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Your 16-year old child comes up to you and wants advise on seriously going into game dev as a career - do you support or advise against it?
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Interfectum
Member
Tell your kid to go to college to get a Computer Science degree. During the rest of high school and while he's in college get him a decent PC, download Unity and tell him to start making games. Start with web games, then mobile, then Steam. If they are any good, you'll know in a couple years. Your kid will also know if they want to do that long term. Nothing wasted because they can do a lot with a CompSci degree.
Humdinger
Gold Member
I would advise against. It sounds like too unstable a profession to me. You can lose your job on a whim. Game development is risky business. It also seems dominated by younger people, with few people over about 35 or 40 remaining - so I'd wonder about long-term longevity of the career. In addition, many game development studios are in very liberal areas like San Francisco, which would not be a good place to live.
That would be my input, but of course he/she would be free to make their own choice.
That would be my input, but of course he/she would be free to make their own choice.
elegantgamer
Neo Member
I would advise him to get a stable job that's going to ensure financial and job security overall. Then I would tell him to work on learning how to create a game by yourself as a hobby at the house. I would invest in it to make sure he has what he needs to do. This is the best way to tackle any new hobby until it's profitable.
Northeastmonk
Gold Member
Support it as a hobby not a career. If they’re interested in technology, tell them to focus on IT certifications like A+, Network+, or Linux+. Have them learn the OS stuff before diving into everything.
I went to ITT Tech for game design. I learned some valuable lessons. 1. I wanted to play games more than I wanted to make them. 2. I wasn’t creative enough to design an entire game. 3. I wasn’t motivated to learn how to code. And finally the big one: 4. I went into debt.
I love my tech job now, but it didn’t come till later in life. I had to fall in and out of other career paths before learning what I wanted to do in life.
Honestly, looking back: I wanted to go to DigiPen out in Washington, but that didn’t work out. I never sat down and tried teaching myself a game engine. There are 0 game studios where I live. From the sounds of things. I can’t imagine being so afraid of losing my job.
Tell them to self teach themself how to program, animate, and etc. If they’re interested and make something, put it on Steam. If not, they’ll probably be too busy playing games on their PC.
I went to ITT Tech for game design. I learned some valuable lessons. 1. I wanted to play games more than I wanted to make them. 2. I wasn’t creative enough to design an entire game. 3. I wasn’t motivated to learn how to code. And finally the big one: 4. I went into debt.
I love my tech job now, but it didn’t come till later in life. I had to fall in and out of other career paths before learning what I wanted to do in life.
Honestly, looking back: I wanted to go to DigiPen out in Washington, but that didn’t work out. I never sat down and tried teaching myself a game engine. There are 0 game studios where I live. From the sounds of things. I can’t imagine being so afraid of losing my job.
Tell them to self teach themself how to program, animate, and etc. If they’re interested and make something, put it on Steam. If not, they’ll probably be too busy playing games on their PC.
HeisenbergFX4
Gold Member
Especially at 16 as next week they may decide they want to be an Astronaut
I just wonder how many answering this question has ever dealt with a teenager of their very own
Clear
CliffyB's Cock Holster
I'd advise against it.
Its too unstable, too corporate, and way too political these days.
Back when I started it offered unique possibilities for self-expression and creativity, but the 80's were a different time and the business and culture have now shifted almost to a point of unrecognizability.
Its too unstable, too corporate, and way too political these days.
Back when I started it offered unique possibilities for self-expression and creativity, but the 80's were a different time and the business and culture have now shifted almost to a point of unrecognizability.
Drake
Member
I seriously think when a kid says they want to be a game developer they think that means they're gonna be playing video games all day. They don't think/know about brutal crunch time or the absolutely mind numbing task and sometimes hair pulling of job of actually writing the code for a game.
Lambogenie
Member
Yeah.
But if they are talented, make something as a side and do a regular engineering job otherwise.
I'm glad I wasn't good enough to enter development.
diffusionx
Gold Member
I think kids have the right and ability to pursue the career they want, and a 16 year old with a plan is very encouraging.
AmuroChan
Member
Only if he's shown an aptitude for it and is willing to commit to it. My son's told me on multiple occasions different professions that he wants to pursue when he grows up. Pretty much every time it was because he saw something on YT and thought it was cool. It's all surface level, and that's how most kids think. They never consider how viable that profession is, or what it takes to actually make it in that industry, or that time is limited and they can't waste years pursuing something that they later realize they weren't that interested in the first place.
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rm082e
Member
My son (12) has been asking some questions about coding and what software engineers do. He asked about making games in that process and he's interested in mods, creating modes in games like Minecraft, Roblox, Fortnite, etc.
I explained to him if you spend years learning how to be a software engineer, you're probably going to want to get a job making as much money as you reasonably can, while not working crazy crunch hours. I told him the stories about game devs sleeping under their desks, not getting paid much, only go get laid off when a game ships. I tried to explain the idea of a value proposition - what are you willing to trade to get something in return, and how much risk are you willing to accept?
We're going to have that conversation many times over the next 10 years as he transitions to adulthood and looks at tapping into his college fund.
I explained to him if you spend years learning how to be a software engineer, you're probably going to want to get a job making as much money as you reasonably can, while not working crazy crunch hours. I told him the stories about game devs sleeping under their desks, not getting paid much, only go get laid off when a game ships. I tried to explain the idea of a value proposition - what are you willing to trade to get something in return, and how much risk are you willing to accept?
We're going to have that conversation many times over the next 10 years as he transitions to adulthood and looks at tapping into his college fund.
th4tguy
Member
You aren’t wrong about the game industry but everyone I’ve ever known in a trade profession have been pretty lame as well.
Granted, the best way to fix that is to get good and intelligent people back into those fields. Just an uphill battle.
If they are a girl, id say avoid at all costs. The industry sucks for woman. You deal with horrible shit within and from the community, constantly.
If you are a guy, I’d still advise against. The industry chews up young passionate people and spits them out. It underpays, forces long work hours, and you are pretty much going to go from project to project/ company to company for years before you MAY get lucky and hired on in a more senior position and can get paid a bit better.
The job is NOT supportive of starting a family or settling into a home.
With that said, if it’s your passion and want to do it, it’s best to do it while you are young and not seriously attached to anyone.
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Evil Calvin
Afraid of Boobs
Do it as an indie developer and start off as a side gig. Avoid AAA development.
FoxMcChief
Gold Member
Advise against it. But luckily my 16 year old doesn’t. She wants to be in forensics. Luckily science will always be needed.
+100 to what other people have said, go SW and do gaming as a passion project. My 2c and experience of ~12 years in the software industry: 10 years ago, it was a giant craze to hire SWE, there weren't enough graduates to fill open roles. Everyone was getting headhunted with 5-10+ recruits reaching out daily... 10 years later, you'd be lucky to get 1 recruiter reaching out a month.
But the time the 16 year old goes into industry, 5-6 years from now... who knows what the industry and economy will look like. Maybe the next generation of AI and VR will create new sectors in the space, maybe it'll get worse than things are now.
The knowledge won't go to waste though, as of today anyone w/ experience can launch a game or SaaS for very cheap and sometimes free. Tech infra has been commoditized to almost zero cost nowadays.
My advice is to keep encouraging the kid to be curious, he/she will do great things; eg there was a 17 year old still in HS making $12M/year from his health app.
But the time the 16 year old goes into industry, 5-6 years from now... who knows what the industry and economy will look like. Maybe the next generation of AI and VR will create new sectors in the space, maybe it'll get worse than things are now.
The knowledge won't go to waste though, as of today anyone w/ experience can launch a game or SaaS for very cheap and sometimes free. Tech infra has been commoditized to almost zero cost nowadays.
My advice is to keep encouraging the kid to be curious, he/she will do great things; eg there was a 17 year old still in HS making $12M/year from his health app.
Northeastmonk
Gold Member
If you research famous game studios. A lot of them started off when there weren’t big corporate CEO’s dictating the next entry or genre type. Rare started off making games in a barn out in the UK. Back then Goldeneye was something that wasn’t done on console. FPS weren’t a thing outside Quake and Unreal. Now a days you’ve got a one man team designing FPS. You’ve got people making free stuff or they’re selling their project on Steam.
I would imagine that there’s quite a bit of competition out there. People have access to free tools and you can self teach yourself anything. The mindset of paying for game design college and getting a job that can allow you to live comfortable is rare unless you’re a son or daughter of someone already in the industry.
Even the qualified developers out there struggle. I remember seeing a video by the developer who helped make Sonic Origins and he was out of a job. He had no job to support his family. It was sad because you know he had the talent and the creative mindset to do the job.
I would imagine that there’s quite a bit of competition out there. People have access to free tools and you can self teach yourself anything. The mindset of paying for game design college and getting a job that can allow you to live comfortable is rare unless you’re a son or daughter of someone already in the industry.
Even the qualified developers out there struggle. I remember seeing a video by the developer who helped make Sonic Origins and he was out of a job. He had no job to support his family. It was sad because you know he had the talent and the creative mindset to do the job.
Topher
Identifies as young
Especially at 16 as next week they may decide they want to be an Astronaut
I just wonder how many answering this question has ever dealt with a teenager of their very own
Exactly. My kid turned 18 and said he wanted to deliver pizzas. I said "knock yourself out". Next thing I know he wants to go back to school because delivering pizzas ain't all its cracked up to be. But he is better off that he found that out on his own than me simply telling him. Then he spent a year at Full Sail University before he realized he doesn't want to be a game developer. Now he is working at a manufacturing plant. Where you start and where you end up can be entirely different and there is nothing wrong with that. Some act like a kid has to have his whole life planned out by the time he is 18. That's silly to me. This ain't a race.
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daffyduck
Member
IT? It’s just as bad as game dev.
If it’s something the kid likes, I would advise saving it for a hobby.
And if someone tells you “But there are Lotsa IT jobs.”, run away from them.
Kenneth Haight
Gold Member
Solid advice and I’ll be giving the same advice to my kids. I’ll not be pushing them in to any career, I want them to be happy and as financially stable as possible. If they end up curing cancer as a by product so be it, but I’ll not be pressuring them.
I am in IT and earn good money but it’s not as if I’m massively satisfied. You sometimes just end up doing what society needs most or you just fall in to a career. I’m trying to not take things too seriously as I get older. I am not too good for any job, I’d scrub toilets to feed my family if I had to.
I’m a great believer in that no matter how hard you work sometimes things just are not meant to be. There’s a lot of luck involved in things also.
Very insightful to see parentGAFs thoughts on this
Gamerfan81
Member
Let the kid find out on their own if they are cut out for the business or if they are interested after awhile. When they're young, they tend to change their minds on what they want to do and it's not set in stone.
In college lots of people change majors, and at least half of the time the people majoring in something won't even work in that field upon graduation.
My buddy has been a concept artist for 20 years in the industry and has worked on a few major titles. Originally he majored in computer science but change majors and transferred to one of the top art schools after taking a few introductory art classes for fun at the first college he was in.
I say let the kid find out if it's their passion.
In college lots of people change majors, and at least half of the time the people majoring in something won't even work in that field upon graduation.
My buddy has been a concept artist for 20 years in the industry and has worked on a few major titles. Originally he majored in computer science but change majors and transferred to one of the top art schools after taking a few introductory art classes for fun at the first college he was in.
I say let the kid find out if it's their passion.
There are major game-dev hubs in Texas(Austin), North Carolina and several other locations if you need a more conservative lifestyle.
Though I gotta ask, do we even know OP is in US? All answers seem to be assuming it but I dunno myself.
Tbh - we live in one of the worst times to be giving out advice about this because most of the tech-jobs that are popular today may not exist 10-15 years from now.
But apocalyptic predictions aside - many game-dev roles (engineering, production, management) come with completely transferable set of skills (and in general case - candidates from game-industry bg. are better qualified than traditional tech-route, especially in engineering), so while game industry itself is unstable(though that seems to be common across all software/tech), it does provide great avenue for its workers to switch elsewhere later (and other tech pays better so it's an upward mobility in that sense).
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FalconPunch
Member
I would sign my son up for some gamedev courses on Udemy and ask him to make finish the courses. Then after he finishes, he'll need to make several games between now and the time he turns 18. Then after that, we can see review what he's created and see if he still has the same enthusiasm about game development.
If it turns out that he doesn't have the aptitude for it, I'll advise him to do something else. If he has the aptitude for it, then I'll support him as best as I can.
If it turns out that he doesn't have the aptitude for it, I'll advise him to do something else. If he has the aptitude for it, then I'll support him as best as I can.
newtypepilot
Member
support but tell them that is much more difficult than it appears. I would also suggest they get into coding because you can can into gaming as a software engineer but these skillsets also lets you into other fields.
mayham2199
Member
I'd tell him to go for it and help him get himself setup as best he can to pivot if he needs to.
Topher
Identifies as young
Why? IT is a solid field to find a career in. Have you worked in IT before?
Solid advice and I’ll be giving the same advice to my kids. I’ll not be pushing them in to any career, I want them to be happy and as financially stable as possible. If they end up curing cancer as a by product so be it, but I’ll not be pressuring them.
I am in IT and earn good money but it’s not as if I’m massively satisfied. You sometimes just end up doing what society needs most or you just fall in to a career. I’m trying to not take things too seriously as I get older. I am not too good for any job, I’d scrub toilets to feed my family if I had to.
I’m a great believer in that no matter how hard you work sometimes things just are not meant to be. There’s a lot of luck involved in things also.
Very insightful to see parentGAFs thoughts on this
I'm a software developer, but my undergraduate was English Lit. So yeah......you can imagine I had a bit of winding road from one to the other. That goes back to what you are saying about sometimes things "are not meant to be". But I'm happy with the way things turned out for me. I just hope the same for my sons, whatever they decide to do.
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Wolves hunt in packs
Gold Member
Sounds like an awesome job, why not?
BbMajor7th
Member
Tell them to go into games marketing instead:
- Better pay
- Better hours
- More variety
- More perks
- More secure
- Better pay
- Better hours
- More variety
- More perks
- More secure
Bumblebeetuna
Member
Full support always, like any good parent would.
LazyParrot
Member
I'd support them no matter what, but I'd feel a lot better about it if they were looking to work on the technical/programming side of things (ideally with a CS degree to fall back on) rather than the art side. Artists already get treated like shit in this industry, and AI is just gonna make it worse.
MiguelItUp
Member
I feel it's fair to support your child when they want to do something they love and/or are passionate about. I'd honestly hope the majority would be open to that. I just think it's also fair to present the facts that come with it all. As someone that's worked in the industry for 15+ years, I've always loved it. But it's certainly not for everyone, but that could honestly be said about anything.
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viveks86
Member
I will fully support it. Firstly, the child asking me anything at 16 is a big win for me as a parent. Secondly, there are way worse careers out there than being a developer in the games industry. If it doesn't work out, you can still hop in to tech or other media, depending on skill set. It's not some niche that you are stuck with for the rest of your life, especially early on.
f~N_CH_1:3:3:3_SushiBoat
Member
Full support. Dev camps and all that. Though i would encourage a legit CS degree with A+ certifications from a legit school. Then have a focus / specialization in whatever (modeling, anim, code etc.)
bundylove
Member
16 is too early to know what you really want.
Get a real profession first and do this as a hobby on the side.
I would worry more and more about AI in the tech industry.
Lot of people got already laid off.
I would go for something that is not a threat to AI so something AI cant replace.
Or something that can be a great benefit to AI.
One thing for sure . Trades are and will be always safe. And then starting your own business and become fully independent would be the next step.
Get a real profession first and do this as a hobby on the side.
I would worry more and more about AI in the tech industry.
Lot of people got already laid off.
I would go for something that is not a threat to AI so something AI cant replace.
Or something that can be a great benefit to AI.
One thing for sure . Trades are and will be always safe. And then starting your own business and become fully independent would be the next step.
daffyduck
Member
*Way* more applicants than jobs. And it can be easily outsourced. Not a solid field at all.
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