[u2art]

I am a recent college graduate looking for any game companies that are currently hiring. I have been interviewing and submitting, but it's not that easy...especially when you live in FL. I am willing to move anywhere!!!! Does anyone know ANYthing about the Game industry!! Please, any help would be much appreciated. I have a degree in Illustration, and I badly want to work. Everyone on this forum has been very inspirational, you all have great work, keep it up. Feel free to contact me directly, or look at my site....although it needs an update badly!!! www.rsad.edu/~avogt all the work is from the spring 2000 semester. Thanks everyone!!! You rock!

[phreaknasty]

for starters go to www.gamejobs.com . i'd write more but i just realized its almost 4:00am so i'm gonna go to bed. if i have time tomorrow i'll write more. good luck.

[This message has been edited by phreaknasty (edited November 19, 2000).]

[Speve-o-matic]

What position are you aiming for?

- Steve

[Moonlord]

Hey u2art, you've got really nice drawings/paintings on your page.
hope you're getting a job soon.
This one I like most:

[Spectra]

Well there is www.blizzard.com The creator of Warcraft, Diablo And Starcraft.

they are looking for: Artist,programmers,Level Designers,Sound, Quality Assurance, and Technical Support

-Spectra



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Extraordinary results are obtained by motivated ordinary people.

[u2art]

Thanks for the responses.

phreaknasty...I have looked on gamejobs.com
and I continually check it...its hard to get a job without any "experience". Great Site!! Thanks!

Speve-o-matic...I would love to do concept art...I love drawing and painting, so anyplace I can do that would be GREEEAT!!! So that goes into Backgrounds, character design, environments, etc. I am willing to pay my dues though...as long as it pays something..I need to live I have many interests, and goals, but getting a concept position in games would be great right now, or any position that I could get hired for to get into the industry.

Moonlord...Thanks alot man, Its hard to keep your chin up when you are constantly being told you dont have experience, and you dont fit the job, but I am stayin happy! Thanks a bunch !

Spectra...I WILL check it out, thanks

Take care all, any help is appreciated!!!

-Art

[surferboi]

you graduated from rsad ? if not u could always sneak in the campus and look at their job resource center n see whose hiring

[Snake Grunger]

A good way to gain experience, is joining up with a friend coder and doing your own game. Even if the game is crappy, or only up to the technology of the SNES, this is a sure way for you to gain experience, even if it isn't official corporate experience. It's hard, but very good.

The reason they want experience is because they want to be sure you have a good technical mind regarding computers in general. They want to know if you know Photoshop and how to tweak it, etc. They don't want to have to train you.

Also, working in a game company as an artist is basically you being an "art factory machine" for them. You "produce" art from 9 to 5. You are required to be productive. I hope you have thought of this and this is what you want.

[This message has been edited by Snake Grunger (edited November 19, 2000).]

[marc_taro]

sorry, long rant----


The good news is your work does show some potential. (I visitied your site after seeing your post on Dahibs')
The bad news is that competition is very thick right now and the fact is you are going to have to push harder if you really want to get a good game job.

I review portfolios at Bioware Corp, (we made Baldur's Gate I/II and MDK2 for dreamcast - my project is Neverwinter Nights.) I'm giving you the straight dope, because I think most of the people on Dahibs' are honestly trying to get better.

So as far as your work - 2d is actualy a rare specialty in games. Most of the artists are 3D modellers and animators. If you're going to make it with only 2D in your skill set you have to be very good and VERY fast. You need to be drawing character and creature designs that look like the might be in a movie. Well thought out characters that have personality, and that could actually be built by a modeller - that means face studies, costume studies, front side and back, details of costumes, diagrams of how gagets work, drawings of the creature's skeleton if required - not just pin ups and figure studies. (Good examples are the character designs for Abe's World) Game design is team work, and we need to see how well you comunicate with others, not how pretty your drawing is. (not to be a bastard, but this is the truth.)

We need to see environments, a good example would be the concept for Prince of Egypt - architecture, people at work and play, vehicles, animals - the whole spectrum of world building. Game concepting is a big project - you need to be half artist and half engineer. Other examples are Dinotopia and Wayne Barlows' work.

You should probably have images with more than one character (crowd scenes - take a look at concepts for The Hunchback of Notre Dame) - and you have to do your research on machines, architecture and plants.

Also you should go and learn texturing, since you're strong in 2D. Show some finished textured characters - you don't have to model them, but learn UVW unwrapping in 3DS max - work with a quake group to get started if you have to. Learn to make tiling textures for game levels, and show some original stuff - not just stone textures and quake skulls please. (I'm one to talk! There are acres of stone in our games! But whatever, you gotta catch the eye of the Art Director looking at your stuff.)

Take a look at Craig Mullins page, or Doug Chaing's stuff and you'll see how complex some of these images are. It's not enougth to be making a good portrait or drawing a cool suit of armor - we have to see that you could come up with an entire world if you had a few weeks.

Don't be discouraged - it's the best job on earth right now for a concept artist - (next to the Matrix 2 I suppose) but keep pushing yourself.....

Also, don't be afraid of applying for QA jobs to start. Getting in is the first step, then working your ass off to impress your team leader.

Good luck, hope I run into you some time.
marc

[marc_taro]

sorry, long rant----


The good news is your work does show some potential. (I visitied your site after seeing your post on Dahibs')
The bad news is that competition is very thick right now and the fact is you are going to have to push harder if you really want to get a good game job.

I review portfolios at Bioware Corp, (we made Baldur's Gate I/II and MDK2 for dreamcast - my project is Neverwinter Nights.) I'm giving you the straight dope, because I think most of the people on Dahibs' are honestly trying to get better.

So as far as your work - 2d is actualy a rare specialty in games. Most of the artists are 3D modellers and animators. If you're going to make it with only 2D in your skill set you have to be very good and VERY fast. You need to be drawing character and creature designs that look like the might be in a movie. Well thought out characters that have personality, and that could actually be built by a modeller - that means face studies, costume studies, front side and back, details of costumes, diagrams of how gagets work, drawings of the creature's skeleton if required - not just pin ups and figure studies. (Good examples are the character designs for Abe's World) Game design is team work, and we need to see how well you comunicate with others, not how pretty your drawing is. (not to be a bastard, but this is the truth.)

We need to see environments, a good example would be the concept for Prince of Egypt - architecture, people at work and play, vehicles, animals - the whole spectrum of world building. Game concepting is a big project - you need to be half artist and half engineer. Other examples are Dinotopia and Wayne Barlows' work.

You should probably have images with more than one character (crowd scenes - take a look at concepts for The Hunchback of Notre Dame) - and you have to do your research on machines, architecture and plants.

Also you should go and learn texturing, since you're strong in 2D. Show some finished textured characters - you don't have to model them, but learn UVW unwrapping in 3DS max - work with a quake group to get started if you have to. Learn to make tiling textures for game levels, and show some original stuff - not just stone textures and quake skulls please. (I'm one to talk! There are acres of stone in our games! But whatever, you gotta catch the eye of the Art Director looking at your stuff.)

Take a look at Craig Mullins page, or Doug Chaing's stuff and you'll see how complex some of these images are. It's not enougth to be making a good portrait or drawing a cool suit of armor - we have to see that you could come up with an entire world if you had a few weeks.

Don't be discouraged - it's the best job on earth right now for a concept artist - (next to the Matrix 2 I suppose) but keep pushing yourself.....

Also, don't be afraid of applying for QA jobs to start. Getting in is the first step, then working your ass off to impress your team leader.

Good luck, hope I run into you some time.
marc

[marc_taro]

oops clicked twice....

[Jason Manley]

hey art...

how are you?

If you go to www.google.com and or www.dogpile.com and do a search for video game recruiters you can find companies that will find you job offers.

honestly though, if you want a job with a game company it is best if you put together a portfolio of stuff that is production oriented. Figure drawings and such are cool and all but companies dont sell figure drawings...they sell production art...if ya know what I mean. get that art of starwars book and see craig mullins site. www.goodbrush.com

Basically...you need more specific stuff to the job. that is why chris amaral was hired as well as andrew jones. their stuff was already production oriented...not illustration oriented. You need to move away from the "art school" portfolio and do some more specific work according to the job you are looking for.

email me if you want some input on what you will need to do to have that kind of portfolio.

[email protected]

In no way am I trying to discourage you. I know you are a good guy and that you work hard and have talent too.

good luck.


jason

[GONTARO]

I'm also looking for one myself *L* I did some character designs for Acclaim but thats it.

I constatly snail,e-mail them but no responce... and If I got one...no 3D no jobs... I guess I can't find a job for only 2D skills.

I have done some 3D stuff w/ the program called Form Z when I was in the Archtecture field. and now I'm trying to learn 3Dmax...
does anybody knows any good tutorial site for it?

thanx

gontaro

[Tinusch]

Wow, I looked through your whole site, you are INCREDIBLE. I love the illustrations especially... Dunno why you're interested specifically in game companies, because I think you could definitely do a lot with your skills. Seriously, those pics are awesome.

[samdragon]

Some great stuff u2art!

You're gonna have to keep pushing and pushing to get that first job. Don't give up! You have the talent. There is some great feedback in here. You can also email many of these companies and ask them straight up, "what are you looking for in a 2D artist position." Most of this info can be found on thier website, but many of the sites havn't been updated in years. So give them a call or email them. Spend the time you're not looking for a job, working on your portfolio. I'm in there with ya dude, I'm in the same boat.
Send me an email and maybe we can exchange some ideas or contacts.


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VISIT SAMDRAGON'S HOME

[u2art]

Thanks again all, this is really good info!

Blitz-thanks I have applied to some of those...i will look at the others.

TheMilkMan- I graduated from Illustration, not Computer Animation...its kind of crappy, but the school doesnt allow us to cross majors, so no 3D for me....yet...and its not my portfolio...just some old works. Thanks for the input!!

Surferboi-believe me I've looked in the Career Center (i worked there for a little bit). Thanks though...good for everyone looking to do that!!!

Snake-Thank you...great point in that last paragraph...I am wrestling with that

Marc_Taro-Thanks for alot of good info!!!!!
question though...what do you mean I have to push harder...work, or bugging companies??? I work very hard, all day drawing and painting, when I am not making calls or on the net. I dont think I could do anymore...well maybe if I didnt sleep...that'd be cool. Thanks though,very VERY useful Info, very honest, I appreciate it!

Jason-long time no see!!! Thanks alot Man!
YOU SHOULD ALL LISTEN TO JASON, he has great info, very talented!!!

Gontaro-I hear ya!

Tinusch-thanks alot!! I love games and I love to draw, so I figured why not?? We'll see what happens. Thanks again!

samdragon-Thanks! I call alot, they try to avoid calls alot!! I've called Spumco about 4 times and left messages...no response.

Thanks again everyone!!! This is very VERY helpful, youwouldnt belive!!!!!

-Art

[Blitz]

I think the hard part is just getting in. I doesn�t matter as much as what you are doing on the first job but that you have a job and can put on your resume "job experience" A girl from my school started out coloring by number for a children�s game company. Now she is modeling for a game on the PS2.

I know how ya feel. I to am about to graduate from a CVI college, and found that I like the concept art to. Luckily I live in Washington where there are more video game companies than trees. Just ask Dhabih, he works at Valve up here. I am still worried.

So try looking up some of the game companies up here in Washington, mostly around the Seattle, Redmond, Kirkland aria....
Valve
Monolith
Zombie
Know Wonder
Sucker Punch
(Spelling)
Umm there are allot more but I can�t remember their names.

Well Good luck

Blitz

[TheMilkMan]

Hey man I know your pain. It is very tough to get in the game industry right now. There are a lot of seasoned pros looking for job because of companies closing and resizing because of lack of profits this last year. I think your best bet would be to look at really big companies that hire a lot of people like 3do and EA a lot of poepl might say they are slave shops but hey it's a game job and if you do well there you can get a job anywhere. I would also try verant interactive they are hiring right now .

I can tell you that just looking at your online portfolio it seems like you have some art skills but there isnt anything that blew me away. I can tell you one of the best ways to get in the game industry is to join the quake mod community..same for unreal. A lot of pros come from those communities! I am suprised that you don't have more computer animation samples being that you went to ringling?? Well good luck and keep trying !

[phreaknasty]

sup, jason took a bunch of my steam but i'll see what i can add...

you're an obviously skilled artist but you have three main stumbling blocks. lack of experience (which you can't do anything about), lack of "production" art, and to a much lesser extent, your web site.

jason briefly touch on the production art issue. you best bet would be to look at the art coming out of game studios and try to create some pieces more attuned to the gaming industries needs maybe some darker stuff, and maybe some more fully developed character stuff. such as www.artbyfeng.com, and www.blizzard.com/war3/ca.shtml.

as far as you web page goes, put your best foot forward. the picture on the main page isn't your best work. choose another picture, you only have a couple of seconds to grab someone's attention so make it count. also get rid of the artists link (if this is a job getting link, your music interests are of no import) and have a clickable email address on the main page. such as http://www.pixeljock.com/sijun/futz/artv.jpg though its probably still a little bright and happy for the game industry.

main thing that going to help you though is to generate some new art that you think will catch the attention of the game companies.

feel free to email me is you think i could be of further assistance.

[This message has been edited by phreaknasty (edited November 20, 2000).]

[u2art]

Jason and Phreak, I emailed you, but your addresses were wrong or something, email me, with your address, I want to talk to you guys. [email protected]

Thanks a heap!!!!

Art

[marc_taro]

Jason and Phreak probably said it better - when I said push, I mean push your abilities - force yourself to draw more difficult things - stay away from pinups and portraits (unless your just having fun!!) - you can do those already, keep up with the hard stuff. Multiple characters in a composition, more than one view of a character (even if it's getting boring and you want to start the next one...) smart vehicle designs, creatures that could work (but look cool), costume designs that can actualy be built.

Basicly what Jason said about production art is right. Your work has to show you can think through design problems. I don't mean to sound negative - I'm more trying to relay the kind of things we would be impressed to see.

Bottom line; if you dedicate yourself (really full time, no half measures) to being an artist, anyone with basic talent can be a success in 3-5 years by simple hard work - (in my case dumb luck and good friends from school helped a great deal...)

keep us posted.
m_t

[black_fish]

Hey

I work in the game industry so I thought I could put my two cents. I had a look at your website and I don't want to sound harsh but you are an illustrator looking for a position as game artist. That's 2 different jobs. So that won't work. In the game industry we are looking for GAME artists: that doesn't mean people with experience, that means people whose work can be used to create a game. You have some very nice paintings, very nice portraits, but absolutely nothing usable in a game design. Are you playing games? If you don't, you won't find a job in the industry. If you do, just have a look at the graphics, just think about how you will do some concept for these games, then draw it and post it on your site. Like someone else said (the guy from Bioware, sorry I forgot your name) you need to have a full range of art to show, and something that will be usable in the context of game developping. Right now you are like a carpenter looking to work as a plumber.
You have talent, so go for it!

And good luck.



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http://www.jmringuet.com

[black_fish]

Hey

I work in the game industry so I thought I could put my two cents. I had a look at your website and I don't want to sound harsh but you are an illustrator looking for a position as game artist. That's 2 different jobs. So that won't work. In the game industry we are looking for GAME artists: that doesn't mean people with experience, that means people whose work can be used to create a game. You have some very nice paintings, very nice portraits, but absolutely nothing usable in a game design. Are you playing games? If you don't, you won't find a job in the industry. If you do, just have a look at the graphics, just think about how you will do some concept for these games, then draw it and post it on your site. Like someone else said (the guy from Bioware, sorry I forgot your name) you need to have a full range of art to show, and something that will be usable in the context of game developping. Right now you are like a carpenter looking to work as a plumber.
You have talent, so go for it!

And good luck.



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http://www.jmringuet.com

[Frost]

As far as I know, companies are always looking for good talent (even if in the worse cases to replace someone pulling their team behind). If you got the right stuff and are just plain awesome at what you do, then there shouldn't be much of a problem.

[Clockwork Bacon]

WOW! Great info from everyone! I too am trying to beaf up my portfolio, and webpage for game related work.
u2art,
You style looks like it could easily be adapted to texture/concept art. From the stuff I looked at you seem to have a good sense of lighting and color. I worked with a couple of different mod makers, and it was a great experience and fun to boot. Plus, it's a good way to get your feet wet, and find what area of game production you feel most at home. You may find out you want to model characters in 3d.
Mod makers are usually short on help, and would surely welcome your art skills. Just surf around the main game sites (planetquake.com, planetunreal.com, and the www.mgon.com family of sites are real good) they usually have a list of mod developers. Find one that interests you and email them. Game art forums are good places to check too.

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[email protected]
Digisaur's Lair