Hello, I’m a programmer and 3d artist. I can do both, but I want to start to really get into one. Which is better in the long run?
Stick with the one you enjoy the most.
Even though I’m an artist, I’d recommend programming. You can make a good game with just programming and minimal art skills (and since you said you already do both, your art skills are probably at least okay), while I don’t think I’ve ever really heard of a good game made with very minimal programming. It’s theoretically possible, you could make something like Myst which would require a very small amount of coding (maybe some of the puzzles would be slightly hard to code) and would benefit from having good art, but it’s a lot harder. And if you are looking to get into the AAA industry, programmers are paid more.
That being said, I’d just stick with whichever you like the most. If you really can’t choose, do programming for the reasons I outlined above.
art is my strong side but again the one you enjoy the most
Hello, I’m ambidiestrus. I can use both my arms, but I want to get very good at using one. What arm should I cut off?
Now seriously: giving up either is equally absurd. You will always find situations were you can only practice either. If you enjoy both things then do t give up on neither.
That’s pretty much what you’re doing. I mainly art but I can say that I’m that jack of all trades. Not a good think to be honestly but limiting oneself isn’t their. The post above is funny because it pretty much fits the scenario xD
Making effects, directing other artists with technical requests in mind, creating useful tools for graphics, rapid prototyping, “translating” engine requirements between programmers and artists, these stuff all benefit having both an artistic sense/practice, and a strong technical understanding/programming skill. I wouldn’t give up either.
I think I’ll stick to both, and improve on art, then coding.
Dude, that’s too extreme. I’m sure he’s not going to stop doing both, just get better at one of them first. I would.
Exactly, I want to really master one. I’ve decided art. I’m not going to stop programming.
The answer sir, lies within you.
Hard to decide… My first 3d software I learned maybe 15 years ago. Everybody would say I prefer designing 3d stuff instead of scripting, but since I was forced to write own scripts for my project last year, I really enjoy archivements and goals. Funny, but it is.
At the end of the day games are about a very abstract “feeling” the player has. Be it innocent fun or immersive experience. Art has been evoking these emotions LONG before games were even a thought. That is why you can start creating these feelings as a game is doing something so simple as just loading as the artistic elements come together to start to create an experience (before any game play happens).
The “human” aspect is what makes games amazing. The thought, the design, the art and emotion… not the code behind “turn this tile over with X animation” or the “technically perfect optimized model” made by an “artist”. Basically if you can easily shop the work out to a wide range of people for just X amount of dollars, it probably isn’t really that valuable (beyond the cold hard production cost).
For games, code is as important to art as a paintbrush. You can have the idea(you), you can have the canvas(computer), but without the brush(in this case programming), you would be able to convey the idea to others properly. Please don’t belittle the importance coding has to game development and conveying art. I don’t
I second this. Mechanics are the real art of games.
Code is the paintbrush for DESIGN and GAME PLAY …
There are a LOT of people who know how to code. It really isn’t so hard. A bit of time invested learning it and it is like anything else (with a bit of logical thinking). A lot of people can grab a brush and throw paint onto a canvas too, or pop open photoshop and mess around.
But, those are just the basic skills… not what creates a great experience…or a great piece of art…
You don’t design amazing buildings because you know how to lay out a blueprint. You don’t make amazing dishes to eat because you know how to saute.
Knowing the basics of your tools is level 1… the very very bottom to just be able to work in that area…the line chef (and that is why companies can interchangeably hire or fire them). There is a world of knowledge and skill and talent beyond that.
ok, I gotta stop you right there. Coding is it’s own art. There’s a way to code that’s clean, efficient, and scalable, that’s not something “a LOT” of people can do properly. I, myself, have looked at code I made a year ago(maybe six months), and asked, “Who the f— did this!!!” It was an ugly, unusable pile. As with any art, one consistently gets better with time and earnestness!!
Coding isn’t an art. It’s a science. It’s not called “computer art”; it’s called “computer science”. There is no wrong way to make art. There certainly are wrong ways to code.
If there’s no science behind art, how come there’s so many schools to teach you to do it “right?”
Programming is an art, anything you create with your imagination is art. By the way learning multiple things is good but stick to one more than the others to get advanced in it. Unless you wish to spend 10+ years getting good at both, or spend 3-4 on one and get great.
one reason I love game development is that none is a master of anything. You can never be a master programmer, or artist because it is always changing.