Completely lost

[stanemac12]

Hey all, I'm new here hoping I can get a bit of insight. I really want to get involved with the game industry somehow, but I'm completely lost as far as what steps I need to take now.

I'll start off by saying that I've actually already completed a fine arts degree that covered a great deal of subjects involved with video games. Things like sound work, graphic design, 3D modelling and animation, and even a course on game design itself. So you would think after having a degree completed I'd have some idea of what I might be able to do, well if anything it actually feels like its hurt me more than its helped me, and that's my dilemma. Covering all of the material throughout my program gave me a great introductory understanding of a lot of things that I mentioned above, but didn't help me become an expert in even a single one. I guess you could say I'm a jack of all trades, I have a decent understanding of a lot of the concepts involved in games, but I am not particularly prominent in any of them.

I really sat down and took a good hard look at everything I've done in my program and honestly asked myself if I felt I'd be able to get a job doing 3d modelling, or music, or character design. While I have a good understanding and basic skill level in all of these, I can't see anyone wanting to hire someone with only a rudimentary level of all of these. So I guess my question is what do I do now to progress? Do I take a year where I just really work hard on my own time to refine my skills and become very powerful in one or more of these areas? Do I try and land a mediocre entry level job in the industry that makes simple games? I just have no idea what to do after getting out of university, I've got this shiny degree but nothing to really show for it. I don't feel overly confident in anything I've learned that I could do it at a professional level and I'm completely lost at how to go from what I know now, to being able to produce content that would be acceptable at the professional level of the industry.

If anyone can offer any kind of insight at all into some options for me I would be very grateful. I can provide more information on specific things I've touched on if that would help get me the answers I need. Thank you.

[tsloper]

Originally Posted by stanemac12

1. I really want to get involved with the game industry somehow,
2. I'm a jack of all trades, I have a decent understanding of a lot of the concepts involved in games, but I am not particularly prominent in any of them... While I have a good understanding and basic skill level in all of these, I can't see anyone wanting to hire someone with only a rudimentary level of all of these.
3. what do I do now to progress? Do I take a year where I just really work hard on my own time to refine my skills and become very powerful in one or more of these areas? Do I try and land a mediocre entry level job in the industry ...
4.... in the industry that makes simple games?
5. I just have no idea what to do after getting out of university, I've got this shiny degree but nothing to really show for it.

1. You need to change that "somehow" into something specific. Make a decision grid, and read more on the types of jobs in the game industry, and start networking.
http://sloperama.com/advice/m70.htm
http://sloperama.com/advice/lesson7.htm
http://sloperama.com/advice/lesson54.htm

2. Right. So what you need to do is get your hands dirty. Join an amateur project with others. You have to move from the classroom into the field. People with wide-ranging knowledge fit better in small companies than large ones. Read:
http://www.igda.org/games-game-january-2008

3. Even if you take, say, a QA job to get your foot in, you still need to build a portfolio.
http://www.igda.org/games-game-november-2008
http://www.igda.org/games-game-may-2012
http://www.igda.org/games-game-april-2006
http://sloperama.com/advice/lesson12.htm
http://sloperama.com/advice/lesson5.htm

4. That part of your question makes no sense.

5. You need to make a portfolio.