Re: The entry competence level for graphics programmers
Tommy Brett <[email protected]> Tue, 20 Sep 2011 21:28:35 -0400
| Newsgroups | gmane.games.devel.sweng |
|---|---|
| Message-ID | <CA+ejsGC5mT4nCs5Dw5HDWv7tMD2wOREHerNasD8yc5Fk5eBk2Q@mail.gmail.com> |
--===============0216174644== Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=20cf307cfbd6dd903504ad697fba --20cf307cfbd6dd903504ad697fba Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Funny thing is I know a few guys who work for a serious games company and it never even occurred to me that there might be more, how short sighted of me, thanks Craig! On Tue, Sep 20, 2011 at 9:11 PM, Craig Hoffman <[email protected]>wrote: > This doesn't answer the original question but don't overlook "serious game" > development, immersive training development, simulation development, etc. > You don't need to work for a game developer to use game development skills. > Your current skill set might get you a position like these listed below > where you could gain invaluable experience. > > > http://jobs.saic.com/job/Huntsville-Flash-Game-Programmer-Job-AL-35801/1352496/ > > > http://jobs.saic.com/job/Huntsville-Application-Developer-Job-AL-35801/1404471/ > > > On Tue, Sep 20, 2011 at 6:45 PM, Tommy Brett <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Doesn't seem blunt at all, I think I worded my first post wrong - A better >> question would have been "what separates junior from non-junior" as that's >> really the question I'm asking. I want to join the games industry, but I >> want to do so in a way that doesn't essentially reset my career if at all >> possible. In any case, good point! >> >> On Tue, Sep 20, 2011 at 6:09 PM, Bryan Wagstaff <[email protected]>wrote: >> >>> This may seem a bit blunt, but I've been wondering about it sense the >>> start of the discussion. >>> >>> Why do you want to do a job qualification survey like this? What are you >>> hoping to gain? >>> >>> Are you looking for permission to apply to a job? You have permission by >>> virtue of them advertising, so go for it! Are you worried that you will be >>> rejected? Apply anyway and let their HR people sort it out. >>> >>> >>> If you see a job listing and you have approximately the skills and >>> experience they ask for you should apply for the job. Don't agonize that you >>> don't know some obscure tidbit; if the cared about it they would have >>> included it in their requirements. >>> >>> The employer will look over the applications they recieve, reject those >>> that don't fit what they want, interview a few that remain, and then pick >>> the best fit. Employers are hiring someone to fill a specific need; they >>> only care that you can do the job and that you will fit in with the company. >>> >>> As a job applicant you should also be asking questions about if you can >>> do the job and will excel at the company. >>> >>> If your skills and background are the best fit then it really doesn't >>> matter if the word 'junior' or 'senior' is in the job title or not. The >>> details of the job description should indicate what they want. Either you >>> are a good fit or not. >>> >>> It should be fairly easy to make that decision when you know your >>> background and you read their ad. If you are uncertain then apply anyway. >>> What's the big deal about that? They might simply discard your application. >>> They might call you up, interview you, call you in for a second interview, >>> and then not hire you. Or they might decide that you are the best fit of the >>> applications they received and give you a great job. If you apply there is >>> still a very high statistical chance you won't get hired. If you apply and >>> you don't get a job there is no problem; you tried. If you don't apply then >>> failure is a certainty. >>> >>> Either you can do the job well, or you cannot do the job well. You won't >>> find out by asking the Internet at large. You find out by talking with the >>> employer and stating your qualifications and negotiating for the job. >>> >>> If you think you can do it, then apply for the job. >>> >>> -Bryan. >>> >>> >>> >>> Tommy Brett <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> Hello ladies and gents, >>> >>> I graduated 5 years ago with the intention of becoming a game developer, >>> my career got sidetracked and although this sidetrack led to an ultimately >>> comfortable existence and a lot of life lessons learned, I'm now at the >>> point where my career as a Flash / Flex developer is stagnating. It may also >>> be coming to a forced end as more and more of my employer's clients move >>> away from Flash each month. I've been keeping up with the times, and doing a >>> lot of graphics programming on the side using nVidia's CG shader programming >>> language and OpenGL. >>> >>> I'm looking for a little insight into what skill level you expect entry >>> level, and reasonably competent graphics programmers (i.e. qualifying as >>> something above 'junior' in their job title, even if that's just the >>> omission of the word) to be at, and the difference between the two. By skill >>> level, I mean knowledge base, for example implementing certain shader >>> routines (e.g. normal mapping) and grasp of mathematics. Before I enter the >>> job search proper, I want to make absolutely sure that my skills are in fact >>> up to par as I understand that graphics programming positions in particular >>> are highly competitive. For example, I know that one area I lack skill in is >>> using shader functions built for DirectX 10 and above - by virtue of me >>> still using an XP machine (GPU is DX10 capable though, reeeally need to >>> upgrade), and I suspect that not being knowledgeable about, >>> say, tessellation using the GPU would swiftly kill any application I would >>> make for a graphics programmer role that paid more than free lunches. >>> >>> On the other hand, this may not be the case, which is why I'm sending >>> this out to you better informed guys for a little feedback. >>> >>> - Tommy >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Sweng-Gamedev mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> >>> http://lists.midnightryder.com/listinfo.cgi/sweng-gamedev-midnightryder.com >>> >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sweng-Gamedev mailing list >> [email protected] >> >> http://lists.midnightryder.com/listinfo.cgi/sweng-gamedev-midnightryder.com >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > Sweng-Gamedev mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.midnightryder.com/listinfo.cgi/sweng-gamedev-midnightryder.com > > --20cf307cfbd6dd903504ad697fba Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Funny thing is I know a few guys who work for a serious games company and i= t never even occurred to me that there might be more, how short sighted of = me, thanks Craig!<br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Tue, Sep 20, 2011 at= 9:11 PM, Craig Hoffman <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:craig.r.hof= [email protected]">[email protected]</a>></span> wrote:<br> <blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1p= x #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">This doesn't answer the original questi= on but don't overlook "serious game" development, immersive t= raining development, simulation development, etc. You don't need to wor= k for a game developer to use game development skills. Your current skill s= et might get you a position like these listed below where you could gain in= valuable experience. <br> <br><a href=3D"http://jobs.saic.com/job/Huntsville-Flash-Game-Programmer-Jo= b-AL-35801/1352496/" target=3D"_blank">http://jobs.saic.com/job/Huntsville-= Flash-Game-Programmer-Job-AL-35801/1352496/</a><br><br><a href=3D"http://jo= bs.saic.com/job/Huntsville-Application-Developer-Job-AL-35801/1404471/" tar= get=3D"_blank">http://jobs.saic.com/job/Huntsville-Application-Developer-Jo= b-AL-35801/1404471/</a><div> <div></div><div class=3D"h5"><br> <br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Tue, Sep 20, 2011 at 6:45 PM, Tommy Brett= <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_b= lank">[email protected]</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gm= ail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-le= ft:1ex"> Doesn't seem blunt at all, I think I worded my first post wrong - A bet= ter question would have been "what separates junior from non-junior&qu= ot; as that's really the question I'm asking. I want to join the ga= mes industry, but I want to do so in a way that doesn't essentially res= et my career if at all possible. In any case, good point!<br> <br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Tue, Sep 20, 2011 at 6:09 PM, Bryan Wagst= aff <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"= _blank">[email protected]</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"g= mail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-l= eft:1ex"> This may seem a bit blunt, but I've been wondering about it sense the s= tart of the discussion.<br><br>Why do you want to do a job qualification su= rvey like this? What are you hoping to gain?<br><br>Are you looking for pe= rmission to apply to a job? You have permission by virtue of them advertis= ing, so go for it! Are you worried that you will be rejected? Apply anywa= y and let their HR people sort it out. <br> <br><br>If you see a job listing and you have approximately the skills and = experience they ask for you should apply for the job. Don't agonize th= at you don't know some obscure tidbit; if the cared about it they would= have included it in their requirements.<br> <br>The employer will look over the applications they recieve, reject those= that don't fit what they want, interview a few that remain, and then p= ick the best fit. Employers are hiring someone to fill a specific need; th= ey only care that you can do the job and that you will fit in with the comp= any.<br> <br>As a job applicant you should also be asking questions about if you can= do the job and will excel at the company.<br><br>If your skills and backgr= ound are the best fit then it really doesn't matter if the word 'ju= nior' or 'senior' is in the job title or not. The details of t= he job description should indicate what they want. Either you are a good f= it or not. <br> <br>It should be fairly easy to make that decision when you know your backg= round and you read their ad. If you are uncertain then apply anyway. What= 's the big deal about that? They might simply discard your application= . They might call you up, interview you, call you in for a second intervie= w, and then not hire you. Or they might decide that you are the best fit o= f the applications they received and give you a great job. If you apply th= ere is still a very high statistical chance you won't get hired. If yo= u apply and you don't get a job there is no problem; you tried. If you = don't apply then failure is a certainty.<br> <br>Either you can do the job well, or you cannot do the job well. You won= 't find out by asking the Internet at large. You find out by talking w= ith the employer and stating your qualifications and negotiating for the jo= b.<br> <br>If you think you can do it, then apply for the job.<br><font color=3D"#= 888888"><br>-Bryan.</font><div><div></div><div><br><br><br>Tommy Brett &= ;<a href=3D"mailto:lt%[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">lt;elithiom= [email protected]</a>&gt; wrote:<br> <br>Hello ladies and gents,<div><br></div><div>I graduated 5 years ago with= the intention of becoming a game developer, my career got sidetracked and = although this sidetrack led to an ultimately comfortable existence and a lo= t of life lessons learned, I'm now at the point where my career as a Fl= ash / Flex developer is stagnating. It may also be coming to a forced end a= s more and more of my employer's clients move away from Flash each mont= h. I've been keeping up with the times, and doing a lot of graphics pro= gramming on the side using nVidia's CG shader programming language and = OpenGL.=A0</div> <div><br></div><div>I'm looking for a little insight into what skill le= vel you expect entry level, and reasonably competent graphics programmers (= i.e. qualifying as something above 'junior' in their job title, eve= n if that's just the omission of the word) to be at, and the difference= between the two. By skill level, I mean knowledge base, for example implem= enting certain shader routines (e.g. normal mapping) and grasp of mathemati= cs. Before I enter the job search proper, I want to make absolutely sure th= at my skills are in fact up to par as I understand that graphics programmin= g positions in particular are highly competitive. For example, I know that = one area I lack skill in is using shader functions built for DirectX 10 and= above - by virtue of me still using an XP machine (GPU is DX10 capable tho= ugh, reeeally need to upgrade), and I suspect that not being=A0knowledgeabl= e=A0about, say,=A0tessellation=A0using the GPU would swiftly kill any appli= cation I would make for a graphics programmer role that paid more than free= lunches.=A0</div> <div><br></div><div>On the other hand, this may not be the case, which is w= hy I'm sending this out to you better informed guys for a little feedba= ck.</div><div><br></div><div>- Tommy</div><div><br></div><div><br></div> </div></div><br>_______________________________________________<br> Sweng-Gamedev mailing list<br> <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">= [email protected]</a><br> <a href=3D"http://lists.midnightryder.com/listinfo.cgi/sweng-gamedev-midnig= htryder.com" target=3D"_blank">http://lists.midnightryder.com/listinfo.cgi/= sweng-gamedev-midnightryder.com</a><br> <br></blockquote></div><br> <br>_______________________________________________<br> Sweng-Gamedev mailing list<br> <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">= [email protected]</a><br> <a href=3D"http://lists.midnightryder.com/listinfo.cgi/sweng-gamedev-midnig= htryder.com" target=3D"_blank">http://lists.midnightryder.com/listinfo.cgi/= sweng-gamedev-midnightryder.com</a><br> <br></blockquote></div><br><div style=3D"padding:0px;margin-left:0px;margin= -top:0px;overflow:hidden;word-wrap:break-word;color:black;font-size:10px;te= xt-align:left;line-height:130%"> </div> </div></div><br>_______________________________________________<br> Sweng-Gamedev mailing list<br> <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">Sweng-Gamedev@list= s.midnightryder.com</a><br> <a href=3D"http://lists.midnightryder.com/listinfo.cgi/sweng-gamedev-midnig= htryder.com" target=3D"_blank">http://lists.midnightryder.com/listinfo.cgi/= sweng-gamedev-midnightryder.com</a><br> <br></blockquote></div><br> --20cf307cfbd6dd903504ad697fba-- --===============0216174644== Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline _______________________________________________ Sweng-Gamedev mailing list [email protected] http://lists.midnightryder.com/listinfo.cgi/sweng-gamedev-midnightryder.com --===============0216174644==--