?” – Way

too many times

From the studios I’ve visited and the experiences I’ve had:

A lot of developers have mentioned tips and advice that I didn’t come across on Google. I’m hear to share that

• Work Experience

• Nos Conquer Una (Work with a Team)

• Find your Discipline (3D Modelling, Gameplay Programming, Sound Design)

• Working on your first game (scope, ‘feature creep’)

• Networking – Conferences: GCAP, IGDAM , PAX AUS, FREEPLAY

• Online Presence (LinkedIn, Social Media)

• Great resource sites

• Combining School Work and Gamedev

Tips ‘n Tricks Industry Folk have shared with me:

*NO DLC

Work ExperienceGreat experiences if you can get some

• Not Guaranteed • In all fairness, they don’t need you

• If they can accommodate – AWESOME!

• Rare if you apply from the ‘outside’• Get to know them first: IGDAM, GCAP, Freeplay

• Be persistent, try and try again

• Personal Example – Big Ant Studios

Work Experience

Nos Conquer UnaConquer Together! Work with a team

• Games are in nature collaborative projects• Studios can range from 2 – 1000+ employees

• Just because you’re an artist doesn’t mean you don’t understand some basics of programming and vice versa

• So why wouldn’t you start working as a team now?

Work as Team

Ubisoft Example

• Where does it say teamwork here?

SplashDamage Example

Find your Discipline3D Modelling? Gameplay Programing? Sound Design?

“Well which one makes you happier when you complete something? Level Design or Gameplay Programming?”

- Chris Avellone , Creative Director & Co-Founder at Obsidian Entertainment

• If you have an idea and are choosing between a few, refer to Chris’ quote.

If not:• Try everything first, start with the ones that interest you

When you’ve found it:• Learn the foundations first i.e. learn Art Theory, not just a

3D or 2D Package – Adam Briggs

Remember:• Just because you want to working with programming or Art

doesn’t mean you ignore the rest. It’s a Team Effort!

Find your Discipline

Any Questions so far?No such thing as a stupid question :)

Yes, the answer to life is 42

Your First Game‘Feature Creep’, Scope and Finishing

• Start Now! Literally nothing stopping you• Make it small, very, very small. Don’t ‘feature creep’• i.e. Madden built up over 25 Editions, COD is the same

• Don’t make your dream game first, you have 10 bad ones in you to make.

• Finish and release your game it’s a skill – I’m working on this for my personal project

• An okay released game will always be better than the ‘best’ game, which is never released.

Your First Game

Scope - Good

Feature Creep - Bad

Making FriendsNetworking and conferences/meet-ups available to you

• Great way to meet like minded people

• Good way to get some positive mutual benefits for both parties “Hey you’re an artist, I’m a programmer lets make a game!”

Where can I network?• Here! At CGBC• Game Connect Asia Pacific (Conference)• International Game Developers Association Melbourne

(IGDAM)• Online – Forums, LinkedIn

Networking

Online PresenceLinkedIn, Twitter and more

• Be respectful

Online Presence

“If you have stuff online which you don’t want others to see, make sure what you want them to see is really easy to find”

- Mike Acton, Engine Director at Insomniac Games

Resource SitesGamedev Related Sites

Woman In Development (Games and Everything Tech)

Resource Sites

Two Birds One StoneCombining School Work and GameDev

• One way you can very easily build up skills is by constantly practicing them.

• We’re at school most of the time, why can’t we incorporate both?

• Generally the extra work brings favourable grades and a ‘wow’ factor

• More importantly it gives you a chance to practice your skills AND get them critiqued by your peers

School Work and GameDev

• Animation – Drink Driving Ad

Personal Example #1

• Animation – Drink Driving Ad

Personal Example #1

• Game – Interactive Quiz Starring Cardboard Chuck Norris

Personal Example #2

• Game – Interactive Quiz Starring Cardboard Chuck Norris

Personal Example #2

Any Questions?No such thing as a stupid question :)

Yes, the answer to life is 42

Need to contact me?

Come talk to me!

Or

@josh_caratelliyoshicarats@hotmail.com

Thanks!