minkoff getting noticed-gdc_final

Getting Noticed

Why you need a portfolio site and how to make one

“I’ve sent out hundreds of resumes, but I never get any responses.”

“I want to make games”

Networking

Online Portfolio

Who the Heck is this guy?

The easier you make it for someone to see your work, the more likely you are to get hired.

Why you need a portfolio site

Things to avoid

• Printed portfolios

• Physical Media

Making a portfolio site will also make you a better developer

What do you want to do?

Careers

• Designer• Animator• Game Asset Artist• Sound Designer• Writer• Programmer• Concept Artist

Careers Specialization

• Programmer– Gameplay Programmer– Physics Programmer– Rendering Programmer– AI Programmer– Tools Programmer– Networking

Programmer

• Game Asset Artist– Environment Modeler– Texture Artist– Character Artist– Effects Artist– Foreground Modeler– Lighting Artist– Dynamics Artist

If you try to get GOOD at EVERYTHING, you’ll never get GREAT at ANYTHING.

Blockhead, Dingbat, Dumbbell

Choose your genre

Uncharted 2 ≠

“simplify as much as possible but no further.”

What to put on your site

Make a game!

• Designers - Buy a game with an editor and start making levels.

• Programmers - Make a tech demo or utility.

• Artists and Animators – Draw concept art, make models, textures, etc.

• Sound Designers - Compose music, re-foley an existing game.

• Writers - Write scripts.

Demoscene

Make a game!

• Designers - Buy a game with an editor and start making levels.

• Programmers - Make a tech demo or utility.

• Artists and Animators – Draw concept art, make models, textures, etc.

• Sound Designers - Compose music, re-foley an existing game.

• Writers - Write scripts.

Collaborate!

You MUST make game content if you want to be hired to make a game

Time to make your site(Thank god!)

http://wordpress.org/hosting/

Fleshing out your site

“peeonmyface”

Rules

Make your site look normal

No Flash!

Make your content quick-loading

No executables or game levels unless accompanied by screenshots and videos.

video2zero.com

Hardness scale

Display your content clearly

Site Map

• Home• Professional Work / Gallery; Recent Work• Personal Work / Gallery; Older Work• Educational Work (Optional)• Bio• Resume• Contact• News

Home

Professional Work

Personal Work

Personal Work

Educational Work

Bio

Resume

Contact Info

My Cell?! That’s CRAZY!!!11!1

News

How to get your site seen

• Submit to recruiters and job postings• LinkedIn• Community• Network

LinkedIn

Get Active in The Community

Gameartisans.orgPolycount.netZbrushcentral.comConceptart.orgIndiegamer.comTigsource.comBeyondunreal.comDeviantart.com

Talk to this guy!

Conclusion• Figure out what you want to do.• Specialize. • Make a game or at least make game-related content. • Make sure that content is in the genre of the positions you want

to apply for. • Make your site easy to maintain and navigate by using software

and hosting options like wordpress and youtube. • Put ONLY your best work on your site. • Any executable or downloadable level should be accompanied by

screenshots and video. • Put your work in context. • Get your site seen.

jacobminkoff.com

THANK YOU!!!

THANK YOU!!!THANK YOU!!!

THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!

THANK YOU!!!

THANK YOU!!!

THANK YOU!!!

THANK YOU!!!

THANK YOU!!!

THANK YOU!!!

THANK YOU!!!

THANK YOU!!!

THANK YOU!!!

Q & A• Give me your queries, your quandaries, your

confusing conundrums yearning to be answered.

We’re Hiring!

jobs@naughtydog.com