I have an academic degree in Multimedian Arts, (basic 3d, Illustration, Code…etc).
But i don’t know what i’m or what i like to do… I have worked in many places for 9 years, from animation, php/access db and coding touch app for malls. Mostly of it was programming and not at design area.
I’m getting tired of it so i decided to start an unity project (first time using unity, 3d game, c#, maya ) to find what i’m or what i like most. Well, i’m done and i still don’t know.
My goal is to specialize in one subject, but i don’t know what… i do want to know more about c# but i also want to draw and model my ideas, i like to see how things get together and work. I like to see my draws turning into a 3d model, having lights and now they are moving and having behaviors… just, wow!
I’m the only one? Sometimes i think this is not my field at all and it’s just a hobby (that give me $$).
I would suggest to join a local drawing class, and perhaps a course in clay modelling, these skills can be translated into digital, and at the same time enjoy the company of like minded individuals.
Make a couple of very simple small games, put them on the mobile stores.
See what you enjoyed about the whole process the most… then work further on that and getting better, in whatever you do.
Personally, I would recommend against this.
There are a lot of “specialists” and they tend to have a tough time maintaining their value. And for those who are multi-disciplinary, there is plenty of great work.
For example, I work on both sides of the fence. I paid my way through art-school as a software engineer. For the last several years, I have worked for a(the) large entertainment company as a Sr. Designer/Tech-Artist. More often than not my role is a combination of solving technical challenges and prototyping upcoming games. Because I can do art and engineering and have experience in many technologies, I can build complete games to prototype gameplay and design/refine existing aspects of gameplay for live or in development projects. A jack-of-all-trades.
For me this is the greatest job in the world. It plays to my strengths and desires, and I get to work on many games, often several at once. (currently working on aspects of 4 games (2 live, 1 full scale development and 1 in concept phase). Because it is very uncommon for people to speak both languages (art/code), people in my role often work as translator and mediator between the two sides. It is a role that really didn’t exist when I first got into gaming, but I can’t imagine doing anything else.
While I do recommend learning Unity (and well… pretty much anything you can), I would recommend against focusing on becoming a “Unity Developer”. At a certain level, specific/focussed skill sets can hold you back, better to be a “game developer”, with a wide range of tools in your belt.
@zombiegorilla – How do you even find a job like that? Isn’t it more difficult to get a job that allows you to do everything than one that puts you in a single place with a single skill set? In addition, wouldn’t many employers rather you become the best in one area than relatively good in many or is that just rumor?
Like everything, it is about working your up and proving yourself. My first work in the games industry was doing frontend design for educational games, strictly graphic design, no code. Like many smaller projects, resources were limited. So when I had new ideas about how the interface should work, I would just build out functional prototypes to present. I got to be known as someone who could do both sides. So as opportunities arose I made sure to throw my hat in the ring. So I bounced back and forth between roles.
Once I started working a larger companies, I skill set led me to UI Design, and because often UI is not full time for a single project, I just talked to various producers/engineers and got more projects to fill the gaps that used my engineering side when needed. Again, for me it was perfect as I get bored if I am doing just code or just art for too long a period. As our company grew, the need for prototypes/functional mocks/dirty prototypes became critical to not wasting tons of money. It was a natural fit for me, and there are at least two other folks here that do roughly the same thing. Prototyping often involves tech assessments, like Unity for example. I will be tasked to see if a given product would be doable/cost effective in a tech we normally don’t do. Somedays I prototype, somedays I paint pretty pictures, somedays I spend all day in a text editor. The one aspect of my life where my ADHD is a benefit.
Basically, it is just about getting into the industry and finding what floats your boat and what you can excel at. If you don’t find the exact job that works for you, create your own.
Generally employers do want you to excel in a field, rarely do we hire “generalists”. However broad skills across the board is a huge advantage. Certainly if we are hiring a developer and they also have visual skills in addition to being a strong developer, they will have a better chance. (there are a surprising amount of engineers here with art degrees). My graphic design/visual skills got me in a good level. My other skills helped move up the ladder. Though certainly not overnight.
It’s probably better to find what you enjoy and then specialize in that - rather than choosing something to study and then after years realize you don’t like it.
My feeling is that you need more of a challenge or you need something with more meaning. Think of something that you feel will make the world a better place and follow that path - that’s the only thing that will make you happy in the long term.
I have worked in many places for 9 years, from animation, php/access db and coding touch app for malls. Mostly of it was programming and not at design area.