Programming?

[Italy]

I was wondering if anyone knew of ways to get into Game Development? I plan on going to college for a degree in Comp. Sci. Now, I know I should be proficient in C++, and have basic knowledge in OpenGL.

Anything else I should know about? Or perhaps some contacts within the business I could get intouch with for some pointers? Or maybe even an internship after/during college?

[Eliptyk]

Check out gamejobs.com. They have lots of listings that might help you if you're looking for an internship. Or simply Google what you're looking for! :)

[Italy]

Thanks!

[Eliptyk]

No prob! :)

[H2O Snake]

I say good luck to you...development and especially game development is the most saturated job in IT as it the hottest but saturated primarily due to outsourcing.

I started going that route and switched to Network Security since thats the most needed job in IT right now. And it cant be outsourced outside the country :)

and yes Eliptyk is correct...gamejobs.com is a good website for attempting to break into the industry.

[Italy]

Cool, but actually I'm going for a specific in programming that seems to be pretty welcomed in the market right now: AI programming. I've been scoping out and there are aquite a few companies looking for programmers in specializations, such as Bungie, Obsidian, Turbine, Ubisoft, and some others that I forgot...

Anyways, I'm going for this because I figure, why not do the one thing I love to do in this world: play video games for a living(or technically create them, then go home and play them).

[H2O Snake]

Oh yes AI is one of the best specialties you can gave because its extremely complex. Both AI and Engine Developer I say is the best.

[Eliptyk]

Good luck with your search, Ben. Personally, if I wanted to get a job in the gaming industry, I'd want to be a project manager or something. The technicalities of game programming would escape me (darn my stoopid brain for hating math...)

[Italy]

I've researched lead positions as well, and it seems that you have to work your way up... so naturally I picked the one that sounded most ineteresting to me, and will work up from there. I'm hoping to one-day work at either Bungie or Ubisoft (and if they haven't finished it) on one of the second two games on the Assassin's Creed trilogy.

[Arbee H2O]

Yes, game development can be very much like the entertainment industry in a sense that the easiest way in is to "know somebody". Afterall most programmers ideal job is to be a game programmer, so you have tons, and tons of competition.

My advice to you would be to learn every programming language you can. You never know what direction things may go, and what language may bring something new that game developers will jump all over. The more you know, the more you have to offer. I would also make sure you are continually keeping the best portfolio you have. Every game position I have seen requires one, and if not a good portfolio will always set you apart from the rest of the competition. That being said, it is highly unlikely you will go straight into a major pc/console development team and will most likely spend your first few years doing any programming jobs you can from mobile games, flash-based games and maybe small studios. Make sure you are always keeping a portfolio of your best work so that when the time comes you can impress.

Good luck!

[SystemEncephale]

Just keep in mind that a job that is in high demand now, won't be by the time you graduate. Reason being is because everyone ends up going to college for the job that is in high demand, and once they all get out, the graduates out weigh the jobs. But also, don't go to a broad field, you make less money, as I believe you or someone stated above, go to a specific field.

A high degree in math should help you with game design, knowing advanced math is mandatory in that field.

[H2O Sarge]

Game Development specifically programming is one of the most difficult career's to get into. You will most likely want to start out making mods and put a nice demo reel together of all the different mods you have worked on. You will also probably want to try and make as many contacts as you can within the game development industry if you want any kind of real shot at getting a game programming job.
----Double Post Merged----
Yes, game development can be very much like the entertainment industry in a sense that the easiest way in is to "know somebody". Afterall most programmers ideal job is to be a game programmer, so you have tons, and tons of competition.

My advice to you would be to learn every programming language you can. You never know what direction things may go, and what language may bring something new that game developers will jump all over. The more you know, the more you have to offer. I would also make sure you are continually keeping the best portfolio you have. Every game position I have seen requires one, and if not a good portfolio will always set you apart from the rest of the competition. That being said, it is highly unlikely you will go straight into a major pc/console development team and will most likely spend your first few years doing any programming jobs you can from mobile games, flash-based games and maybe small studios. Make sure you are always keeping a portfolio of your best work so that when the time comes you can impress.

Good luck!

Just learn C++ and C# as well as scripting languages like Lua and Python. You will also want to become familiar with tools like 3D studio Max and if you want ot get into graphics programming then you will want to learn Direct X 9.0c or 10 and Open GL.