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Video game developer should be thought of as a job of last resort for a programmer. I mean no disrespect to anyone saying that, it’s just an honest thought on t

Video game developer should be thought of as a job of last resort for a programmer. I mean no disrespect to anyone saying that, it’s just an honest thought on the state of the industry. Conditions have been rough for 20years now and rewards are non existent for the <1% of games that are a success since there’s no significant profit sharing in the industry.

fooker 2y ago
Agreed. I got into programming as a kid wanting to make games but the sorry state of the industry meant I have steered clear.
brandall10 2y ago
20 years? Took an OpenGL class in '96 as part of my CS degree at UCSD and fell in love with graphics programming. Was certain I found my 'passion'. Then I researched ops at video game studios and the state of the industry in general and noped out pretty quickly after finding out how much of a meat grinder it was.
- OnionBlender 2y ago
  I had a similar experience. Graduated in 2006. My first game programming job offer was $25,000 CAD. I ended up join a non-gaming tech company for $60,000 CAD. I do AR/VR stuff now, so that's at least related to graphics.
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johnnyanmac 2y ago
Ironically enough, the skills needed are so specialized that it's hard to make as a last resort unless you're focusing more on server backends than the core game loop itself. >rewards are non existent for the <1% of games that are a success since there’s no significant profit sharing in the industry. yeah, that's why the ideal endgame is to make your own game. Something you own, and/or possibly gather funding/teams for so you can play on your own terms. But you gotta grind to get to that point. I'd say it's more important to have a plan going in than to necessarily steer clear overall.
AlexandrB 2y ago
Job of last resort or a hobby. If you have a passion and a good idea you can be moderately successful in the indie scene (and there are always outliers like Notch or Concerned Ape) but I wouldn't quit your day job to pursue that until there's some evidence of market interest in the game you're making.

fooker 2y ago

Agreed. I got into programming as a kid wanting to make games but the sorry state of the industry meant I have steered clear.

brandall10 2y ago

20 years? Took an OpenGL class in '96 as part of my CS degree at UCSD and fell in love with graphics programming. Was certain I found my 'passion'. Then I researched ops at video game studios and the state of the industry in general and noped out pretty quickly after finding out how much of a meat grinder it was.

OnionBlender 2y ago
I had a similar experience. Graduated in 2006. My first game programming job offer was $25,000 CAD. I ended up join a non-gaming tech company for $60,000 CAD. I do AR/VR stuff now, so that's at least related to graphics.

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johnnyanmac 2y ago

Ironically enough, the skills needed are so specialized that it's hard to make as a last resort unless you're focusing more on server backends than the core game loop itself. >rewards are non existent for the <1% of games that are a success since there’s no significant profit sharing in the industry. yeah, that's why the ideal endgame is to make your own game. Something you own, and/or possibly gather funding/teams for so you can play on your own terms. But you gotta grind to get to that point. I'd say it's more important to have a plan going in than to necessarily steer clear overall.

AlexandrB 2y ago

Job of last resort or a hobby. If you have a passion and a good idea you can be moderately successful in the indie scene (and there are always outliers like Notch or Concerned Ape) but I wouldn't quit your day job to pursue that until there's some evidence of market interest in the game you're making.