I need some serious guidance. Critical point in my life! - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

I need some serious guidance. Critical point in my life!

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
creedseebas
Oct 13, 2008 21:14:31 I'm finishing my bachelor's degree and pursuing a Master's degree in Digital Media, where i will learn many forms of digital media stuff, including digital graphics. I aspire to work as a character designer for a gaming company such as wizards or capcom (to name a couple of examples). I have exceptional drawing skills and my writing (and story-telling) is pretty good too.

Here is my issue. I want to know what exactly i should be doing right now to best place me in a position where i am well on my way to landing a job in a company such as these in about two years. What can i be doing now?

Who can i contact to get some good guidance on the topic?

What do these companies look for in character designers?
#2
kythri
Oct 13, 2008 23:27:06
What do these companies look for in character designers?

Hopefully, on-topic posts...
#3
mead
Oct 14, 2008 16:46:05 heh
#4
nowiwantmydmg
Oct 14, 2008 16:59:46
I'm finishing my bachelor's degree and pursuing a Master's degree in Digital Media, where i will learn many forms of digital media stuff, including digital graphics. I aspire to work as a character designer for a gaming company such as wizards or capcom (to name a couple of examples). I have exceptional drawing skills and my writing (and story-telling) is pretty good too.

Here is my issue. I want to know what exactly i should be doing right now to best place me in a position where i am well on my way to landing a job in a company such as these in about two years. What can i be doing now?

Who can i contact to get some good guidance on the topic?

What do these companies look for in character designers?

I would check out some of the the articles by Mark Rosewater(One of the Magic head design guys) on the magic site, he often writes about game design in his column. Also check out the ASK Wizards archive on the magic site as that has been asked there before as well.

Good Luck.

Also you will get lots of non-response posts because this should be in general discussion and not here.
#5
talibus
Oct 22, 2008 17:33:09 Well, you need to become very good at what you do for starters. You'll need to establish your own style.

You will also need to put together a portfolio that you'll submit when you apply for jobs and that portfolio should show some kind of focus. Since you have a couple of years, you should start thinking about it now. Only put your very best pieces in that portfolio and look at the portfolios of other artists out there on the web to get an idea of what you'll be competeing with.

You will likely find that a large amount of work will come to you from the video game industry and you should really be open to that - whether you're doing character art/landscapes/websites etc.

Basically, ask yourself honestly if you were designing a game world and went out looking for artists to bring it to life, would you hire your work over the others? If not, don't get discouraged, just focus on what you need to do to change that.

One more thing: start networking! Don't wait till next year or even next month, start networking NOW! Go to functions and conventions and establish personal relationships with the people in the industries that make or know the people who make the hiring decisions. You will get most of your jobs in this life from personal referals than from anywhere else.
#6
creedseebas
Oct 22, 2008 17:40:12
Well, you need to become very good at what you do for starters. You'll need to establish your own style.

You will also need to put together a portfolio that you'll submit when you apply for jobs and that portfolio should show some kind of focus. Since you have a couple of years, you should start thinking about it now. Only put your very best pieces in that portfolio and look at the portfolios of other artists out there on the web to get an idea of what you'll be competeing with.

You will likely find that a large amount of work will come to you from the video game industry and you should really be open to that - whether you're doing character art/landscapes/websites etc.

Basically, ask yourself honestly if you were designing a game world and went out looking for artists to bring it to life, would you hire your work over the others? If not, don't get discouraged, just focus on what you need to do to change that.

One more thing: start networking! Don't wait till next year or even next month, start networking NOW! Go to functions and conventions and establish personal relationships with the people in the industries that make or know the people who make the hiring decisions. You will get most of your jobs in this life from personal referals than from anywhere else.

thank you so much... unlike a few of the other posts, yours really helped nd i will be taking it as advice and putting it to use!
#7
Magocrat
Oct 22, 2008 18:51:36 I can't do anything else than support Talibus's tips, really. I can just reiterate them. Also, I could refer you to a very informative blog post about getting a job in the game industry, but I seem to have lost the link. It, too, reiterates Talibus's points and added a few extra pointers. I can sum it up in one, perhaps corny, line:

Keep one eye on your dreams, and the other on the road that'll take you there.
#8
Tsuul
Oct 22, 2008 23:29:10 I can say what not to do.
http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?t=409998
#9
1_ton_ghost
Oct 25, 2008 14:30:13 "I advise you to start drinking heavilly." -Bluto

Seriously, the actual advice prior is sound. But it's a jungle out there. You can be awesomely talented, and not get a single lead. Like my friend Steve told me when I was getting snubbed at alot of galleries and such, "It's who you know and who you blow." That networking tip, yeah, do that. There are so many hacks out there that just happen to know the right people...all you gotta' do is crack a WotC book to see poor artists landing their work there while credible, talented ones, can't even get insurance or groceries.

Crazy. Same thing w/ music, film, any media really. There's such an abundance of crap music on mainstream radio. How'd it get there? Friends and payola. Art is no exception. Smart money is on the video game market like you're gunning for. Huge budgets being generated there. Even lifetime movie producers see the writing on the wall; J. Bruckheimer is gobbling up video game assets now as a good game will make way more money oftne enough than a good movie w/ considerably less startup capital and less logistical problems too; your programers are easilly replaced if they are in an accident or go to rehab compared to a star during production. Weather can wreck a movie set, tax laws, etc.
#10
creedseebas
Oct 25, 2008 14:53:36
"I advise you to start drinking heavilly." -Bluto

Seriously, the actual advice prior is sound. But it's a jungle out there. You can be awesomely talented, and not get a single lead. Like my friend Steve told me when I was getting snubbed at alot of galleries and such, "It's who you know and who you blow." That networking tip, yeah, do that. There are so many hacks out there that just happen to know the right people...all you gotta' do is crack a WotC book to see poor artists landing their work there while credible, talented ones, can't even get insurance or groceries.

Crazy. Same thing w/ music, film, any media really. There's such an abundance of crap music on mainstream radio. How'd it get there? Friends and payola. Art is no exception. Smart money is on the video game market like you're gunning for. Huge budgets being generated there. Even lifetime movie producers see the writing on the wall; J. Bruckheimer is gobbling up video game assets now as a good game will make way more money oftne enough than a good movie w/ considerably less startup capital and less logistical problems too; your programers are easilly replaced if they are in an accident or go to rehab compared to a star during production. Weather can wreck a movie set, tax laws, etc.

so how n where do i meet these people? and what is payola?
#11
Tsuul
Oct 25, 2008 15:22:41 payola: Radio stations used to rake in tons of bribes to play the music industries songs.
Huge in the 50's, but it still goes on today.
http://www.oag.state.ny.us/media_center/2005/jul/jul25a_05.html
#12
mln
Oct 25, 2008 16:02:58 Dont limit yourself to gaming style of work. It pays less becuase it is disposeable income that is used to purchase the industry. Text books and reference materials are under served by artists and expands when there is a bad economy. Imagery, especially fantasy, translates easily to offshore labor competition. Look for under served areas that you minimize your labor competition, places that the best and the brightest might not think of. You can always make the fantasy genre an avocation while getting real pay in a vocation.

Look to your motivations and define the reasons you want a career in the field; peer recognition, intra industry fame, just want to help make someone elses idea better, promote your own ideas. Figure these out and you can then find a career path that fits your reasons for the career you choose.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 creedseebas Oct 13, 2008 21:14:31	I'm finishing my bachelor's degree and pursuing a Master's degree in Digital Media, where i will learn many forms of digital media stuff, including digital graphics. I aspire to work as a character designer for a gaming company such as wizards or capcom (to name a couple of examples). I have exceptional drawing skills and my writing (and story-telling) is pretty good too. Here is my issue. I want to know what exactly i should be doing right now to best place me in a position where i am well on my way to landing a job in a company such as these in about two years. What can i be doing now? Who can i contact to get some good guidance on the topic? What do these companies look for in character designers?
#2 kythri Oct 13, 2008 23:27:06	What do these companies look for in character designers? Hopefully, on-topic posts...
#3 mead Oct 14, 2008 16:46:05	heh
#4 nowiwantmydmg Oct 14, 2008 16:59:46	I'm finishing my bachelor's degree and pursuing a Master's degree in Digital Media, where i will learn many forms of digital media stuff, including digital graphics. I aspire to work as a character designer for a gaming company such as wizards or capcom (to name a couple of examples). I have exceptional drawing skills and my writing (and story-telling) is pretty good too. Here is my issue. I want to know what exactly i should be doing right now to best place me in a position where i am well on my way to landing a job in a company such as these in about two years. What can i be doing now? Who can i contact to get some good guidance on the topic? What do these companies look for in character designers? I would check out some of the the articles by Mark Rosewater(One of the Magic head design guys) on the magic site, he often writes about game design in his column. Also check out the ASK Wizards archive on the magic site as that has been asked there before as well. Good Luck. Also you will get lots of non-response posts because this should be in general discussion and not here.
#5 talibus Oct 22, 2008 17:33:09	Well, you need to become very good at what you do for starters. You'll need to establish your own style. You will also need to put together a portfolio that you'll submit when you apply for jobs and that portfolio should show some kind of focus. Since you have a couple of years, you should start thinking about it now. Only put your very best pieces in that portfolio and look at the portfolios of other artists out there on the web to get an idea of what you'll be competeing with. You will likely find that a large amount of work will come to you from the video game industry and you should really be open to that - whether you're doing character art/landscapes/websites etc. Basically, ask yourself honestly if you were designing a game world and went out looking for artists to bring it to life, would you hire your work over the others? If not, don't get discouraged, just focus on what you need to do to change that. One more thing: start networking! Don't wait till next year or even next month, start networking NOW! Go to functions and conventions and establish personal relationships with the people in the industries that make or know the people who make the hiring decisions. You will get most of your jobs in this life from personal referals than from anywhere else.
#6 creedseebas Oct 22, 2008 17:40:12	Well, you need to become very good at what you do for starters. You'll need to establish your own style. You will also need to put together a portfolio that you'll submit when you apply for jobs and that portfolio should show some kind of focus. Since you have a couple of years, you should start thinking about it now. Only put your very best pieces in that portfolio and look at the portfolios of other artists out there on the web to get an idea of what you'll be competeing with. You will likely find that a large amount of work will come to you from the video game industry and you should really be open to that - whether you're doing character art/landscapes/websites etc. Basically, ask yourself honestly if you were designing a game world and went out looking for artists to bring it to life, would you hire your work over the others? If not, don't get discouraged, just focus on what you need to do to change that. One more thing: start networking! Don't wait till next year or even next month, start networking NOW! Go to functions and conventions and establish personal relationships with the people in the industries that make or know the people who make the hiring decisions. You will get most of your jobs in this life from personal referals than from anywhere else. thank you so much... unlike a few of the other posts, yours really helped nd i will be taking it as advice and putting it to use!
#7 Magocrat Oct 22, 2008 18:51:36	I can't do anything else than support Talibus's tips, really. I can just reiterate them. Also, I could refer you to a very informative blog post about getting a job in the game industry, but I seem to have lost the link. It, too, reiterates Talibus's points and added a few extra pointers. I can sum it up in one, perhaps corny, line: Keep one eye on your dreams, and the other on the road that'll take you there.
#8 Tsuul Oct 22, 2008 23:29:10	I can say what not to do. http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?t=409998
#9 1_ton_ghost Oct 25, 2008 14:30:13	"I advise you to start drinking heavilly." -Bluto Seriously, the actual advice prior is sound. But it's a jungle out there. You can be awesomely talented, and not get a single lead. Like my friend Steve told me when I was getting snubbed at alot of galleries and such, "It's who you know and who you blow." That networking tip, yeah, do that. There are so many hacks out there that just happen to know the right people...all you gotta' do is crack a WotC book to see poor artists landing their work there while credible, talented ones, can't even get insurance or groceries. Crazy. Same thing w/ music, film, any media really. There's such an abundance of crap music on mainstream radio. How'd it get there? Friends and payola. Art is no exception. Smart money is on the video game market like you're gunning for. Huge budgets being generated there. Even lifetime movie producers see the writing on the wall; J. Bruckheimer is gobbling up video game assets now as a good game will make way more money oftne enough than a good movie w/ considerably less startup capital and less logistical problems too; your programers are easilly replaced if they are in an accident or go to rehab compared to a star during production. Weather can wreck a movie set, tax laws, etc.
#10 creedseebas Oct 25, 2008 14:53:36	"I advise you to start drinking heavilly." -Bluto Seriously, the actual advice prior is sound. But it's a jungle out there. You can be awesomely talented, and not get a single lead. Like my friend Steve told me when I was getting snubbed at alot of galleries and such, "It's who you know and who you blow." That networking tip, yeah, do that. There are so many hacks out there that just happen to know the right people...all you gotta' do is crack a WotC book to see poor artists landing their work there while credible, talented ones, can't even get insurance or groceries. Crazy. Same thing w/ music, film, any media really. There's such an abundance of crap music on mainstream radio. How'd it get there? Friends and payola. Art is no exception. Smart money is on the video game market like you're gunning for. Huge budgets being generated there. Even lifetime movie producers see the writing on the wall; J. Bruckheimer is gobbling up video game assets now as a good game will make way more money oftne enough than a good movie w/ considerably less startup capital and less logistical problems too; your programers are easilly replaced if they are in an accident or go to rehab compared to a star during production. Weather can wreck a movie set, tax laws, etc. so how n where do i meet these people? and what is payola?
#11 Tsuul Oct 25, 2008 15:22:41	payola: Radio stations used to rake in tons of bribes to play the music industries songs. Huge in the 50's, but it still goes on today. http://www.oag.state.ny.us/media_center/2005/jul/jul25a_05.html
#12 mln Oct 25, 2008 16:02:58	Dont limit yourself to gaming style of work. It pays less becuase it is disposeable income that is used to purchase the industry. Text books and reference materials are under served by artists and expands when there is a bad economy. Imagery, especially fantasy, translates easily to offshore labor competition. Look for under served areas that you minimize your labor competition, places that the best and the brightest might not think of. You can always make the fantasy genre an avocation while getting real pay in a vocation. Look to your motivations and define the reasons you want a career in the field; peer recognition, intra industry fame, just want to help make someone elses idea better, promote your own ideas. Figure these out and you can then find a career path that fits your reasons for the career you choose.