Introducing, Splash Damage: A Tale of Two Game Students
matt chandronaitErin and I met through 1UP a few years ago when we were both working our way through game design programs at different schools. I was at The Art Institute in San Francisco and she was attending The University for Advancing Technology in Phoenix, Arizona. We've had countless discussions in that time about games, our classes, and now, our careers. After school, Erin went right into development as an Associate Producer and I went to work for 1UP. Despite our different career paths, we still had a lot to talk about. We wanted to extend that conversation to you all with a cooperatively written blog. We've named it Splash Damage. Every week, Erin and I will discuss and share our various experiences from school--along with some of the things we learned along the way--and hope that other prospective or current game students will join in on the talk.
I think I was probably 15 when my life plan became: videogame industry or bust. I spent a couple years attempting programming at first because that's what I thought I had to learn, but I really struggled with it. Later, I heard The Art Institute (Ai) schools were going to start offering degrees in Game Art & Design. I immediately looked into it and the curriculum sounded perfect: very little math. Once I saw that I could take classes called Level Design and Game Design and Gameplay, I was sold. I moved out to San Francisco in early 2003 to start the program. How did you hear about UAT?
Being an Arizona native, you'd expect that I'd have a better understanding of the universities in-state. When I was in high school I became attached at the hip to "Electronic Gaming Monthly" and felt that game journalism was my big thing. Much to my surprise, during my Junior year of high school my friend's mother informed me that there's a school in Arizona for Game Design: UAT. When I realized I wanted to be in game development, it seemed almost perfect timing. Fate? Maybe. Needless to say I enrolled June 30th, 2004 and haven't looked back since. How did starting at Ai work for you, Fresh? Were there orientations and introductions to all aspects of game development?We had a standard orientation that introduced all of us to the school, but when they broke us into groups by major things got really interesting. For the first time I was sitting in a room with 30 kids that all wanted to do the same thing I did: work in the video game industry. We talked about what companies we wanted to work for, our favorite genres and developers, and where we came from. It was cool; we were all part of this new thing and nobody knew anyone. It birthed this sort of instant community. I'll never forget walking the halls in student housing my first night and seeing a bunch of guys in their apartment working away at building a Counter-Strike level. It was the first time I'd ever seen a group of people working on a videogame right in front of me. Did you have any kind of background in art or with any of the tools before starting school?Actually, I didn't even know how to use Photoshop or knew what HTML meant. When I enrolled at UAT I was eligible for their JumpStart program. In the JumpStart program I started at UAT half a semester before the Fall and I was enrolled in 9 credit hours, but I had to do a full semesters work for those 9 credits. The cool thing about the program is that you are always with the same people, so it was nice getting to know everyone. If I maintained a high GPA for my first year, the University would pay for the classes. It was pretty nice finally being around people who wanted to be in the same industry. The hard part for me was that I had no clue what I wanted to be. No clue at all. Did you get it right away at Ai—what it was you wanted to be?I've never heard of a JumpStart program. It sounds nice. I had no background with any of the art or tools that I was about to learn so a head start would have been great. This feels weird to say now, but, at the time, I was 200% positive that I was going to do nothing but make games. I read every article I could on designing games or postmortems. I planned to learn the tools and work my way up as an artist to a level or gameplay designer and then eventually a design director or something. My dream was to make my own games in the end. I noticed that most of the people in my class were thinking the same thing. We all thought we were the next Miyamoto, Wright, Sakaguchi, or whatever. Nerds.I saw the same thing at UAT! Problem was it took me two years to figure out I was fit for production. I knew there was no way I could do programming and as an artist I didn't think I could cut it. I was a writer (and still am), however I didn't feel I could make it in that direction either. When I realized that I enjoyed Excel and organizing things, it only seemed natural that I'd become a producer - specifically, project management, not the designer side of production. That's where I ended up.The first thing I used to tell prospective students is to approach the program with an open mind. I don't know if it was the same at UAT, but the Game Art curriculum at my school covered everything from fine art to programming. So, for the first couple of years you get a chance to dabble in all the different stops along a typical game development pipeline. Forget what you think you're gonna be and explore each area thoroughly to see what clicks. Find what your strengths and weaknesses are and learn to leverage that knowledge into creating a career path. Also, be ready for a lot of surprises along the way.I wouldn't say I explored every avenue in my pursuit, but we had what was known as a Technology Core set of classes that were mandatory (like Gen Ed) to give each student a well-rounded "tech" background. While I would argue that I would have liked to see more coding than what I was given and more to select from for Project Management courses, once I realized Production was really my niche I hooked on immediately. One problem in the industry, though, is that there's no real standard for titles. It's hard to say you're a particular title and expect everyone to really understand what it is you do. But we can save that topic for another day.
We'd love to hear about other experiences students have had. What school do you go to? How did you hear about it? Also, let Erin and I know what kind of topics you'd like to see us cover as well as any other feedback here: jayfresh (at) area5.tv
Twitter: Jayfrechette/ActionFigureE
Reader Comments (28)
Erin, how did you get yourself that first associate producer position. Where did you start? I am just after finishing up a masters degree and would love to find a way into the industry. Its always good to learn from other peoples experiences.
I'm at the 4th semester now at AAU here in SF and so far everything Jay and Erin have been saying has rung true. Everyone believes they are going to be the next Kojima with their astounding ideas about "collecting souls" and "Fighting to save the world", but as of late there has been a big purge of students either changing their major or dropping out of the program all together. It's a bit disheartening, but also kind of a relief because you realize that you are still there pushing through the work and really long hours because this is what you want. When did you guys notice your classmates finally cracking and just lose the ambition they came into the course with?
Also what was the moment when you're teacher "broke" you? I'm mean being broken as you shatter that glass ceiling and realizing you aren't all you thought you were and you really don't understand what it means to actually make a game?
Re: Conor Crowley
Actually I worked with my Industry Career Services Coordinator at my University to land my first job. I started as an Assistant Producer with Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment in Mesa, AZ. My ICSC worked to find jobs in the industry and notified me about that job in particular. He worked with me on toning my resume' and gave me tips on my Cover Letter. I also read magazines on how to interview well and was just myself the entire time - I didn't want to propose to be a different person if I couldn't live up to it. If you're at an institution now, I'd suggest going through Career Services as a start - but make sure to browse Gamasutra, LinkedIn Jobs, and tons more sites for job opportunities. Use your contacts too - a large large percentage of job hires in the industry I'd say most of the time is through connections. Good luck with the job hunt! Go to GDC, definitely. :)
Re: Louie
I never really had a "broke" moment with a teacher. I knew coming into it that I wasn't the next Jaffe or the next Kojima. But when I started, I didn't have a clue as to what part of the industry I wanted to be in so I didn't trust what my abilities could be. Now that I've realized Production is my area, I'm finding each and everyday that there's something new to learn about my position and that I'll never truly be the best because our industry is changing and dealing with people will never be a one-way effort.
Absolutely. By the third year I think about ten people were left from an original class of over thirty. I think the problems stems from a lack of knowledge, people assume that if they like playing games then making them must be fun too. Making games is very different and I think that rude awakening startles a lot of kids causing them to look for an exit.
My bubble was burst not by a teacher but a quest speaker to the school. Neil Young, when we was working for EA spoke at an IGDA meeting and when asked if having a degree in gaming put someone ahead he flatly responded, "no". That's when I knew it was going to take more than just showing up for class to get somewhere.
All this is making me nerves since I'm going to Full Sail University this upcoming April for Game Design.
@Angel R.
What are you nervous about?
@Louie: While I didn't go to school for game design (I went for graphic design), I recognized your story of people falling by the wayside and quitting the program. From the people I've talked to, this is a perfectly normal thing to happen in any technical/creative major. I think the thing deal breaker for a lot of people is that they realize they like the IDEA of becoming a designer rather then actually BEING a designer. That make sense? That's how I've explained it to myself, anyway.
Also, if you want to do something, just do it. I wanted to design movie posters, so I left Kentucky, moved to L.A. and that's what I do. You have to be willing to go anywhere to do what you love. After school, you can only hold yourself back. And Jay/Neil Young is right. It takes more than going to class, you have to breathe what you do. Like I said, I didn't go to school for game design but I figure all of this is applicable in any creative field. Best of luck!
And since everyone else is doing it....
http://www.twitter.com/gravitybomb
I've got to agree with Angel R. I'm hoping to go to UC Santa Cruz's Computer Science - Game Design major in the Fall, which focuses on the tech side of things but allows students to dabble in art, film, music, production, that kind of thing. I've reached that point where I'm really not sure what I want to do with my life, as for years I wanted to be an artist, but never put in the time to practice, and then I thought maybe I could be a programmer, but I've always maintained I'll never get into the field without formal classes.
So basically, I don't know if I'm making the right decision in choosing this major. Still, I know what school I want to go to, and I certainly love games, so it can't be a bad area to start exploring.
Anyway, the point is, I'd love to hear more from you (Jay and Erin) about your experiences majoring in game-related fields. Love the blog so far, please keep it up!
The hardest part is figuring out. It took me 2 out of 3 years in college (summers too!) figuring it out. And the entire time I worried about if it was the right thing.
But I'll tell you this. When I realized Production was my "thing," I realized that excel charts and organizing things really made me happy and that was the natural direction to go into. And since then it's felt right and I've been happy - regardless of how hard it can be.
So dabble in what you can. Learn about anything and everything if you're not sure what it is you want to be in the industry. Like Alex stated, it's something that you need to live/breathe because you'll be doing a lot of it. And you have to be happy too.
I don't know how UC Santa Cruz structures its courses, but if you're not sure what you want I'd suggest trying to expand your knowledge base and then going in the direction you best prefer/want.
I've just finished an MA in Animation (focused on realtime animation) and currently on the hunt for a job. Prior to that I did a degree called 'computer and video games' - one of the first of it's kind in the UK, which started out exploring all aspects of game creation programming, art, design, project management etc and then specialized as the course went on. I too wasn't sure exactly which role I would fit best, although I focused in on the art and design side. Even during my animation masters I found my self working as a designer/animator on game projects rather than a pure animator.
I'll be interested to read future blog posts. What do you guys renin the indie scene will explode in the next few years, and become a much more viable route into the industry? I'd like to know were you guys see yourselves in a couple of years time.
Oh, you kids and your schooling for video games. In my day . . . wait, I'm only 28. ;)
Cool article.
Thats cool hearing about what you guys did in school and how it got you to where you want to go. I am looking to get into the gaming press since I enjoy writing but cannot do any art or programming I figured that was the way to go. Right now I am at Arizona State University for a journalism degree. Its very focused on political and hard news. Is getting a journalism degree the right way to go to try to become a video games journalist? Or should I try more video game centered majors?
Oliver, from all I've read about getting into the games industry (or getting an education and getting into a field in general), it's not so much what degree you have, but that you exhibit an impressive portfolio of work and skills. If that journalism degree will help you start up a successful blog or get freelance work for smaller publications or something, then it's worth doing. If you think you're already a good enough writer, then you could try and get a better grounding in game design, but will those art and programming courses really increase your ability to appreciate the medium?
I guess take all this with a healthy heaping of salt, seeing how it's coming from a high school senior, but just like Jay/Neil Young/Alex Griendling said, it's not what courses you take or what degree you get, but how skilled and dedicated you are to the field you want to get into.
Best of luck, anyway. I'd certainly like to look into games journalism, too - maybe it'll turn out that that's the aspect I'm most interested in when I start trying out different aspects of the industry in school.
Getting into game development was my dream until I learned about the production cycle and CRUNCH. Now, I'm more interested in the business side of the equation.
PS: This inspired a blog post (linked in my name).
After years of wondering around from job to job, getting an IT degree and going overseas for a year, I've finally realized that my one true passion was to make games. I've enrolled at QANTM in Australia for Game Design and starting this week. I actually cannot wait.
@Erin
Going to Full Sail for a Game design major, but once I'm in I don't feel like pursing it anymore.
Is hard to make these kind of choices if you don't know how it works exactly, but you love the work that's being done with it.
I am a senior at TSU with a Mass Comm./Journalism-electronic media and business minor. I love games but have little hope in working in the games production side of things especially in this economic climate. I have a friend who went to Full Sail for a video game degree and did get some offers but does still not work in the industry. There have been a couple of vocal game developers about the usefulness of a video game degree. I think that a B.A. will be far more valuable than any associate degree. The game industry is like other industries and has a higher emphasis on talent, past experience rather than education. The education is a guaranteed "foot in the door" as well as higher pay.
Just wanted to say great post!
I'm currently doing my last months at Lulea Technical University in Sweden. It's only a 2 year Vocational degree in Game Design but better than not doing it at all. I recognize myself in your writing and at first I also thought I would be the next Wright.
I've gotten a little more realistic about my situation and is currently working on my final project for the term. It's a thesis about prototyping in LittleBigPlanet, check it out at http://thatgamedesignstudent.wordpress.com/.
My class is actually the first and probably last class of our program. Since many have been jumping ship and there's only a few of us left I think Alex Griendling is right about people liking the idea of being something than actually being something.
I will continue to follow this feature. Keep it up!
"Forget what you think you’re gonna be and explore each area thoroughly to see what clicks. Find what your strengths and weaknesses are and learn to leverage that knowledge into creating a career path. Also, be ready for a lot of surprises along the way."
This is great advise for all college freshmen, no matter what degree you're pursuing.
Thanks for the advice, gave me a few things to think about. I'm thinking of doing the animator dealio, but why not try other things while at college? WHY THE EFF NOT?
Interesting read. I remember back in high school I felt the same way: my biggest ambition was to get into game design. However, once I got to college (regular state school) and took programming, dabbled in level design in my dorm room, etc., I found that this really wasn't what I wanted.
I've since switched my major to English for a lack of anything better, but what I have been doing is studying Japanese hardcore, which I acutally love to do. I started back in my senior year of high school and now I'm finishing up a year abroad in Hirosaki, Japan. I hope that through my Japanese ability I can find an in on the video game industry, either through the translation, production or business side.
Nice post. Looking forward to reading more. Great discussion as well.
On a side note, will Matt be participating in this at all? I know he has an animation background and I think remember him saying he was working in the industry for a bit. I'd be interested to read about his experiences coming from the animation angle.
Great blog guys, I really enjoyed the way it was styled. I've been in contact with AI Sacramento about their game design program for about a year. I originally thought I'd be starting about now but since the economy has crapped out my wife and I haven't felt confident that we could find reliable jobs in Sacramento thus delaying our move. I want to get into game design so bad but I feel I cannot do it without the guidance of schooling. I've always wanted to do something in art, initially I wanted to be a comic book illustrator, then a toy designer, but for the past 4 years I've wanted to get into the game industry on the art side of things. I really just hope that some day things work out and I can actually get started in the program, it feels like it's taking forever and like it will never happen. It makes me wish I had had things figured out the day I graduated high school but maybe I needed time to mature. I really look forward to reading more of your experiences in school and about getting into the industry.
Perhaps its my over 30 age, perhaps its my prosthetic elbow, but I am starting to get confused. Area5.tv is a website, the owners have a youtube channel called area5, but the videos are called CO-OP, except when they are called Snacks. All this has nothing to do with all the other stuff that gets brought up gaming related with Area5 in the title (or does it? Like the rez thing). Returning to the site, which I guess is the site version of the youtube channel, now has something called SplashDamage. If you click on SplashDamage, or the two people, it just gives that image on a blank web page. What does splashdamage have to do with Area5, or CO-OP , or snacks?
Too much my friends, and too fast. For those of us with robotic elbows, apply some deft graphic design on the header and explain the various parts.
I have a question....Erin and Jay, howd you two get to be so awesome?
Seriously though, great piece. Id love to see you both explore all facets of the gaming industry (production, testing, marketing, journalism, video, etc). Not enough websites discuss how to make a living off of games so Id love to see Area5 jump on that ;)
My little piece of advice is to hunt hunt hunt. If you want a job at a specific company be diligent, dont just wait for a post on craigslist... look for jobs on the company page, send resumes, talk to people, etc.
Also a piece of advice a former coworker at 1UP gave me was this...apply for any job, even if its beyond your skill level. If you dont get it youll learn what skills you need to develop or you might even get the job...which would be super awesome ;)
I really enjoy this. I look forward to seeing more.
awesome post.....I've been in the IT industry for awhile now but my passion has always been in gaming
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