[brendan hart]

Hello,
Im Brendan Hart, Im 17 years old and im studying Multimedia and Middleware(jsp/java/databases and internet junk). Im thinking about my future and how I will go at getting and Job with my qualitifications. In my course we will be learning to create java web applications, running user login systems, incorperating security(not sure which), developing web services etc...
I also have awsome knowledge of CSS and HTML, and Enough JavaScript to validate form.

When I finish my schooling I want to get a job as a web programmer. Do you think with the subjects I am covering I will be able to get a job in the gaming industry? Because I think there will be more job in the gaming industry in the future due to the rapidly expanding population of gamers and online games. Although i do think there will be still alot of work In programming regular websites, I think online games will ALWAYS be there.

Anyways please post back soon. Tips/Opinions etc.

[pgo]

With that skillset, I'm sure you could find a job. You're ahead of the game as it is.

But you're only 17. Get a degree first (from a real university - community colleges and vocational/technical schools don't count for anything next to a real university!). Computer science would probably be right up your alley.

[Snowshiro]

As a first tip, I'd suggest humility always creates a better first impression. I've been writing code since 1979 and I wouldn't describe myself as having an "awesome knowledge" of anything. However, I think we can put that down to exuberance.

It's not entirely clear exactly where you're studying or at what level (or even in what country). What qualifications will you come out with at the end of your course? The subjects you're studying will certainly help, but I'd suggest that few really good developers/designers learn everything from school. The majority of their knowledge is self-taught through immersing themselves in a particular area.

As far as the games industry goes, if you're talking about 'real' video games (e.g. the kind of thing you find on a playstation) you'll need at least a solid grounding in C++ before anyone would go near you. In some senses I'd slightly disagree with the previous poster in that university isn't essential (some of the best programmers I know never went), but I'd certainly recommend you go if you can, and it certainly helps you get your foot in the door for your first job.

[Jack000]

I'd advise reflecting on your motivations before you jump in - making games might not be as fun as you imagine.

and as for your first question, I doubt web dev skills would be too helpful unless you're developing a brower-based game, although java might get you a solid foundation on OO programming.

There are many jobs in game development, each requiring vastly different skillsets. You could be a modeller or animator and never touch code - do a little research and see what you want to do.

If you do want to code though, you'll definitely need a degree in CS. Web programming is a lot different from a real software production environment.

- one last thing. don't ever get a job with "game testing", it's one of the worst jobs there is.

[brendan hart]

actually i was thinking more along the lines of world of warcraft styled website management, creating online transactions, game rankings, all the back end coding a site like that would use, working for companies like jagex/ blizzard etc.

Also im aussie, i have some 3d modeling knowledge and some animation knowledge(multimedia course)

A little bit of research to courses in my country led me onto this course...


Bachelor of Information Technology (Computer Science and Software Development)

Course overview
This course provides an understanding of the technology on which systems are built as well as how to develop software systems and applications, and form an environment to acquire skills needed for software development. The Computer Science and Software Development course supports students who wish to master software development. It prepares students for both research and development by providing them with a background of software understanding, software design, programming languages, data structures and databases, operating systems, networks, distributed systems and software engineering. The course is structured so that although computer languages and technology change rapidly, the intellectual material will remain current for a number of years. On completion of the BIT (Computer Science and Software Development) degree, the graduate will be able to work in a wide range of jobs including: object-oriented and procedural programmer; database and web designer and manager; network manager; component integrator; project manager; consultant; system analyst.

Career opportunities
The Bachelor of Computer Science/Software Development will enable you to develop, implement and maintain information systems, databases and computer networks of considerable size and complexity in commercial, industrial or administrative environments. You will also be suited to systems programming, software development, data communications, management, maintenance of computer systems and development of information systems.
The graduate will be able to work as: (for example): Object oriented and procedural programmer, Database and Web designer and manager, Network manager; Component integrator; Project manager; Consultant; System analyst.


In my country Internet/Design/Programming isnt too big, I have been thinking about going overseas for my learning, I know some spanish, so getting into a spanish uni wouldnt be to bad, but from what i have heard (from my spanish friend) they dont offer too many courses in Programming.

[Snowshiro]

Forgive me if this sounds a little condescending, but your ideas seem a little "all over the place" at the moment.

You're an Aussie, but you don't think Australia is the place to study, so out of nowhere you've picked SPAIN!? For no other reason that you know some Spanish? Why not try another English speaking country (USA, UK, Canada) before you start deciding heading off to some foreign university. Added to which Australia has some perfectly decent universities who offer Computer Science and other related courses. You need to do a little more research before making rash decisions and applying to places half way around the world from you.

[brendan hart]

Australia, australia does have some courses, but our technology isnt that great, the only good points would be some of the freelance because alot of yahoos here dont care how there website looks but just that they have one for the advertising perposes.

But in the long run, if i go to a country to study computer sciences(a country big on technology) i got more of a place to start my career, I do not plan on living here in australia when i finish school.

I said spain because my friend is from southern america she says not very good there but Spain might be.

[HB_Pencil]

Originally Posted by pgo

With that skillset, I'm sure you could find a job. You're ahead of the game as it is.

But you're only 17. Get a degree first (from a real university - community colleges and vocational/technical schools don't count for anything next to a real university!). Computer science would probably be right up your alley.

Lol where do you get off saying that? Obviously just a snob. I know loads of designers/programmers/developers that went to community college and they can probably be put up there with some of the best. More than likely put you on your arse aswell

[Maerk]

"But it might be" doesn't sound a very researched idea, speaking spanish doesn't mean someone knows squat about spain unless she has relatives still over there - and will relatives really know the state of technology studies?

I know someone in Australia at the moment studying multimedia, covering web design, 3D design and animation, and have seen some very nice design agencies work done in Australia, so I wouldn't write off your own country before you've even researched what is done there, based off what sounds like a jaded view based on a few companies having shoddy sites (which happens the world over.)

And a uni degree is nice, nothing wrong with saying it. Some employees will jump up and down excitedly about it, others - after a bit of real world experience won't give a toss. I don't have a degree myself but if I'd had a clue much earlier on I probably would have gone for it.

[brendan hart]

I'm not really concerned about multimedia, I dont want to be an animator, 3d modeler, or make videos. I mean i am good at my multimedia class, i pass with flying colors. But my real passion is webdesign and programming, I love doing it (I am doing middleware which covers java jsp etc), the multimedia is just to help me with designing etc.

I know australia has some design firms (i have visited alot myself eg. xyzstudios.com, perksdesignpartners.com, dtdesign.com ...) but we do not really cover web programming in much detail.

this message incomplete(gotta go to class)

[Snowshiro]

I'm sorry Brendan, but you're simply wrong. There are a number of excellent universities in Australia who offer Computer Science courses. Australia is a first-world country with a modern infrastructure and a similar level of technology as pretty much anywhere else in the developed world. I'm unsure why you think Spain is likely to be any better. I'd recommend getting along to your local bookstore/library and getting some information on university courses in your own country before you get any big ideas about going abroad.

Studying in a foreign country is often *very* expensive, especially for a full time undergraduate degree. You would have to pay all your fees and support yourself for 3 or 4 years. You'll receive no financial support unless you are extremely gifted and qualify for some kind of scholarship programme (and these are usually reserved for one year exchange students).

[Blue Ire]

Originally Posted by HB_Pencil

Lol where do you get off saying that? Obviously just a snob. I know loads of designers/programmers/developers that went to community college and they can probably be put up there with some of the best. More than likely put you on your arse aswell

I'd hire a highscool graduate with no college experience before someone who went to community college or vocational school. Putting community college on your CV is like saying "Hi, I'd like to get coffee for your secretary!".

Studying abroad is a great idea, and I highly recommend it.

[Snowshiro]

Originally Posted by Blue Ire

I'd hire a highscool graduate with no college experience before someone who went to community college or vocational school.

Fortunately most employers don't share your petty prejudices. I don't interview any more, but when I did, I preferred to consider candidates on their individual merits, rather than taking some blinkered view that everyone who follows a certain education route must, by default, be useless.

One of the finest designers I've ever recruited (he went on be be an Art Director for a well known advertising agency) started out life in a vocational college.

[Blue Ire]

Originally Posted by Snowshiro

Fortunately most employers don't share your petty prejudices. I don't interview any more, but when I did, I preferred to consider candidates on their individual merits, rather than taking some blinkered view that everyone who follows a certain education route must, by default, be useless.

Most is a pretty broad term there champ, nice of you to speak on behalf of most employers. You have a very topical view of what I said; but then again if you thought about the words you'd have less of an argument.

[Snowshiro]

Fine, I will amend my previous statement: In my experience most employers don't share your petty prejudices

There's not much to think about in the phrase 'Putting community college on your CV is like saying "Hi, I'd like to get coffee for your secretary!" ' But then again, maybe having an open mind about people's potential makes it hard to understand the lofty elitism of those who think they're something special just because they went to university.

Oh, and if you have nothing better to say, cut the patronizing "champ" bullshit. I don't appreciate it.

[Blue Ire]

Originally Posted by Snowshiro

Fine, I will amend my previous statement: In my experience most employers don't share your petty prejudices

There's not much to think about in the phrase 'Putting community college on your CV is like saying "Hi, I'd like to get coffee for your secretary!" ' But then again, maybe having an open mind about people's potential makes it hard to understand the lofty elitism of those who think they're something special just because they went to university.

Oh, and if you have nothing better to say, cut the patronizing "champ" bullshit. I don't appreciate it.

For clarification, I attended 3 universities and an art school, none of which were of any value to my education, nor the least bit intellectually stimulating. I never graduated from any of them, I'm just nearing the end of paying back the nearly 120,000 in debt I accrued during that time. For me, higher education was useless.

Higher education is very important, and in my experience 99% of the population do not have the ability to ever make anything out of themselves without it - granted some professions do require a degree. For those professions that do not, a community college shows a lack of motivation to attend a decent school with adequate training, and a lack of talent to make it on their own. That's how I see it based on my experience.

[Maerk]

Originally Posted by brendan hart

I'm not really concerned about multimedia, I dont want to be an animator, 3d modeler, or make videos. I mean i am good at my multimedia class, i pass with flying colors. But my real passion is webdesign and programming, I love doing it (I am doing middleware which covers java jsp etc), the multimedia is just to help me with designing etc.

I know australia has some design firms (i have visited alot myself eg. xyzstudios.com, perksdesignpartners.com, dtdesign.com ...) but we do not really cover web programming in much detail.

this message incomplete(gotta go to class)

I wasn't trying to sell you those things, though your initial posts were very scattershot interests. My point simply was that there's obviously a lot of creativity and places to study over there, don't dismiss without researching surely.

Web development must exist as web design can't happen without the backend :P

[SMILEdotCROSS]

Hi,

brendan hart, if you have the money or the scholorship go study where ever you want, you can only learn things in life by doing them, some people study abroad and hate it, have no money and live on baked beans, some people love it, make good friends, get a good time at uni ... and live on baked beans.

Either way, if you want to do something, do it. You will regret it later if you don't, but before you decide to study abroad really have a look around where you currently live and if you are absolutly sure that you don't like any of the places there then look into studying abroad.

p.s. also you have to think about the language barrier, if you study in spain expect to speak spanish.

[freelancr]

Not sure what it is like in Australia, but usually people wanting to be programmers take Maths and Physics in school, and do Computer Science at University for 3 years to get a degree. If you want to work in the games industry, there are several different jobs that make up a team to make the game, which decide what you need to know.

Programmers
- Strong skills in C and C++

Mappers
- Skills using map editors, do some research about popular formats and editors, make a few maps for some games, etc.

Modelers
- Learn 3D studio max/blender to create people, objects, weapons, etc

Animators
- Same as modelers really

Skinners
- Talent & Photoshop

2D/3D Artists
- Talent & Photoshop

It is very hard to get into the industry, and you have to be prepared to teach yourself what you need to know.

[brendan hart]

I am very interested in becoming web service developer.
I am enjoying learning at school, but my teacher hasnt taught us the LINGO for what we are doing, so it is hard for me to search for online tuts, + I dont have internet so I cant spend hrs looking for them.

If anyone has some great books i should read, that would be good because, my school library hasnt got much in the way of new stuff, most of the books i have seen work with windows 95-NT(HAHA).