22 replies to this topic

[davidthefat]

Honestly How Realistic is It to have a stable job as a programmer? As a game programmer... Isnt it usually more like a free lance job? after the project, unless you were like the lead developer, you usually get laid off?? Aware me please..

and for example, a Fresh out of college student with a masters degree... I know experience is a huge part of it...

[BlaineSch]

It seems stable here. Yes more of the work I do now is freelance. I have a Internship as a programmer right now. They have 2 other full time programmers. I know the owner/creator of this forum has a full time programming job and does well for himself.

Game programmers. I am certain that if you work for a big sized company like Activision, Microsoft, Blizzard, or other game places that continually make games then you should be fine because they have enough money to keep having projects.

Google is hiring almost all the time and opening new locations here and there as well. You can even find almost any place that may need somebody to run their website. You may even try and start your own business. Its up too you.

[WingedPanther]

The answer also depends on the type of programming. Game programming is a rather volatile field. Working as a data cruncher for a bank is likely to be more stable. Maintaining old COBOL code, for example, can keep you employed for years. Working with a hospital on electronic records, working on support systems for other industries, these are all the kinds of jobs that can keep you employed for life. Look at what industries are stable, and ask yourself how a programmer could help them out. You could even start your own company.

[Mathematix]

BlaineSch said:

It seems stable here. Yes more of the work I do now is freelance. I have a Internship as a programmer right now. They have 2 other full time programmers. I know the owner/creator of this forum has a full time programming job and does well for himself.

Game programmers. I am certain that if you work for a big sized company like Activision, Microsoft, Blizzard, or other game places that continually make games then you should be fine because they have enough money to keep having projects.

Google is hiring almost all the time and opening new locations here and there as well. You can even find almost any place that may need somebody to run their website. You may even try and start your own business. Its up too you.

Regarding the games industry, this is generally true. I've survived several waves of redundancies with artists and QA being released first, then designers.

If you are good at it you will be safe in a large, well-established studio. I gather that is the same for all other industries as well, though..

[outsid3r]

Honestly, in my opinion i think that it's all about the programming skills you acquired, if you're good you will have no problem in getting a job. The more you want to advance in programming the better you will need to be, programming games require strong mathematical skills and previous experience in programming. There are really many fields you can get into.

[Mathematix]

outsid3r said:

... programming games require strong mathematical skills and previous experience in programming. There are really many fields you can get into.

I got into games after only four months of non-games programming, which isn't considered lengthy experience.

Secondly, to become a games programmer you have to be able to write games! There are people with both strong mathematical and previous programming experience who cannot write games to save their lives. This is an essential skill.

[davidthefat]

Mathematix said:

I got into games after only four months of non-games programming, which isn't considered lengthy experience.

Secondly, to become a games programmer you have to be able to write games! There are people with both strong mathematical and previous programming experience who cannot write games to save their lives. This is an essential skill.

Dont like 3 people on the team work on the physics, another 3 work on light system and ect. ect.?? then another 3 puts all together??

[Mathematix]

davidthefat said:

Dont like 3 people on the team work on the physics, another 3 work on light system and ect. ect.?? then another 3 puts all together??

Well, no project has a set number of people working on any aspect of the game engine. You will find that very large game project may have specialists in physics or graphics, but on smaller games projects you may have programmers who can handle both - it's all about the size and sophistication of the game development project.

To get into the game industry you should show that you can program an entire game engine to some level in the form of a demo.

[davidthefat]

Mathematix said:

Well, no project has a set number of people working on any aspect of the game engine. You will find that very large game project may have specialists in physics or graphics, but on smaller games projects you may have programmers who can handle both - it's all about the size and sophistication of the game development project.

To get into the game industry you should show that you can program an entire game engine to some level in the form of a demo.

I was thinking, the advancements of the technology like PS3 and Xbox360 and multi core stuff, isnt it more complicated than like 5 years ago? And lets say 10 years from now, who knows what can happen

[WingedPanther]

It all depends on the game. There are new games that sell well with extremely small staff (2 people sometimes).

[jwxie518]

Although I am just a freshman in college, I can tell you the IT field is huge and is going to be one of the most amazing field because of the amount of infinite expansion and opportunity. Programmer is not just those who create games, webiste and computer. Manufacturer needs programmers to create programmer for their assmebily lines, they need program to work on their programs.

It's way too large to think. It's also depending on you, how much do you want to put into this field. Being a programmer does not mean you have to be the one that sits in office 8 hours a day. I always think it's better to take computer engineering so you could get both side and work on various of things. I like to work with model and also be part of the programming.