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Geek Culture / Who works as a programmer, and how is it?

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Cash Curtis II
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Posted: 5th Jan 2006 17:17
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I'm wondering, how is programming as a job? Is it a wildly fulfilling job, or do you want to set your office on fire, Office Space style?

My ultimate goal is to work for a game programming company, but I'm interested in learning about all aspects of the job.

And, how is the pay and advancement? I've of course looked on all kinds of job payment calculators, but I'd like to see the truth in action.

Thanks!


Pong y2k.5 - Balls of Steel, Beta http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=60999&b=8
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Darkbasic MADPSP
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Posted: 5th Jan 2006 17:24
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Trying it for work experience at school soon

Experienced DB http://www.greatgames3d.com (work in progress site)
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JoelJ
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Posted: 5th Jan 2006 17:30
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*looks at Jeku*

Appointed by Jimmy as "MR. GAME REVIEW WIZARD GUY"
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Darkbasic MADPSP
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Posted: 5th Jan 2006 17:35
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Jeku didn't you say you program

Experienced DB http://www.greatgames3d.com (work in progress site)
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Van B
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Posted: 5th Jan 2006 17:35
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Depends.

I'm a database programmer for a semi-conductor factory, like WIP systems, tracking, and all the usual officey type programming.

It's better than digging holes.

But it bores the teeth outta me sometimes.


Van-B

Put away, those fiery biscuits!
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Grog Grueslayer
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Posted: 5th Jan 2006 17:36
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Quote: "I'm wondering, how is programming as a job? Is it a wildly fulfilling job, or do you want to set your office on fire, Office Space style?"


No matter what your job is you'll eventually hate it. We humans can't stand the same career our entire life... we must change or die mentally.


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Nicholas Thompson
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Posted: 5th Jan 2006 17:48
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I'm a webmaster and use PHP, MySQL, HTML and CSS day in and day out.

I quite enjoy it - but then again I have enjoyed programming pretty much all my life.

I think the pay is pretty good considering its my first "proper" job (ie not temp or part time).

@DBMad, I dont think you can get work experience programming professionally

One thing I dont like is I dont get to chose the projects - they chose me. I cant exactly turn around to my boss and say "I dont feel like doing that today... Can you find me something else?".

Also, currently, I'm the only Programmer in the company (the rest are publishers, designers, sales, managers, etc) so I'm kind of on my own in that way. I'm not part of a team of programmers, however I am part of a team. I program, someone else does the content, someone else does the graphics, etc.

Grog makes a good point - you cant do the same thing forever, you will get bored. Also, nowadays, there is not really such a thing as a career. You'll either change job or you'll get the sack long before you retire from your first job.

What kind of programming (you say games) you wanna do? C++?


http://forum.antiblog.com
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x1bwork
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Posted: 5th Jan 2006 17:49
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i'm a perl IDS developer (also wip type work).

challenging? yes.
Progressive? yes.
Advancement? forget it.
Pay? questionable.
Benefits? typical.

But you are refering to game development(very,VERY,different field). I've been told on varied occasions that game dev for EA and UbiSoft is slave work and will very,very, quickly turn you off of any game development aspirations you may have.

I would imagine this may stand true for any such company.

I began Information Security with simular such delusions and equal such disappointment.
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spooky
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Posted: 5th Jan 2006 18:05
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I've been working for same company for 18 years - first writing accountancy software on Dec PDP11 computers (horrid green on black screens - text only - no graphics). Then pc's came along and so rewrote whole thing in Macromedia Coldfusion and Crystal Reports.

Also design, write and upkeep loads of clients websites. Some are really complicated database driven ecommerce sites.

Like Nicholas, i have no choice in what I do. If a client wants some god-awful thing done to their website or want some really boring report written, I have to do it. Some jobs can go on for days and really get you down but others can be quite enjoyable.

Pay is pretty good and all our staff work from home, which means no travelling costs, flexible working hours, no waiting at train station in the freezing cold, etc.

Boo!
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x1bwork
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Posted: 5th Jan 2006 18:31
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Quote: "no waiting at train station in the freezing cold, etc."


....I live in Montreal,Canada. Waiting at the train station in subzero weather,is the story of my life.
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Tinkergirl
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Posted: 5th Jan 2006 18:32 Edited at: 5th Jan 2006 18:35
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I'm not a games programmer, but I work around them.

It's a smallish company (not an 'EA' or Codemasters-like game-factory) with approx 50 people in it. I'd say about 20 of those are programmers.

You'll get paid less in a games programming job, than you would in some other industrial programming places (I knew someone who did missile guidance systems - man, did he have cash, shame about the concience).

An entry level programmer gets paid more than entry level anything else (I don't know numbers). Indeed, programmers get paid more than most other disciplines in a games company (excepting management, of course).

Advancement usually goes along the lines of...
Programmer (does whatever needs doing)
Specialist Programmer (AI, effects, UI, engine, renderer, multiplayer)
Senior Programmer (you've been there a while - you're probably a specialist, have some more cash)
Lead Programmer (there may be more than one of these)
Lead Technical Director (there's only one of these - may or may not be on the board of directors).

Sometimes a Lead Programmer gets to do design too (in higher 'concept-level' designs) and has to deal with some management of the other programmers (herding cats?).

I've seen programmers come in brand new as specialists (audio programmers) but all programmers are expected to do what needs done.

As for how fulfilling it is - I can't really say. Some of them here it's a job like any other, and he lives for the weekend and the beer. Others like their job, and don't really want to do anything else. Only a few have a deep love of games - and they usually end up with fingers in design too

I'll try to ask one I know to pop into this thread, but no promises.

[edit] Oh, and while I remember - there's a lot of history of games programmers breaking off from companies to start their own. Happens all the time. However, many many of these fall flat on their faces because programming skill does not equal the satan-sent management abilities required to run a studio. But in more 'old school' places, it may well be that the boss is a coder. Not here though.
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Megaton Cat
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Posted: 5th Jan 2006 18:59 Edited at: 5th Jan 2006 19:00
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Expect any competetive industry to be tedious.

That's why I'm heading off into Rabbit-Breeding.


The cat era has begun. Shedding light onto out dark and humourless world.
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Jeku
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Posted: 5th Jan 2006 19:08
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I used to work for a startup game company on an Xbox 360 racing game--- which eventually tanked. Now I work for EA as a programmer (or more accurately, a software engineer), and I went through the typical concerns about overtime and pay, etc.

Let me tell you that the starting salary is very good compared to other non-game programming jobs (I also used to work on image editing applications, and was paid around 10% less). Like Tinkergirl said, there are specialist programmers, and I really wanted to get in on A.I. Alas, being a new hire, I was placed in my second choice (front end). So far I am extremely happy with the job.

I don't want to go into detail on a public forum, but let's just say the perks and monetary bonuses are *very* generous


Automaton Games website has been revamped! Check it out!
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Fallout
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Posted: 5th Jan 2006 21:01 Edited at: 5th Jan 2006 21:05
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I've worked 14 months in the industry as my placement for my degree. (Edit: Actually, shouldn't have described what I did, so removed these few sentences) A fairly typical bespoke admin system, I'd say. We developed in VB/ASP.Net for web-based tech.

My honest to god low-down on that is, during the design and analyse phase, that was, without a doubt, the most boring period of my life yet. It was truly horrendous. The most boring experience I've ever had. After that when we finally got onto development, it was mundane. I'd say 1 in 10 days I quite enjoyed being at work. 1 in 10 were painfully tedius. The rest were just fairly mundane.

Unless you really enjoy programming mundane things (which most business related apps are), I would strongly advice against becoming a programmer. Making games is fine, because you're coding when you want, making what you want, without all the red tape of analysis, design, testing. As soon as you're roped into the whole software lifecycle, making a typical business type application, you really really need to enjoy the techy side of solving coding problems, irrespective of the fact it's probably just to populate a dropdown box on a windows form.

Nah, for me personally, programming is a horrible, soul destroying job, unless it's your own personal baby you're working on. I'm now in the dilemma that I've spent all my life going through school, college and uni, specialising in computer programming, and I'm only now realising just how mundane it will be.

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Jeku
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Posted: 5th Jan 2006 21:09
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Quote: "Making games is fine, because you're coding when you want, making what you want, without all the red tape of analysis, design, testing."


If you work for a well-organized game company, a lot of time is spent in meetings discussing every little piece of everything. This is unfortunate or fortunate, depending on your preference.

To me, the positives outweigh the negatives. Spending 1-2 years on a game and seeing it on store shelves will truly be a rewarding experience.


Automaton Games website has been revamped! Check it out!
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TKF15H
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Posted: 5th Jan 2006 21:51
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I work making document management apps and database stuff... totally boring, espetially as I'd prefer working on games or nuclear warheads, but it beats digging holes as VanB said. Doesn't pay too good either.

WarBasic Scripting engine for DarkBasicPro
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Cash Curtis II
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Posted: 5th Jan 2006 21:56
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It would seem to me that programming is a draining, soulless job unless you're working for a game development company.

I'd hate to work on business applications or database programming. I've always been interested in game making.

I'd like to build a portfolio. First, I'd like to get 2 RPGs done with DBP. Then, I'd like to port my code to C++ and get two more done. In addition, I want to have quality modeling work to show as well as competent game design and art.

I think that projects would satisfy my personal need to create. Anything else, I'd hate.

I didn't do anything technical in the military, but I did enjoy it, I suspect because I was very good at it.

I imagine that I'll be good at it. I've taken several programming classes, and every single person I've ever taken it with has sucked to some degree. Intelligent people, but they lack some critical fanatical nerd gene. I'm also a good writer and artist. Only time will tell, I suppose.

Thanks everyone for the info!


Pong y2k.5 - Balls of Steel, Beta http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=60999&b=8
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Bush Baby
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Posted: 5th Jan 2006 22:11
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[/quote]Thanks everyone for the info![quote]
Yes, thanks everybody!

For a teenager like me, this was very helpful to narrow down what type of programming I'd do in a job.


||Secretive project: ||16.5% complete. || Rewrite: 3rd || Genre: Adventure ||
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Fallout
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Posted: 5th Jan 2006 22:53
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Quote: "If you work for a well-organized game company, a lot of time is spent in meetings discussing every little piece of everything. This is unfortunate or fortunate, depending on your preference.

To me, the positives outweigh the negatives. Spending 1-2 years on a game and seeing it on store shelves will truly be a rewarding experience."


By making games, I meant coding at home in DB on your own work. I think working in the industry is obviously a totally different kettle of fish, and most companies would have a professional work ethic, and still have a solid design phase. And personally, I think that would be pretty good.

If I had to be a programmer, and could choose any industry, I would probably choose to be a game programmer. I think you guys who are aspiring to be game coders should be aware though that it's not like game dev positions grow on trees. You really have to be the cream of the crop, AFAIK, to get a job developing for a games company. I think it's a case of you have to KNOW you've got what it takes to make it, and not just think you have.

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David T
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Posted: 5th Jan 2006 23:02
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I'd like to go into programming when I'm older (actually, that's no longer applicable really. Less than 5 years away! ).
Anyway, there are a few paths I've thought about.

- Amadeus - the people who make all the system that British Airways etc use. I'm a plane freak and so it'd be cool to work on the systems driving it

- Microsoft. Recruit graduates I think. They have a research lab at Cambridge.

- Symbian. I've always wanted to write OSes for mobile phones.

- Google. I love data mining

and, eventually, I'd like to get very rich and retire early. At least that's the plan.

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BatVink
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Posted: 5th Jan 2006 23:04 Edited at: 5th Jan 2006 23:05
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I've worked as a programmer/consultant for around 15 years or so, for myself, for small companies where IT is just another department, and for software houses. I work on business systems, currently the large scale variety ( > 3,500 users and several million lines of code)

If you want to succeed quickly, I would steer clear of the mainstream stuff. That, I'm afraid, would include games programming. The number of people wanting gaming jobs far outweigh the jobs available. Even if you get a foot in the door, moving up the ladder would be difficult. Visual Basic and C++ are a complete no-no unless you have certification and a damn good portfolio to back you up.

Quote: "horrid green on black screens - text only - no graphics"

That's how I still program! The systems now have pretty GUIs, but the coding is still done on Green on Black 5250 emulators. But like I say, I'm avoiding the mainstream stuff and doing OK.

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Tinkergirl
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Posted: 5th Jan 2006 23:10
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You want to go to The Chaos Engine Forums. Its an industry insider forum for NON-management games industry people (you need game industry references to get in - PLEASE don't bug them about getting in unless you actually do have a paid games industry job and references).

However! They have a few threads that are open to the public, including "So you want to be a games programmer." You may find useful information there.
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Lost in Thought
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Posted: 5th Jan 2006 23:14
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I think almost any type of programming can be fun. Also don't forget about the sometimes overlooked machine programming (what I do). I use 3 different PLC softwares, Quick STEP, 5 different types of CNC softwares, IMC ODS, and QBASIC at work to program machines. It is the best type of programming to me. You can make a $3 millon machine do what you want it to. And the money is OK.

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Deadwords
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Posted: 6th Jan 2006 00:38
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Quote: "I live in Montreal,Canada"

Same here hehe...

I know someone who have a job at Ubisoft Montreal, he says it's a pretty fun job, when they have free times they play network mulitplayer games He says it's not only fun, they like to do that.

Skalex - Nobody can ear you scream ... you're on a forum!
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Jeku
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Posted: 6th Jan 2006 00:45 Edited at: 6th Jan 2006 00:55
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Quote: "I know someone who have a job at Ubisoft Montreal, he says it's a pretty fun job, when they have free times they play network mulitplayer games He says it's not only fun, they like to do that."


Hehe that's cool. Ubisoft was actually one of the companies that I had the choice from working at (they have quite the lengthy interview process!) However, that would require me to relocate to the other side of the country, and EA is located in the same city I live in (Burnaby). Not a difficult decision, really

Ethics aside, getting a job in the gaming industry is good no matter who you work for, really. As long as your game gets released and you're working at the same company for 1.5-2 years, after that you're golden and can probably find a job at your #1 game software choice (as long as they're hiring, of course!). Just need to get your foot in the door

EDIT:

Tinkergirl - Thanks for the link!


Automaton Games website has been revamped! Check it out!
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Dazzag
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Posted: 6th Jan 2006 02:13 Edited at: 6th Jan 2006 02:14
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Quote: "all our staff work from home"
Git. I have to travel to bloody Slough every day....

Oh yeah, and I've done the same programming job for 10 years now. Enthusiasm does tend to fade when facing reality (most people are talentless ***** that seem to get all the glory for things your department did) for that period of time (and I really really love programming). Pay is pretty good, but if you want to get the serious money (not quite Sales money, but you don't have to sell your soul to Satan) then become a contractor. If you want to know our name for them then swap one vowel with a different vowel. Especially after you see one of them (who you know is on double the wages of your manager) reading the C++ for dummies book (cos he only knows GNU C). Such a shame the directors couldn't let your department do that work, but hey, you are the core programmers, and cannot be spared from the legacy systems! Right.... Nevermind, there is always a golf chum's (see funny handshake and antlers on head club...) relative that could do with multiples of your wages for less work.... grrrr...

Hmmm. Always seem to run into a rant when talking about work...

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
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Fallout
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Posted: 6th Jan 2006 02:16
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haha. Yep. Plenty of complaining went on in my office about the contractors getting £40/hour for doing the same work as everyone else.

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Nemo
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Posted: 6th Jan 2006 11:17
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Hi there.
I am currently working for the Northern Ireland Civil Service and have been for around four years. I build tedious business systems in Lotus notes, MS Access and other joyous things. I mostly use asp for none notes web apps.
It’s not riveting work but if you like programming enough its ok. You certainly get good experience with lots of different development software. I think my next project is going to be a .net framework affair.
Those of you from the uk will know that the pay for government work is not as good as industry but you get good job security, lots of time off and flexi time which is great.
God I sound old.

In the future we will not spank the monkey, the monkey will spank us.
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BatVink
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Posted: 6th Jan 2006 14:12
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Quote: "but if you want to get the serious money...then become a contractor"


Been there, done that. I enjoyed it and would recommend it as an experience, but probably wouldn't do it again.

Now is not a good time to be contracting, the market is dire. And yes the money is very good, but don't forget that you have to be a limited company and all the overheads that brings with it. Contractors used to have a better take-home pay than normal workers, but IR35 killed that. You have to take your money as a salary, which means you pay double the NI (employee and employers contributions), your own pension, and all your own travel, training and all other costs. Your fees are also VATable, and any non-PAYE cash you take out of the company is subject to 23% Tax.

Oh, and by the way... £40/hour is a rubbish rate for a contractor!

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Fallout
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Posted: 6th Jan 2006 14:50
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Quote: "£40/hour is a rubbish rate for a contractor!"


Bloody hell. You and your obvious uber pay. I think most people would be quite ecstatic with £1500/week! Contractor doesn't necessarily mean Consultant you know!

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Dazzag
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Posted: 6th Jan 2006 15:20
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Quote: "pay for government work is not as good as industry but you get good job security"
Absolutely. March should be the 5th round of redundancies in my company since just after september 2001 (we work in the travel industry). Gotta love the amazing amount of depression thats been lingering around for almost half a decade As an alternative the government side of our business (get a load of coppers coming around quite a bit) cocked up a massive contract, went several years late, and still came out smelling of roses, with practically nobody fired. We had something like 3000 people in the company across the planet (we tend to buy other businesses) and about 1/10th were booted out in the last few years. Mainly in our sector. Nice. Meanwhile they employed a load of contractors because this didn't effect the company accounts in the same way as a full time person did (gotta really love it). It's the sort of company that charges other parts of itself to do things. eg. one of our projects involved using MIS services of another part of the company (iPAQ stuff mainly). So we have to pay them for the work. Cough. Hell, we even have to pay for meetings. Crazy. Oh, and then they employ a load of graduates to work on the new systems, because of course we are too important working on legacy systems (still makes lots of money). So thats a pimply acne ridden ex-BK employee for a boss in 2 years time then eh? And I probably employed him originally.......

Try not to be bitter....

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
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Dazzag
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Posted: 6th Jan 2006 15:24
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Quote: " think most people would be quite ecstatic with £1500/week!"
Too right. Most of the contractors we had before being bought out (see above - about 2001) were on between 60k-100k. The lowest ones were on about £40k. I remember talking to one guy who was on a 6 months contract for 20k (about 1999). He laughed because he was 21 years old and previously his only experience was converting the text in Carmaggedon into Japenese (think it was that language), and he got paid £20k for the whole year for that. How he laughed with us developers (who knew actually how to code) down the pub that day. We sacked him a month later (because he couldn't code at all), but he still walked away with like 6 months of his normal pay. God we were stupid....

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
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OSX Using Happy Dude
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Posted: 6th Jan 2006 15:29
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I write database (ond other) programs for plastics company - for the past few years its just been a matter of converting the DOS programs to Windows. Now I'm waiting for someone to test them... Only they are too "busy"...

Been working here for 6/7 years now - the last 3 or so have been in Chichester, on my own Before that I was in Midhurst.

Being on my own is great

I use Visual Studio 2005 - all except 2 programs are in either MFC or standard C - the two that aren't in C are in Visual Basic (only because Sage wont do an interface system for C).

It can be interesting and extremely tedious, especially if someone wants something modified yesterday, or being continually asked stupid questions.

Blog:http://spaces.msn.com/members/BouncyBrick/
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Smoke me a computer chip, I'll be baking breakfast.
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Megaton Cat
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Posted: 6th Jan 2006 17:03
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Quote: "that would require me to relocate to the other side of the country"


And you refused?!?!

You're not one of us anymore.


The cat era has begun. Shedding light onto out dark and humourless world.
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Darkbasic MADPSP
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Posted: 6th Jan 2006 17:16 Edited at: 6th Jan 2006 17:18
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Quote: "@DBMad, I dont think you can get work experience programming professionally "


Guess what just happened today tho? hehe yep the subjects to do for gcse came in and one is a diploma in digital applications

Quote: "I write database (ond other) programs for plastics company - for the past few years its just been a matter of converting the DOS programs to Windows. Now I'm waiting for someone to test them... Only they are too "busy"...
"


I can try your dos app although i don't have a plastics factory

Experienced DB http://www.greatgames3d.com (work in progress site)
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BatVink
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Posted: 6th Jan 2006 17:42
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Quote: "Bloody hell. You and your obvious uber pay"


I used to be a contractor. For me, it got me an extension on my house, and 10 months break from doing any work. Time is far more precious than money. Believe me, if you have the chance to take an extended break from work you'll think the same way

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Jeku
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Posted: 6th Jan 2006 19:16
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Quote: "And you refused?!?!

You're not one of us anymore. "


It was a matter of life and--- financial instability if I didn't take the first job that came to me. I believe if you were in my position you'd do the same thing


Automaton Games website has been revamped! Check it out!
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Darkbasic MADPSP
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Posted: 6th Jan 2006 19:18
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@Jeku

What a levels e.t.c do you need to be a game programmer?

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Jeku
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Posted: 6th Jan 2006 21:23
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@DBMad - Can you rephrase your question? I don't understand what you mean.

If you are asking what I think you're asking, then I would recommend getting a REAL university computer degree, and not one from those game design schools. Most places won't even consider you before you get a degree.

Think about it--- they must sift through thousands of resumes a month, and they need ways to separate the gold from the fluff.


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geecee3
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Posted: 6th Jan 2006 22:52
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@dbmad

*points to dundee on the map. (that's in scotland)

if you live in the uk and you want a degree in games programming, there is only one place to go worth mentioning.

*points to dundee on the map again.

that's where it's at.



Ohd Chinese Ploverb say : Wise Eskimo, not eat yerrow snow.
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Jeff Miller
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Posted: 7th Jan 2006 03:24
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The UK tax beating for contractors that BatVink highlights is MUCH less severe back here in the states. This difference in tax philosophy was one of the reasons we broke away. Those who recommend pursuing a degree (if you don't happen to have one) are right on point, and I know that one of my sons found the post-discharge college tuition benefits from the Army quite valuable. You are correct in mentioning that you are a good writer. I've got a bachelors cum laude in English and a Doctor of Laws, and I'm in a good position to judge. I have always found your forum posts extremely well-written. Seek your fortune here. Love to have you in our time zones.
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indi
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Posted: 7th Jan 2006 09:09 Edited at: 7th Jan 2006 09:11
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im a freelance multimedia developer for large ugly multinational firms and i just bought a teac 42 inch plasma tv OMG its lush, after one weeks pay working for a japanese motorbike manufacturer starting with the letter y. 50% coder 95% artist

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Jeku
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Posted: 7th Jan 2006 11:56 Edited at: 7th Jan 2006 11:56
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Ahh you went for the plasma, eh? I paid more for a smaller Sharp LCD (37") HDTV, but damn is it crisp It was my first major purchase since landing the new job.


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Darkbasic MADPSP
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Posted: 7th Jan 2006 12:05
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@Jeku
Basiclly what results do you need in like the gcse exams e.t.c i'm taking ict dida (Diploma in digital aplications) for one of the subjects in year 10 and year 11 at school it's on about multimedia stuff and all this graphics ict in enterprise e.t.c

@geecee3

Yes i live in the uk if i have to i'll go to scotland sometime

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Jeku
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Posted: 7th Jan 2006 12:10
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@DBMad --- Sorry, dude, I have no clue what the GCSE exams are. In Canada we just have provincial exams. I have never, not once been asked how my marks or GPA were in high school OR University during an interview. Not sure how it is in the UK though.


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Darkbasic MADPSP
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Posted: 7th Jan 2006 12:21
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ok i'm just looking a frontier.co.uk they usally have job's spare so i'm just reading the requirements for it Work experience people at school say we can go anywhere in the country and frontier isn't massive

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indi
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Posted: 7th Jan 2006 12:22
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yeah i went with that one because it was a 7th generation screen and my mac plugs straight into the dvi port so im laughing now with a 42 inch computer monitor lmao

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IanG
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Posted: 7th Jan 2006 13:05
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Quote: "Basiclly what results do you need in like the gcse exams e.t.c i'm taking ict dida (Diploma in digital aplications) for one of the subjects in year 10 and year 11 at school it's on about multimedia stuff and all this graphics ict in enterprise e.t.c"


db mad - i hate to break it to you, but aida, cida and dida are just replacements for the old gnvq ict gcse; i'm currently doing aida but believe me you won't get in to games apps, the most you do is design a website in dreamweaver - which my teacher keeps insisting i switch to the design view instead of coding it - and thats all in html, no php, i mean i fall a sleep in my classes

the whole idea of calling it a diploma is to make it sound better - it is just the old ict course with a nicer name, the graphics part is simple from what i have heard with you using fireworks for most of it - i mean give us photoshop thats the industry standard

and if you want it this is the current project brief for my year for one of the projects
http://www1.edexcel.org.uk/dida-d201/html/SPB201Homepage.htm

and the information about the course
http://www.edexcel.org.uk/quals/gcse/ict/dip/dida/?bb=True&sq=dida

it's an okay course, but don't expect to get a job in gaming just because you have a dida, i mean go and do your a levels then go to uni, then get your foot in the door


amd athlon xp 2600+,1280mb,FX 5200 128mb,200gb,xp pro sp2
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Darkbasic MADPSP
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Posted: 7th Jan 2006 13:08
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i'll find the book we got and quote it

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adr
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Posted: 7th Jan 2006 13:14
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I was interviewed yesterday for (yet another) new job. After chatting for 3 HOURS (yes that's right folks, 3 hours) we agreed that programming, depending on the type of person you are, is either rewarding or boring. If, like me, you dig on learning new stuff and you're in the right environment then programming can be very rewarding.

I was in a job 6 months ago and words cannot describe how bored I became. I actually learnt c# whilst at work - it was more fun. Other people were perfectly happy plodding along, not learning anything. So, as the job was incredibly unsatisfying I quit and worked elsewhere....

As you mature with a particular language you tend to do things in the same way. Every problem with which you are presented ends up being twisted into a very similar problem. If you can make sure you're open to ideas (and that's why programming in a team rules - the ideas) then programming should be a fresh challenge with every new project.

[center]
iv tryed everything!!!!!!!!!! could u please just add The gun and shooting Code thats All!!!!!!!!!
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