Games Development

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Games Development

• Code/Programming

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Who Am I?

• Brad Clancy
• Physics Programmer, Pandemic Studios
• Havok
• Destroy All Humans
• Ex-Qantm Student (Diploma 2002)
• Bachelor of Engineering, UTS
• Always wanted to Develop Games
• My opinions are my opinions and not those of
  Pandemic Studios or QANTM

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The Industry Were it is at

• Xbox, PS2, Game Cube, PC
• Manly Highly Specialised Staff
• Million Dollar Budgets
• Growing teams (30-100 people)
• Long Project Cycles (2 years )

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The Industry Were it is going

• Xenon, PS3, Revolution, Multi-processor PCs
• Small Core of Highly Specialised Staff
• Outsourcing of Monkey Work
• Multi-Multi-Million Dollar budgets
• Growing teams (100-200 people)
• Longer Project Cycles (3 years )

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The Industry Facts And Fiction

• Games is different to other industries
• Its 5 years behind the corporate world!
• Games is all about games
• If I make a really cool game, Ill make millions
• More games fail than succeed
• More importantly, why!
• Industry in Transition

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How to become a programmer?

• Education
• Experience
• Niche Vs General Knowledge
• Engineering Vs Programming
• Get Involved in The Industry (IGDA)

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Education

• Uni Vs Targeted Course
• IT, Computer Science, Software Engineering
  (Internships)
• Game Development (more than just code)

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Experience

• Technical Skills
• Game play / User Interface
• AI
• Graphics
• Physics
• Tools
• Non-Technical
• Communication
• Management
• People
• Team Work
• Freaks Vs The Rest of Us

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Niche Vs General Knowledge

• What is the current scenario?
• What does the industry need?
• Which Is Better? Differentiate Yourself!
• Monkey Work?

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Engineering Vs Programming

• The Similarities
• Both can be artistic
• Job still needs to get done.
• The Difference
• Programming art is code
• Programming is organised chaos
• Engineering art is design and architecture
• Engineering is management and structure (of the
  chaos)
• Why is it important?
• Time and Money

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Conclusion

• Degree with best range of courses
• Learn as much as you can, get good at what you
  enjoy
• It is a balance. Get as technical as you can, but
  dont forget Game Development is business.
  Propeller heads can only get so far.
• My opinions, time to make up your own minds

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Questions