WGE MAG: 09
Still others, like 18 Wheels of Steel, provide the non-programmed data (images, small codepieces and the like) in a simple archive. Often modders will take the game in directions that the developers never anticipated or didn’t have time or funding to create. Some games, like Neverwinter Nights, could never have been as successful as they are without a thriving mod community, which is why many game companies openly support modding. In the case of Half-Life, a mod called Counter-Strike drove sales of the original software for years.
Catch 22 T
he big Catch-22 in the game Industry is that to get a job you need experience and to get that experience, you need to get a job. It can be pretty frustrating someone who wants to get a foot in the door.
So if you don’t have ‘official’ experience, create your own!
Picking up new skills is always a great idea. If you can, enroll in an accredited degree or certificate program where you not only learn the ins and outs of your craft (game programming, animation, game design, etc) but create something that can go into your portfolio.
No matter what game job you seek, you’ll need to show examples of your work and demonstrate that you have the skill it takes to do the job. The good news is that you don’t need to be employed or have a shiny new degree to create a portfolio. Create your own art, design a soundtrack, or create mods of your favorite games.
‘Modding’ means modifying software to design an element or perform a function that isn’t currently in the product. Many games, like The Elder Scrolls series, come with a mod editing tool that actually encourages users to create and share original content. Some games even provide source code for player experimentation.
“Many game
companies actually follow the mod
communities and may approach the good modders for jobs.”
GECK The Garden of Eden Creation Kit (GECK) allows you to edit and create game content for use with Fallout 3. The data is stored in files that are read directly by the game. The GECK allows you to build your own areas (towns, dungeons, etc) and populate them with your own characters, creatures, items and storylines. Want a job at Bethesda Software, the developer and publisher of Fallout? Create a killer mod and watch how quickly you’ll get the company’s attention!
HAMMER The Valve Hammer Editor (known as Hammer) was the official mapping tool for the Goldsource engine, the engine that ran Half-Life and Counter-Strike as well as other pre-Source Valve games. The latest version is included in the Source SDK, for mapping under the Source engine (under which all newer Valve games run).
AURORA The Aurora Toolset (also known as the Aurora Toolkit) is a set of software tools developed by BioWare for use with the
Aurora Engine, the game engine first used in BioWare’s Neverwinter Nights. The toolset is included in the Windows version of the game, and allows players to create their own adventures. The tools include a visual tile-based terrain editor, a script editor, a conversation editor, and an object editor. Use modding to show BioWare that you love the game and understand the engine.
Unreal Development Kit (UDK) UDK is Unreal Engine 3, a complete professional development framework. It includes all the tools you need to create great games, advanced visualizations and detailed 3D Simulations on the PC and iOS platforms.
Many game companies actually follow the mod communities and may approach the good modders for jobs. EA, for example, has a strong reputation of mining the Sims modding
communities.The good news is that you’re not helpless here, so roll up your sleeves and get modding!
MARC MENCHER BIOGRAPHY:
Game Programmer / Technical Producer-turned-Recruiter and Career Coach, Marc Mencher has been in the Game Industry for 27 years. He is the founder and CEO of GameRecruiter
www.GameRecruiter.com
Marc began his career working for Spectrum Holobyte, Microprose and The 3DO Company. While he enjoyed coding, through the experience of developing product and leading teams, he realized that his true passion was helping people plan and manage their careers.
Marc is the author of ‘Get in the Game!’ an instructional book on building a career in the video game industry. His articles have been featured in a variety of industry publications. He is a speaker at game industry conferences and volunteers as an advisory board member for several colleges. Marc has been interviewed on television and radio as an expert on working in the videogames industry. His detailed bio can be found at
http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Marc_Mencher
Along with his team of Recruiter / Career Agents, Marc has had the pleasure of representing the game industry’s hottest talent, and has helped thousands of people manage their career and obtain strategically important game jobs. Integrity and confidentiality are the cornerstones of his success.
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