The Fantasy That Keeps On Fibbing
I don't know about you, but I seem to get these emails and letters asking me if I like to play computer games; the follow-up is that I should then pursue the "lucrative" career of being a computer game designer (or some other job in the computer gaming field). There are some distinct fantasy errors that are present in these advertisements, and their omission drives me batty.
1. Most computer game people don't make a lot of money. Sure, some do. Most don't. For the most part, you end up being a cog in the wheel that gets crap for ridiculous hours and the job security is really, really not there. They fire you for ANYTHING in this business.
2. You MAKE computer games, not PLAY computer games. There's a big difference. Playing computer games is LOTS of fun. Making them is not. If you're a coder, you stare at computer code the entire time and wonder why Skippy the avatar bleeds colors every time he comes in contact with the evil death ball (or whatever). Or you can do one of my favorite jobs: Fix the irrigation system in Sim City. Yeah, that was fun. Or you can test games where you get to drive around a track 897,083,281 times trying to figure out why you fell into the sky on one of your turns that you can't duplicate no matter how many times you try to do so.
3. The designer jobs are easy to get. Right. There are people who have been part of the computer gaming world their entire lives who have not broken that ceiling. Good luck.
4. Some fly by night school is going to give you the tools to "make it" in the computer gaming field. Probably not. But you will spend a GREAT DEAL of money thinking it will.
5. Girls dig guys who make computer games. Okay, that one's true. I mean, nothing says sexy like "geek with computer".
Stumble It!
1. Most computer game people don't make a lot of money. Sure, some do. Most don't. For the most part, you end up being a cog in the wheel that gets crap for ridiculous hours and the job security is really, really not there. They fire you for ANYTHING in this business.
2. You MAKE computer games, not PLAY computer games. There's a big difference. Playing computer games is LOTS of fun. Making them is not. If you're a coder, you stare at computer code the entire time and wonder why Skippy the avatar bleeds colors every time he comes in contact with the evil death ball (or whatever). Or you can do one of my favorite jobs: Fix the irrigation system in Sim City. Yeah, that was fun. Or you can test games where you get to drive around a track 897,083,281 times trying to figure out why you fell into the sky on one of your turns that you can't duplicate no matter how many times you try to do so.
3. The designer jobs are easy to get. Right. There are people who have been part of the computer gaming world their entire lives who have not broken that ceiling. Good luck.
4. Some fly by night school is going to give you the tools to "make it" in the computer gaming field. Probably not. But you will spend a GREAT DEAL of money thinking it will.
5. Girls dig guys who make computer games. Okay, that one's true. I mean, nothing says sexy like "geek with computer".
Labels: Computer Gaming, Employment
Stumble It!
posted by Duane @ 11:43 PM
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