Feeling disillusioned with video game industry

[poop]

um... hi

I'm 15 and for the past few years I have wanted to make games and eventually have a career in the games industry. I've had lots of ideas and, although for personal reason I haven't actually been able to complete any of them, I have still planned and planned out my ideas. They aren't deep, and they aren't that clever, but it's a start, lol

But just recently I have felt like the games industry is just too commercial and superficial, with the PlayStation Portable just crystalized it for me, an empty corporate attempt to cash in on a lucritive market with no care for the artistic possibilities of an interactive medium.. I worry I could never achieve a level of expression and philosophical learning that I want to do with my life, and so I have thought about becoming an artist, I wouldn't mind being poor or whatever, as long as I could express myself and learn I would be happy, I guess, and maybe less numbed by society.

Reading the Hiroshi Yamauchi interview was a little reinvigorating, he sounds pretty crazy and a little proud but felt like he had heart too. But I was wondering if any of you guys ever felt like this and hoping you can help me out cos I'm really torn on this.

Thanks

[Josh1billion]

But just recently I have felt like the games industry is just too commercial and superficial, with the PlayStation Portable just crystalized it for me, an empty corporate attempt to cash in on a lucritive market with no care for the artistic possibilities of an interactive medium..

Wait a sec, I have to disagree with you there.. the PSP is a great innovation in handheld gaming.. maybe the greatest innovation in handheld gaming since the original GameBoy.

But it sounds like you need some inspiration.  Well, there's one book that's inspired me in game development a LOT, and that was Masters of DOOM.  I suggest you read it; it will help you out and give you a warm feeling.

Does anyone else know of any books like Masters of DOOM that are inspiring to game developers?  I've been looking for a good non-fiction read on this topic for some time..

Anyway, good luck, poop.

[billg3]

I've been wanting to make a game all of my life! Too bad I suck at math.

[Chubz]

I've been wanting to make a game all of my life! Too bad I suck at math.

I guess it depends on what you're doing... but I don't think EVERYTHING about making games requires good math skills.  

[billg3]

Well, programming a game is all math anyway. I can do the rest... kind of.

[Josh1billion]

You don't need to be good at math to be a good programmer.

[Chubz]

You don't need to be good at math to be a good programmer.

Exactly what I was thinking....... trust me dude, programming isn't all 0's and 1's like some people make it out to be... that's just binary code.  

[Snipe[LAN]]

You don't need to be good at math to be a good programmer.

Exactly what I was thinking....... trust me dude, programming isn't all 0's and 1's like some people make it out to be... that's just binary code.  

Here's my simple definitions:

Computer = "An electronic device capable of performing arithmetic and logical operations."

Computer Program = "Instructions written in a programming language that a computer can execute."

In order to execute the instructions, the computer needs to be able to turn the instruction into either an arithmetic thing, or a logic (decision-based) thing.  What I'm getting at is, you had better be good at math if you want to be a "good" programmer.  Personally, I think a good programmer should know as much as they can about the devices they are programming for.  By "good at math" I don't just mean able to do advanced calculus, linear algebra, analytical geometry, etc.  I mean able to understand the foundations of mathematics, its principles, and concepts.  A programmer better know about the concept of a real number, or about number systems for instance.

I'm sorry for the long post, it's just that I cringe at that statement.  Separating math and programming is just madness.  The reason people think it's not math involved is because of the multitude of high-level languages we now have to get the programmer further away from the machine's workings.  I may not have to be good at math enough to write a function to calculate sin values, because I can just call a library function ... but, as a programmer, I better be able to know how sin works and how to apply it in a program.

[Rizimar]

You don't need to be good at math to be a good programmer.

Not really. You just need to be good at giving commands, remembering things, and thinking logically

[Chubz]

You don't need to be good at math to be a good programmer.

Not really. You just need to be good at giving commands, remembering things, and thinking logically

^^^^^^^

What he said.  

[Josh1billion]

By "good at math" I don't just mean able to do advanced calculus, linear algebra, analytical geometry, etc.  I mean able to understand the foundations of mathematics, its principles, and concepts.  A programmer better know about the concept of a real number, or about number systems for instance.

Well yeah.  I agree.  But billg3 said he was bad at math-- generally when someone says that, they don't mean simple addition and subtraction.  Usually they mean Algebra, Geometry, Calculus, and so on, which is why I said what I did.

Rizimar summed it up pretty well.  Logic is a big part of it.

[billg3]

Well, I can do basic math and stuff. I got through the first "C For Dummies" book without too much confusion. It's just when I get into game programming books, I can see where it's going. Like 3D, for example. I know that learning how to do 3D with programming is going to involve some sort of geometry calculating. And the cool physics that you see in games like HL2 were programmed by somebody who was a master at physics. Know what I mean? The core of programming is math.

[Chubz]

And the cool physics that you see in games like HL2 were programmed by somebody who was a master at physics.

Well, I'd say you don't have to be a MASTER at physics to make something like that do you?

Could somebody verify this?  I have no clue about this kind of stuff.  

[Josh1billion]

And the cool physics that you see in games like HL2 were programmed by somebody who was a master at physics.

Well, I'd say you don't have to be a MASTER at physics to make something like that do you?

Could somebody verify this?  I have no clue about this kind of stuff.  

I haven't played HL2, but I can tell you this: game developers are usually able to research anything they don't know right off hand, such as specific formulas for physics.  But my guess is that you'd have to have maybe 5 years of experience in the industry, specializing in physics, to become exceptional in programming physics.

[Snipe[LAN]]

And the cool physics that you see in games like HL2 were programmed by somebody who was a master at physics.

Well, I'd say you don't have to be a MASTER at physics to make something like that do you?

Could somebody verify this?  I have no clue about this kind of stuff.  

I haven't played HL2, but I can tell you this: game developers are usually able to research anything they don't know right off hand, such as specific formulas for physics.  But my guess is that you'd have to have maybe 5 years of experience in the industry, specializing in physics, to become exceptional in programming physics.

I'd say a few weeks/months intensive study with physics will enable you to program some good physics ... assuming you are already a good programmer.