November 24th, 2008 by Simeon
Note About Requirements For Career Success in the Game Industry
I came across this really great piece — it is short — but there is part of it that is in my view rather important for game developers in training and indeed anyone working to prepare for tomorrow’s digital media careers — “…the nature of the game industry [is] one that requires DaVincis — not in the sense that only geniuses of DaVinci’s caliber can succeed, but that like DaVinci, successes in the industry are people with a diverse group of interests who are constantly working to master and refine their singular core skills. This was as DaVinci did with painting throughout his life. He also pointed out that DaVinci was not an overnight success, but a man who began his career with years of apprenticeship. ‘What is presented to us about games and game designers are little sound bite moments that only talk about went right,’ said Daglow. The stories of long years in the trenches, like medieval apprentices had, and public fumbles, strikeouts and errors of judgment and moments of doubt like those borne by professional athletes are also part of a long career — unless, of course, you quit. ‘If you quit,’ Daglow joked, ‘you won’t have a long career. I can prove that to you mathematically.’ He also emphasized the need for team skills…”
For the full piece, click here.
