How to learn video game development as an adult?

[DanTheMuffinMan]

Hi guys, I'm a 30 year old recently unemployed nerd in Canada. My greatest regret in life was never getting into video game development so I'm thinking of switching careers into that field. What do you think is the best way to start learning? Is it still watching YouTube tutorials (got a playlist you'd recommend?)? Or are their better structured online courses from services like Brilliant that Linus is always advertising? Or is it better to try modding an existing game first? Perhaps the best answer is going back to college (I have 2 degrees already, Computer Networking and Architectural Technology) for a formal course? Or is it better to start with more generic programming and software development stuff?

 

I was a solar system designer/3d modeller/project manager/office admin for the last 8 years, but the company I worked for went bankrupt so now I'm one of the masses of people all trying to get a new job in a very crowded market. I've got a mortgage and about a year before my life savings are drained and I'll be forced to sell. 

 

I did a bit of programming (JavaScript, HTML, CSS) in college, I didn't retain any of it, but I do remember picking it up pretty easily and getting easy A's. I'm no artist but have experience with drafting and basic 3d modelling. I think level design is what immediately grabs my attention, but that might just be because I don't know enough about the industry and it's various specialties. 

 

I could write a few thousand more words but I don't want to overwhelm any of you helpful people, let me know if there is any more useful info I can provide to improve your recommendations. Thank you for looking.

[Sauron]

Honestly just... make some games. Think of a concept for a game that you feel is within your reach from a technical standpoint and then make it. Once you've decided what type of game you want to make it should be easier to find the right tools for the job.

[mahyar]

writing simple games in c/c++ python and JS is a good start. work on 3d modeling then switch to a game engine like unity

[PineyCreek]

You can get book bundles on Humble Bundle right now for both programming and game design.  That'll keep you in learning material for a while.

[startrek03]

There are game design classes in some universities/colleges as far as I know. I think, it might be easier to get a more permanent job with a degree in something than just a Brilliant course.

Your Computer Networking degree might also be quite helpful, since online games are pretty popular right now.

[Guest]

What do you want to do? One job. 3D modelling characters, weapons, props, texturing, organic animating, weapons, movement, inorganic animating, storyboarding, writing, game programming, graphics programming, engine programming, network programming, database programming, music writing, sfx creation, Sound programming, voice over recording, level design, level art, environment art, concept art? 

Or do you just want to make games & do everything/most everything? 

 

Theres a million different jobs & you might be qualified for some already. 

1 hour ago, DanTheMuffinMan said:

Hi guys, I'm a 30 year old recently unemployed nerd in Canada.

Ubisoft & many other companies are in French Canada iirc. French May or May not be a requirement, but Canada is a place to be for games. 

 

1 hour ago, DanTheMuffinMan said:

What do you think is the best way to start learning?

#1 pick what you want to do. 

1 hour ago, DanTheMuffinMan said:

Is it still watching YouTube tutorials (got a playlist you'd recommend?)?

If you want to make games for fun, pick 2D or 3D. The easiest engine to start with is Unity 3D. (To start) its major downside is that it can be annoying to do some in depth things. 

1 hour ago, DanTheMuffinMan said:

Or are their better structured online courses from services like Brilliant that Linus is always advertising?

Udemy has SOME decent courses. Digital tutors is a good service too. It’s subscription only, but all the courses are held to a high standard. 

1 hour ago, DanTheMuffinMan said:

Or is it better to try modding an existing game first?

Depends what you want to do. 

If you like Garry’s mod, why not make a mod for it? 

If you want to be a level designer, why not make maps for counter strike? (Get started with 3Klicksphilip, then watch guys like top hat something I forget...)

1 hour ago, DanTheMuffinMan said:

Perhaps the best answer is going back to college (I have 2 degrees already, Computer Networking and Architectural Technology) for a formal course?

A lot of games use networks with big companies. Try maybe just applying to some positions based on your current experience & qualifications. 

1 hour ago, DanTheMuffinMan said:

Or is it better to start with more generic programming and software development stuff?

Depends what you want to do. 

1 hour ago, DanTheMuffinMan said:

I was a solar system designer/3d modeller/project manager/office admin for the last 8 years, but the company I worked for went bankrupt

Do you have ANY of your work? Screenshots, renders? If you liked doing that, you can probably apply to companies as a 3D modeller & Show that you have 8 years experience doing 3D modelling. 

1 hour ago, DanTheMuffinMan said:

so now I'm one of the masses of people all trying to get a new job in a very crowded market.

Crowded but not a lot of talent so I hear. 

1 hour ago, DanTheMuffinMan said:

I've got a mortgage and about a year before my life savings are drained and I'll be forced to sell. 

Dont throw your life into more debt. You can still apply to game jobs. 

1 hour ago, DanTheMuffinMan said:

I did a bit of programming (JavaScript, HTML, CSS) in college, I didn't retain any of it, but I do remember picking it up pretty easily and getting easy A's.

YouTube “games from scratch JavaScript game engines” and there’s a video where he shows off some game engines where you can script in JavaScript. If you want to go “indie” and do the entire game, you can do that. Otherwise, it may be worth learning C++ depending on what you want to do. 

Many game engines use Lua. 

1 hour ago, DanTheMuffinMan said:

I'm no artist but have experience with drafting and basic 3d modelling. I think level design is what immediately grabs my attention, but that might just be because I don't know enough about the industry and it's various specialties. 

Relevant video

 

1 hour ago, DanTheMuffinMan said:

I could write a few thousand more words but I don't want to overwhelm any of you helpful people, let me know if there is any more useful info I can provide to improve your recommendations. Thank you for looking.

 

Try making some levels, try downloading Unity & coding a game. YouTube “brackey beginner” and pick any video series he makes. He uses unity. 

Try making some models, 

see what you enjoy the most & pick 1 or tell me you want to be indie. 

 

Ill give you contextual information based on it. 

[DanTheMuffinMan]

Thank you @fpo for taking the time to read and write all that. I think game programming and level design are what appeals to me the most, but I know from experience that that may change once I get started. I'll check out the youtube videos you recommended, along with downloading Unity and trying my hand at creating a level or 2.

 

I do indeed have an architectural portfolio from college and some examples of my work, but it's nothing all that impressive, it was very basic and repetitive recreations of building based off satellite imagery. I recall the old standard advice was to create your own games/mods from scratch and use that as your portfolio for a job with a developer, is that still true?

 

Are there any specific Udemy courses you've tried or would recommend?

 

@PineyCreek I am a big fan of Humble Bundle so I'll go ahead and grab their Game Design bundle.

 

@startrek03 Unfortunately neither my local community college nor university offer a game design course, the closest would be a Mobile App Development course at the college or the generic Computer Sciences degree from the U that includes a few gaming related classes. Although after already getting 2 degrees I am hesitant to dive back into formal education full-time.

[Guest]

9 hours ago, DanTheMuffinMan said:

Thank you @fpo for taking the time to read and write all that. I think game programming and level design are what appeals to me the most, but I know from experience that that may change once I get started. I'll check out the youtube videos you recommended, along with downloading Unity and trying my hand at creating a level or 2.

Just try a few of the things you think might interest you & pick one. 

I like programming because I like making the things do stuff. 

I like art but not enough to really get into it-some May like art because they like creating visual representations. 

Level designers may like just putting the pieces together & designing a fun layout. 

So on so fourth. 

 

Theres also Game designers but they can have all Manor of tasks. 

Quote

I do indeed have an architectural portfolio from college and some examples of my work, but it's nothing all that impressive, it was very basic and repetitive recreations of building based off satellite imagery.

Satellite imagery & photo-scanning is becoming very popular for creating game art. 

Quote

I recall the old standard advice was to create your own games/mods from scratch and use that as your portfolio for a job with a developer, is that still true?

Make a dope game, get a dope job. 

Getting a dope team & finishing a dope game is hard. 

It helps to have a completed game. Some companies require it. 

Quote

Are there any specific Udemy courses you've tried or would recommend?

See what the background of the teachers are. If they worked at EA, epic games, or some big ass company, they probably know what they’re talking about. 

 

If you like CG art, artstation or CG geek is the popular one. All the big companies post things like models from halo, rainbow six siege, so on. 

Deviant art is for teenagers to draw porn, don’t use it. 

Soundcloud is acceptable to make it easy to listen to audio. 

A public github repository is okay. 

 

Having a website of your own “MyPortfolio.website” or whatever and make it as easy as possible to see your work. Screenshots, videos. Don’t waste their time. 

First thing they should see is a picture, 2~3 sentence blurb & have a video to watch. 

 

I asked some guys to review my portfolio & he spent 1 second scrolling down & up. “Looks cool. Maybe add some videos.”

i asked another guy & he did the same thing. I asked him to spend more time & my pictures linked to YouTube videos but he said no just make the video play here. 

 

If you work in HR & get 1,000 applications, you want to get through them & go to lunch or go home, not read 12 pages of soap opera like I’m writing now. 

 

EDIT

if you want to do everything, you can go indie. It’s hard asf but search “how to survive 11 years in game dev GDC” and this guy has a talk where he made candy crush knock offs for 11 years.