63 réponses à ce sujet

[Spanishax]

Hello, I'm relatively new to the forums, and I just want to say that this social network should be the new Facebook! 

So, I was planning to work for BioWare one day, after college, but I'm having trouble deciding on which school to go to; I'm currently in grade 12. Part of my question is: Is there any college that BioWare prefers to get it's employees from? But more importantly, where would be the best place to get education on animation - preferably character animation - and modelling. I am naturally adept at 3D animation, and have been since the beginning of high-school, but I do enjoy modelling high-poly objects, as well. I use 3ds Max 2011, UDK , or Mudbox 2011 almost everyday, and I love it!   
Anyway, based on these characteristics and preferences, is there anyone who could help me decide on a good video game design school in Canada? I'll worry about the cost of the courses at a later date. Any and all messages from BioWare employees will be treated as holy...

If there is a better place on these forums for this topic, please let me know. As I said, I am new.  Thanks!

[jcainhaze]

This might be the wrong answer but try pm'ing Stanley Woo. He could probably give you a good answer.

I would recommend contacting the HR department for Bioware/EA. 

Modifié par jcainhaze, 11 janvier 2012 - 06:16 .

[Volus Warlord]

Not gonna happen. Plain and simple.

[Spanishax]

Hmm, I'll try that.

[jcainhaze]

If that's what you want then stick to your guns. It's good to know what you want at an early age. Don't let retards discourage you. Somewhere there is always a person that has the answers to your questions and is willing to give you good advice. So keep asking around until you are satisfied.

Advocate for yourself (no one else will). Make up a resume even if you've never had a real job. List things you're good at, what you've accomplished, what you've created, what your goals are, your limited education, if you make good grades.

Email the HR that resume and ask about internships. Trust me, there are lots of people blocking your path but if you don't try then it definitely won't happen. You will get laughed at and blown off but every little effort gets you closer to what you want. Getting your degree is only half of the game.

Modifié par jcainhaze, 11 janvier 2012 - 06:51 .

[DukeOfNukes]

Dunno about Canada...but I've always heard that Full Sail University down in Florida is a good place to go. Seems like a large number of their graduates end up working on Hollywood movies.

Video Games industry is hard, however. Seems like a large number of people that manage to get into it at all end up leaving pretty quickly. The whole debacle with Team Bondi recently should serve as a reminder as to what's in store for you if you want to get in. Too many developers seem to think that you should just be thankful that you have a job, regardless of working conditions. Unpaid overtime seems to be the rule, rather than the exception.

There are definitely companies I've never gotten that vibe from...but BioWare, Valve, and Blizzard...well...lets just say that EVERYBODY wants to be working for them...so competition is brutal.

[Doctalen]

DukeOfNukes wrote...

Dunno about Canada...but I've always heard that Full Sail University down in Florida is a good place to go. Seems like a large number of their graduates end up working on Hollywood movies.

Video Games industry is hard, however. Seems like a large number of people that manage to get into it at all end up leaving pretty quickly. The whole debacle with Team Bondi recently should serve as a reminder as to what's in store for you if you want to get in. Too many developers seem to think that you should just be thankful that you have a job, regardless of working conditions. Unpaid overtime seems to be the rule, rather than the exception.

There are definitely companies I've never gotten that vibe from...but BioWare, Valve, and Blizzard...well...lets just say that EVERYBODY wants to be working for them...so competition is brutal.

And nowadays it seems when a game is finished they lay off a bunch of people (Recently ID did). Never let someone crush your dreams though! Just acknoledge what could happen and the risks. 

[DukeOfNukes]

Heard about that a lot lately...maybe it's just exaserbated by reading "The Trenches"...but yeah...gotta wonder where the future of gaming is headed if companies keep treating their employees like early 20th century factory workers.

[jcainhaze]

All good things to consider. I have definitely heard working conditions and treatment aren't great for the entry level people.

[lobi]

A 'good place to learn games design' is very relevent to your income and lifestyle.
Wherever you end up just apply yourself and, form some good friendships with others.
Especially those more keen on completing a project than finishing a bong mix.
Good luck.

Modifié par lobi, 11 janvier 2012 - 10:41 .

[Weskerr]

My advice is not to worry about where you get your education. Whether you study hard at a community college or Harvard, what matters is the work that you put in to better yourself. If you're hardworking, talented, smart, and motivated to succeed, the sky's the limit.

[Kaiser Arian XVII]

There was a place for a Bioware janitor ... sorry it is taken for some time!

[Stanley Woo]

1. Please read Rom Sloper's advice columns at Sloperama.
2. Re-read those advice columns.
3. Please return and ask better, more specific questions. For example, there is no "farm team" for videogame developers where people are "called up" from.

We get these kinds of threads all the time, and very few of these "aspiring developers" ever return to ask more specific questions or provide updates. This tells me that very few of them have the drive, dedication, or the knowledge necessary to actually work in the industry. Most are just dreaming of "making videogames" and have no idea of just what that entails.
4. Don't place all your bets on just one studio.
5. No one ever got hired by posting their qualifications or resume in a discussion forum. Most studios will have a Jobs page that lays out the process for applications and lists the positions currently available.

[KenKenpachi]

Your dreams will burn >> As your soul will and your body once the Foot Strikes.

[Spanishax]

Thanks, many of you have offered helpful advice. I realize that I probably won't be able to work for BioWare right out of school, no mattered how talented, and I accept that. But you have to dream big, right? I asked for any preferred schools of BioWare because some companies seem to be more keen on hiring people with a certain type of education. I am determined to work for them ONE DAY, so I figured it would be a good idea to find out what they look for.
And to those who seem bent on getting me to turn away: How am I supposed to reach any kind of success if I just leave whenever things look tough? That's not the kind of person you want making games, especially when a deadline is coming up fast, and you have to finish rigging and animating those twenty different, complex skeletal meshes. In fact, I work best under pressure.

[eroeru]

I like the attitude. But as Stanley and others have said, you best be prepared and take specific questions and ambitions to the persons in Bioware who actually do the recruiting (if you haven't already)...

Though it can really be "the more the better" - posting here was just fine, I should say.

[Stanley Woo]

Please come back after checking out Sloperama. i'd be happy to discuss this further with any interested persons.

[DRUNK_CANADIAN]

Hey Woo, would it at all be possible to hire me as a public relations consultant, because I have a feeling management, and your publisher EA still need to look into the public's view on Origin, as if Battlefield 3's poor PC performance wasn't enough.

[Stanley Woo]

Discussion of Origin is happening in other threads, so please take your discussion there. If you wish to work for BioWare or EA, please visit our jobs pages to see if we have a position you would like to apply for. Attitudes like "As a customer, I disagree with a corporate decision and I want to be hired by the company to make things more to my liking," which sounds like what you are trying to say, is likely the wrong way to go about getting hired anywhere. Sorry.

[Inanna Athanasia]

I have been a professional freelance artist for over 20 yrs now (yes, I started my business my Senior year in HS) and any artistic form is a rough job to sell. Whether the artist who makes initial sketches, animator, 3-D modeling and so forth, any form of art is a hard sell today.I do a lot of computer graphics and digital freehand art (as well as traditional mediums) and have years of work history behind me and it still sucks trying to market yourself. The best advice to anyone trying to get a job today (whether in the video game industry to movies or whatever you want to pursue, keep at it. Schooling, work experience and such help, but in the end, it is a matter of you selling yourself as the best choice to hire. In the bid for jobs, I have went up against people with more schooling and such then me, but my designs and models caught the employers eyes more then someone else and I was hired.
Also, no matter what, keep your goal. True, you may never get to work for BioWare, but if thats your goal, keep it, own it and work towards it. Maybe you will one day, who knows, or maybe it will lead you to a job you like better, but the point is, if this goal makes you strive to be better and work harder, then go for it. As I love to tell my kids, its not the destination that makes you legendary, its the battles and choices you made to get there! Good Luck!

[Moondoggie]

To add to the excellent post above i'll repeat what i say on each one of these threads that if you want to work in the video game industry or any media industry then you need to remember that you need more than a fancy degree from a good College. While getting the right school is important for your quality of education and what you can learn there you need to be doing more than that . A Degree is not some all access pass to any job you want.  Once you get out into the world of work you'll find it is competitive especially in the media industry so for every fancy certificate you have with a degree on it the other 1000 applicants have exactly the same. You need to look at ways that will give you the skills you need to be competitive and of course school will help with some of that but the rest is all you. If you truely love the idea of making games learn more about the skills you will need and what area you want to work in. There are hundreds of positions involved in making video games.

Once you know what you want then start working at it and get your stuff out there. If it's art then get your artwork online, If it's developing and programing get involved in making mods you'll get good practice and many developers will play games and be aware of mods so if you are making good stuff they will know who you are. And if your name turns up on their table they might be more willing to call you up for a chat over some random who they have never heard of.

And finally get yourself out there. Go to the games expo's and the places where the industry is meeting. Bring your business card and have a website with a portfolio that you can write on it. Talk to the people in the industry and pick their brains for advice on how you can make yourself better. Many will appreciate your humbleness and will be willing to give you their time rather than you just blowing your own trumpet and telling them how good you are.

Good luck with finding a suitable school, Work hard at your education and work doubly as hard at attaining your goals if you truely want it bad enough.

Modifié par Moondoggie, 12 janvier 2012 - 02:20 .

[Spanishax]

Stanley Woo wrote...

Please come back after checking out Sloperama. i'd be happy to discuss this further with any interested persons.

So I checked out Sloperama, and it definitely cleared some things up; some very useful information there, though a little dated. Thank you, Mr. Woo. I honestly cannot wait to stop studying HOW to make games and start professionally making games. 

And who knows, maybe in a few years, when an animation job opens up, we'll meet again.

[Skellimancer]

Can we skip the work and just get paid?