What motivates you?

[Twindragon]

I'm in a slump lately. I graduated from school 3 years and 4 months ago and I still haven't found a job in the game industry. I'm beginning to question whether I've picked the wrong career. The problem I see with the game industry is game companies are looking for experience but how do you get experience when you cant get hired to get said experience.

Is the recession really making it hard to get jobs?

I believe I have talent and this is what I enjoy doing, I don't want to give up my dreams and just quit and work some job I don't enjoy.

So what motivates people to keep going?

[grimdc13]

HOPE that something better will come along. Everybody deals with a Catch 22 when searching for a job.

I got burnout too when I graduated last year, I've been unemployed for 16 months now. If you set yourself to crack into a market in under a year..don't set yourself up..You have to be realistic with the economy right now.

Right now I'm seeking a day job to pay the bills and Work on my portfolio/resume and applying jobs in the mean time.

I read great article in a UK Mag's annual : The Complete Digital Art Handbook (Computer Arts magazine) Feature: The Fantastic Five : Forget Modeling or Animation the real heroes of 3D are the jobs that are most likely to land a position.

1) Runner or INTERN- Internships aren't to be under estimated it is your foot in the door. Runners who work at the company for more than six months or so will move on to other jobs in the company and you can get to know the pipeline and the people you want to push to work with.
Cons: Work Very basic and Long Hours.

2)Pre Visualiztion- Storyboards, animatics and editing

3)For Programmers - Research and Development of new techniques and software.

4) Technical Director- acts as bridge between the artist and the programmers in R&D. You can transfer over to bothsides.

5)Compsiting Artist-For Live action Film - Set extensions, removing wires, visual affects, lighting etc to each frame of film is the job of a compositor.

I'd also like to add Texture artist , Rigger, Lighting to the list If your entering a big or small company you have to specialize yourself into a category and tailor your portfolio to it. even if you can do almost everything...You have to start worker on the assembly pipeline.

[Mrpearlzildjian]

I am dreading the job search in this industry as well, but I am going to remain optimistic. Don't know if you have done anything like this yet, but conferences are a GREAT place to network. Grab 1000 business cards and hand them out to everyone at GDC or some similar conference.

My plan is to really shoot for smaller companies, internships, basically anything I can get my hands on.

I do think the recession is hurting it a little, but this industry is expanding rapidly, so not only are more jobs being created, but the competition is getting WAY more fierce than it ever was 5 years ago. Stay on top of your game.

Keep building your folio and challenge yourself to do other things more often like environment modeling, shader programming, learning engines, other software etc.

Find lucrative projects to get on. Look for projects that have intentions of getting some good attention or trying to go live on XBLA, let em know what you can do, and see if they need anything done, even if it's modeling crates, it's still solid experience working with a team, and it looks great on a resume.

If you're wondering, no, I havn't done any of these things yet, lol, but this is my road map for breaking into the industry. Hope I helped in some way!

[ReplicA]

I've been really on the job hunt for a little over a month now. I was on before, but just recently really hitting the pavement (so to speak) trying to find work. And there is none to be found for me. I don't know if it's the recession alone or not, but I can't help think with all those studio closures, each one sends several highly qualified, highly experienced people into the job market. Making it much harder for guys like me who have experience, but not a lot, are talented, but maybe not on the same level as some, to get jobs.

It's more than frustrating for me. But I keep at it. Trying to be better with every model and texture I make. I keep looking for work, and hoping to find something. I've gotten close a few times, but always come up short. It can get crushing at times, I understand.

One of the things that keeps me going is, I don't know how to do anything else, really. I got some options, but not that much. I'm not qualified for most 9-5 jobs, so it leaves those out. It's a rough time to say the least. But I have hope something will pop soon enough.

[Wynn]

Hang in there Twindragon, don't give up your dreams just yet (or ever).

The bright side of things is that the economey is looking up.. technically it isn't shrinking anymore and sometime next summer you'll start seeing jobs (across the board) noticeably increase. These things take time and to be honest I thought it would take longer than it is.. Hang in there and be patient and keep getting better at what you do!

I hope you find something soon!

[Vegas]

In the same boat mate. It's like pushing shit uphill (Australian colloquialism I believe) anyway its a difficult task. It's hard enough here to get a tester position.

I'm still not there but I have to thank this website for keeping me in the game. It has provided me with the inspiration and motivation to keep at it. It is a dream and dreams often don't become reality without a lot of work. I know plenty of people that have worked at it for about 4 years before getting anything.

Just keep with it, you are a talented artist, you've proved that with the work you have been posting. I hope that you keep at it and push for that job you want. I'd love to see your name in the credits of a blockbuster someday mate.

[Hazardous]

I'm going to give it to you rough, rugged and raw man, this is how I think about myself, and have thought about myself for a while.

I want to be a character artist.

I cant get a job as a character artist.

Theres only one reason why i cant get a job, its because im not good enough YET.

I dont practice enough, I dont put in enough hours of investment into myself by doing what I should be doing.

I know for a fact there are awesome top top artists out there putting in 40 - 60 hours of practice into their artwork per week ontop of their crappy non games industry job. Just ask yourself some serious serious questions man, as this is what I did.

Forget your looking for a job, forget your situation, forget everything. Just work on your character art, eating and sleeping.

Dont spend hours each day trolling the intertrons. Make art, do competitions, post your art everywhere, dont refresh continuosly awaiting feedback and responses, dont have msn open when your working on your art, dont talk to anyone, remove your distractions as much as you can.

I know and have lived with artists that function this way man, and even though that road is hard, and long for some, its the right path - now some of those artists are working in the top games companies in the world, because the consistancy won out in the end, and of course noone, absolutely noone will be a n00b for long when they are puttin in that amount of practice.

Lastly, if your artwork is really really good, a good sized company will make room for you. Of course you only need to put in that time to get there. Easy to say, so so hard to do. But get on the path now.

Now the ultimate questions I asked myself were:

1) Do I really invest enough time into myself, and my future career to be noticed?
2) Can I compete with those guys that are pulling 100 hour weeks plus to get where they want to go?

Of course my answers to those questions where both NO. But after REALLY thinking about it, and making up my mind, I had motivation.

I hope that helps you in some way man - it worked for me :)

[KEDavidson]

Hey Twindragon, i know exactly how you feel (+ a year or two)

i had an interview with Backbone -before they got boned by foundation 9- right out of school but they decided to go with someone with more exeperience. since then i've applied at just about every studio in the English speaking world and 91/2 times out of 10 i never hear back. though, one time i applied for an Art Director posting on a whim and got an e-mail asking for more samples of my work. this was about 3 years ago and i had to tell the HR lady that i hadn't expected to hear from them because i wan't nearly qualified for that type of job. :paper:

now, i know i'm not a bad artist, and frankly i know you're not either witch is what makes the constant sense of rejection so depressing. the best thing i can suggest is to just keep at it, like Hazardous said, the best artists got that way by working at it 100 hours a day and absorbing monitor radiation for nourishment. try and enter all the comps you can, mini or otherwise. make a habit of doing a 20 min speed sculpt everyday or an LP character every week. and keep an eye on the various mods in development as well. if you think you can help drop 'em a line. it's good semi-production experience and that much more exposure.

one other thing to consider is environment art. studio's always seem to bve looking for environment/level artists because everybody wants to make characters. try making some unreal or tf2 levels and enter Unearthly (i'll see you there) and your prospects will probably improve dramatically. it'd also be easier to transition over to character modeling from within a studio when you can harass the leads;)

as for actual inspiration, Hans Zimmer soundtracks work great for me:thumb:

[fieldscarecrow]

I can't really offer advice for getting a job since I have no personal experience doing so yet! But I'll also be looking for work after I graduate next year!

I think it's important to for you to keep going because you ENJOY it... and I think as long as that exists you shouldn't give up!

All the best :)

[crazyfool]

I think just keep working your buns off and enjoy what you are doing, enter as many contests as you can and just keep applying. If you want it enough you will eventually get in. Just turn your music up, turn off the television behind you, close your web browser and lock yourself away with projects you enjoy. Jobwise I wouldnt be too picky as character artist roles are ridiculously hard to get into straight away. Many companies like starbreeze and many others require you to work as an environment artist for a couple of years before you get a shot. I got in as a junior VFX artist and the job was amazing but I learnt so much on all the other disciplines through it. I reckon if I stayed it wouldnt be long til I had my shot :)

At the moment though I am in a very similar situation to many of you that is worrying me quite a bit, I left a really good job at my last studio so I could move back home and find work closer to home. I saved up lots of money so I could support myself for a couple of months while I work solely on my portfolio. Its been 1.5 months now and mid september Im gonna start applying. I just wonder if I have done the right thing or not. They have said that if it doesnt work then give them a ring and they will get me back in but I really want to make it work from where I live now. Problem is character artist jobs down here are unbelievably hard to get as the studios only use one or two and they are 15 year veterans so I have no chance. I have worked as VFX for 16 months and loved it so Im hoping thats a way in and if not then environments maybe the way. otherwise I could go freelance but I really have no idea on how that works yet and the business side of that scares me alot.

I am not sure if this scaredness though is serving as my main motivation, Im petrified of working anywhere else but in the video game industry and so work 8am-7pm mon-fri sometimes doing early hours aswell on my portfolio. is fear my main motivation?

[daphzart]

what gets me motivated? looking through portfolios of awesome artists. It makes me want to get better :)

[BigJohn]

I think there are lots of us in that very same boat. Me, personally, I graduated over 3 years ago, almost 4. And it has gotten me nowhere except deep in debt. After a few months I actually gave up on it altogether. But I decided to get back into it when I heard about DomWar. So I joined in for Domwar3, and also did Domwar4 just recently.

So I've been at it since domwar3, which would be almost 2 years?

Yeah, it's a long road for sure.

As far as motivation, I have to say the number1 thing for me is looking at other peoples' work. I'm a 3D guy, but I check out mostly 2D actually. It can be documentaries about painters (Painting with Fire, about Frank Frazetta, is just incredible and always gets me going), or it can be just looking at stuff online. Looking at the people who win competitions is also a big part of it.

I guess it's the thought that if I keep at it, I'll be as good as them. That's always enough to get me motivated.

I'd say the hardest part about that, is that it makes me want to drop what I'm doing and move on to a new project cause I get so full of ideas. So the hardest part is finishing a project. But so far I had a pretty good record with that. Only dropped like 2 projects ever.

Entering competitions, especially the minis here on GA, has helped me a lot with that. Also, having that deadline helps a lot too. I average out about 5 hours a day I'd say, but if it's the last 50% of the competition, I find myself doing atleast 10-15 cause I feel like I just MUST finish it.

[Twindragon]

This is some great feedback thanks guys! I know that I need to shift gears and start working on more environment art I just find character art so much easier but again thats a bad attitude to have why go the easy route. I find though that competitions are the driving force that makes me create art sometimes and there is seldom environment art competitions. Thank god for the unearthly challenge coming up it will be nice to get involved in that.

AS for working 40 - 60 hours a week on top of a job may be impossible especially for someone with a gf or wife and kids. Gfs dont usually like to be ignored for that amount of time regardless if you are striving for a career goal. but I also should put in at least a few hours a day of modeling just to keep my abilities sharp. This has motivated me to add in those extra hours and just learn through trial and error and dont fear failure or in some instances success.

[BigJohn]

Well, I read this thing a while ago (I think it was in a book called Outliers), where they did a study of people who are considered masters in their field. And they arrived at this number, 10,000 hours, that it takes to go from nothing to master-level. I guess they surveyed the people as to how many hours they spent practicing.

Now, I don't really know how much I buy the 10,000 hours number. It's sort-of a hard thing to measure. Especially since I'm certain that the people asked would "embellish" their number. Plus, it varies from profession to profession. Bill Gates was cited as spending 7 years straight in a lab doing nothing but programming. Or violinists spending a few hours a day since they were 5.

But there's also "offline study". Where you're experiencing something in your field, without being the one doing it. Like if you're a musician, listening to music and analyzing how it's made in your head. Or a painter looking at a painting. Or a sculptor looking at a sports-game, noticing anatomy (which btw is discussed in Painting With Fire some. Apparently Frank Frazetta gained a lot of his anatomy knowledge that way)

So the 10,000 hours number isn't set in stone, is what I'm trying to say here hehe :)

But it's comforting to know that there is a set number. It's impossible to reach that number without getting good. And it's impossible to get good without reaching that number. Whatever that number turns out to be for you.

So I guess what my overall point is, it's that we're paying our dues. It's quite literally a matter of time.

There's no need to compare yourself with someone doing a fantastic number of 60hours a week on top of a 60 hour job, and 20 hours spending with the wife and kids, and 10 hours of wild game hunting, and 5 hours of lion taming. It's just that once you've paid your dues, you'll get there.

Maybe I'm wrong, but hey, those are my 2cents

[Guedin]

Hi twindragon !

I'm actually in the same situation, even if it's only since 4 months I'm looking for a job.
Recently I have been graduated from Campus Ubisoft, where I worked so hard to reach my goals. I ended up with an award of excellence. I really thought I'll get a job at Ubisoft Montreal just after the school, and actually Ubisoft offers me a character modeler job twice. But unforunetly I never could get this job due to working visa issue. I'm french and I studied in Canada, but some mistake was done in my study visa and because of that, Canada administration never accepted to give me a working visa. Instead of that I was expulsed. All of that happens really quickly and I lose some much in Canada, right now I have a lot of debt, and live in my mother house, like the old days.

It taked me some time to get back in shape, There was some nights were I cried a lot, and felt some times I was depressed. But now I'm back, and I' m stronger than never ! I know what I want and I want to make character ! Nothing can change that, not ever my bad luck with administration ! My work will prove it.

I understand i'm not the best guy around there to teach you how to find a job since I' m looking for one since only 4 months but all I can say is if you know what you want to do then ... stop asking about yourself and work as much as you can. Some teachers told us that it's really hard to become character artist and we should pick the level artist way which is easier. They are true but I know i want to do character and only character. From that point, hard way or not, it doesn't matter ! I just need to work hard my character art.

I really think people who know what they want to do are the luckiest people. Some of my friend don't know what career they want and don't stop asking themselves, and I really think they loose a lot of time and motivation. So if you know what you really want to do, then you already have what it need to success, the rest it's "only" work and patience.

Another thing, I do think like BigJohn. I really think genius-born doesn't exist. Who we call genius are guys who have a greater determination than anyone else and make them work harder than anyonelse. So I think anybody can be master in his domain, he has to never doubt about himself and lose passion cause the people who succeed are people who don't quit from hard time like the one you're living.

Anyway ! When I look to your portfolio I'm sure you're close to get what you want. But till then you have to keep the fighting spirit my friend. I know it's hard but i'll make a great story for you child teaching us how they need to keep fighting to get what they want like their dad ;)

[d1ver]

Wow, Guedin, that was a sad story. But I guess that's the one that will make you strong. So don't you dare stop pushing! i'm sure you're gonna be real fine in just a little while. I can see by your works that you're really moving in the right direction

The same goes for you, Twindragon. I think you guys will be allright with your art as long you just keep going at it, but there're some other things that I thought are worth mentioning here.
I've seen my share of art positions applicants, being asked to help the HR(Human Resources) alot. And I've worked with some people. And as far as I see it now, YES art matters. Alot. But your personal qalities play a really significant part, thats almost as important as you skills. I really believe, that whatever skills can be shaped. You can teach a donkey how to model. But It's much harder to teach responsibility and persistence. It's hard to teach a person to have an open mind to critics and to work as a part of a team. And it's almost impossible to motivate a person to be resourceful, original and willing to grow as an artist every single second of their existance.
It's not only art, that company wants from you. If it was so, they would just outsource it. Once you are inhouse you are shaping the flesh of the company. It's inner climate and the way it moves forward. Will you be the one motivating others to work better or would you just drag behind?
Your art speaks for itself, and, when you are applying, you really should sell your personal qualities. Let them know, that they can't live without you and be worthy of it.
If you're interested here's my story
When I was looking for a job I found a company i thought would be the best for me. They didn't even bother replying for my first portfolio. I made a second one and they told me that I wasn't good enough. I freelanced for some time and then tried another company. Done some test assingments but then I realised, that I don't thinks this company is wright for me. Not good enough if you want to put it that way. So I'we written a third, braincrashing letter to the company I was trying to get to from the start. And sent a new portfolio. And I nailed it. And now I don't find this company good either.
And well, this brings up another thing I'd like to mention, from personal experience. Choose a place you'd like to work at very carefully. There's a huge chance that monotonous work at some point will totally kill your passion and you will be left to deal with the routine just like any office workers and clerks do. The more professional you get, the less the simple fact that you got a job in the industry matters. So look for a place where you think you'll really be able to be fullfilled as an artist or even as a person. There's a qoute i picked up from music "play what you want to listen to, not what you want to play.", so if you're making games that you'd love to play I could say you'll be allritght too.

Unexpirienced people have passion, but lack skills and vice versa. But I really think that passion is worth much more.

So my advice to you guys is to choose a place you think you'd love to work at and then work hard on your portfolio and you personal qualities until they have no choice but to accept you.
But I know it's not that easy, when you have a rent to pay and mouth to feed.

And speaking on the subject I'd say that yes other people art motivates me a huge lot. But I've noticed a funny thing. Browsing throug job offers from some of the great companies works for me.) I really get the feeling of "that's so has got to be me!" and get down to work with triple power. And even though I know I'm not as good as I want my self to be(oh, come on, I really suck), I will be one day. And so will you guys.=)
good luck to you and I hope I've been usefull.

[mdrid]

I graduated in 2007. Finding job was difficult at that time. Especially, the position that I wanted, 3D Character Artist.

Some guys said that if you cant get the position that you wanted the most, then just get anything to enter the company from below. And slowly rises up to the top.

In the end, I was offer a position as an intern in a small game company. I knew it was not a position as 3D Character Artist but I decided to take it. My job the whole days was doing all those small props and things that were needed for the game environment. However, during my employment there I picked up all those skills from all the artists working there. I learned a lot from them. Things that I never learned in my university time, I learned at the company. In my free time, I spent time on my own works.

Months after month working there, finally I was offered as junior 3D character artist there.

The road is rough but the word give up is not a must