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I would like to wish all my readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Hope you’re enjoying the holidays like I am with family and friends. I will be back next week, with new blogs so be on the look out. Until then, enjoy the rest of the holidays, be safe and I’ll see you in the new year!

Ceejay

Congratulations; the day has come! The one you’ve been working towards for so long! The excitement is at an all-time high and the opportunities seem endless. You should be proud of all that you’ve accomplished; you deserve it! After all the celebrating and well wishes from classmates, faculty, family and friends, reality sets in. What do I do, now that I’ve graduated? No need to worry; here are some things you can do in the meantime:

1. Take some time to rejuvenate. Whether your game design program took 1, 2 or 3 years to complete, it’s important to take time for yourself. Take a moment to acknowledge what you’ve accomplished then do something that helps you relax. If graduation is in the summer; take a 2-week vacation. If it happens to be during the winter season; enjoy the holidays.

2.  Look for a Job. This may seem obvious, but read carefully to what I’m about to write. When I say “look for a job” not only does that mean in your field, but also elsewhere. Times are tough and you can certainly attest to the fact that finding any job doesn’t happen overnight. We all need some source of income and sitting on your butt won’t make it come any faster. If you happen to get a part-time job at your local Blockbuster or grocery store, remind yourself that this is only temporary. Keep your focus on the big picture and that there’s more than one avenue in reaching a destination.

3.  Keep up on your skills. I’ve recently graduated from a level design program, at what may be considered the worst time of the season, winter time. Usually at this point, no one is hiring new employees and production is over for the year. Not to mention, everyone who’s off for the holidays. So in my mind, I know I won’t be getting a job any time soon. However, this is a perfect opportunity to “perfect” my skills and further explore my field. I encourage you to do the same. Whether you’re an animator, 3D artist or LD, the best thing you can do for yourself is to keep practicing what you’ve been taught. Are there past assignments you could’ve been better? Here is the perfect opportunity to do so.

4.  Volunteer at your campus. A former classmate of mine tutors students at our campus during his spare time. This is a great idea! Not only do you share the knowledge you’ve learned over the course of your stay, but you can also learn something new from others. What’s in it for you? A nice recommendation from those around you. Building a good reputation goes a long way into getting hired. A word of caution; although volunteering is essentially a good thing, don’t do it selfish reasons. Yea, it looks good on a resume, but the person conducting your interview is an expert at reading people. That is their job! So if you’re going to volunteer your time, do so in good conscience.

5.   Find a professional networking site. If you haven’t done so already, now is a great time. A professional networking website is very similar to social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace. The only difference is that you’re networking with professionals from all career fields. These sites are great because they act somewhat like a virtual business card. Many companies have profiles on these sites and search for potential candidates. It’s also a perfect opportunity to join groups and connect with others in your field. One site I would recommend is LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com). I have a profile there, as do some of my classmates and other connections I’ve made over the past year.Because our field isn’t something you’d easily find in the classifieds, so sites like LinkedIn and Gamasutra are perfect for getting on the up & up about anything related to game design.

Well that’s it for the time being; until next time

Playing video games are cool, but what happens when you decide to create games for a living? It’s pretty obvious that when you decided that you wanted to become a game designer, its because you’ve spent many afternoons playing games. But it’s important to have different interests other than  video games.

Why? Because creating a video is no cake walk; it can be very stressful. I can definitely attest to that! When you hit “stress” mode, it’s good to have something other than video games to help you relax & release. For me, its reading or listening to music. If all you think about is video games, you’ll easily burn yourself out. This happens to many people in any professional field. If you don’t leave your work at the office, it will consume you and not in a good way.

My advice to you; don’t worry about it if you’re stuck on a project. Don’t stress yourself out trying to figure out a solution to a bug in your map, an innovative idea you would like to implement in your game or that  your GDD/LDD is missing some pep. Give yourself a moment to step away from the noise  and I can guarantee you that the very thing you’re looking for will come to you; I promise

While most job postings have you fill out an application online and attach your resume, game design applications are a slightly different. Most, if not all, jobs in the creative arts field require that you present a portfolio. A portfolio is a representation of your work and speaks louder than any of the best words put together. Here; I provide some tips that will help you create a great portfolio. These tips were passed on to me and which I would like to share with you:

Tip #1: Create a Website

In this fast-paced world we live in, it bodes well to have a website as your virtual resume. It allows potential employers to view your work with just a few clicks. It’s cheap; there are many websites to choose from and at different prices (also environmental-friendly). You can also easily manipulate it to suit your needs; sure beats lugging a portfolio case around!

Tip # 2: Keep Your Work Updated & Show Variety

If you already have a website, it’s important to keep it up to date. If you have many pieces from over the years, place them in categories. It shows employers that you’re constantly working at honing your skills. Keeping your work varied can demonstrate your ability to work in more than one style. For example, if you’re aiming to become a 3D artist, it would be good to showcase some rendered scenes of furniture in a room, monsters in swamps and architectural buildings in a cityscape.

Tip # 3: Create a Small Video

This is mostly for animators and level designers. Creating a video (no longer than a minute and a half) can showcase your work in motion. For level designers, this is an essential tool, as it will demonstrate gameplay and  provide the right emotion, which will help for your snapshots.

Tip # 4: Familiarize Yourself With More Than One Program

It’s easy to get caught up in the notion of learning only what you need to, but do not get confused with mastering something and becoming familiar with something. While 3D artists may be well-versed in 3DS MAX, it doesn’t hurt to become familiar with a similar program like Maya. Every game developing company may use one or the other, so it’s to your advantage to at least be familiar with another program aside from the one you’re using.

Tip # 5: Show Off Your Best Work

Many applicants make a common mistake when presenting their portfolio; they assume quantity is better over quality. This is simply not true. While it’s okay to have many pieces of work to present, make sure that the ones you choose are some of the best pieces in your collection. Many things are taken into account when a potential employer views your work; they are mainly looking at the quality of what you produce, they may at times look at how many pieces you have and they also look at detail. Do not feel discouraged if you only have 5 pieces to present in comparison to someone who may have 1o. If your 5 are of excellent quality, then you’re on a good path.

Tip # 6: Be Prepared for ANY & EVERYTHING!

As my graduation approaches, I am eager to get out there and work. This is, after all, why we spent these past few years working as hard as we have. However, do not let this eagerness get the best of you. Keep things in perspective and be aware of the realities of employment. If you’re still trying to figure out where you would like to be within the next year or so, take this time to do a little research and most of all, be patient. Jobs don’t necessarily come right away, as you are competing with others who are in the same boat. Be aware of the time of year when companies are hiring; gaming companies typically hire during the low season (which is typically after major game releases, like Christmas). Also, broaden your horizons; if you’re more willing to relocate to get the job you want, do so. If you land an interview, try to anticipate what they will ask you; is there a test? Will they ask about my knowledge of the company? Where do you see yourself with the company in the next 5-10 years? These are potential questions that are asked, but frequently overlooked. Do not slip into this trap!

Tip # 7: Have a Plan B

In these tough economic times, this is important. Not everyone will land a job after graduation; maybe not even most. So it pays to have a backup plan, in case things don’t work out to your advantage. Keep in mind this is only temporary, and that the job you want is just taking a little longer than anticipated. Some of the world’s most successful people didn’t achieve their level of success right away. For some it took them a few years before they were able to get their dream job. What they all have in common is that they kept their eye on the prize, knowing that one day they’ll make it.

And that is my parting thought: keep believing; there is more than one road that can be taken in order to reach your destination!

One of the many things you’ll encounter throughout your career, is organization (or lack thereof) and diverse personalities. I’ll start with organization; the most important element in my opinion.

Whether you’re starting a game/level design program in University or you’re heading straight into the industry, what you’ll need to master is organization. Organization is all about knowing which direction you’re going when involved in a group project. Personal organization is also just as important; keeping a schedule and following it can alleviate some of the pressures you may encounter when it comes to deadlines. Respecting deadlines (also known as benchmarks) set by your teacher (in school) or your lead is vital. Failure to meet deadlines will definitely cost you your job, so take care to respect them.

Now what happens when you have good organizational skills, but one of your teammates doesn’t? What happens if someone of authority, like a Lead, is responsible; what do you do? Dealing with these types of situations is never easy, but here are some possible solutions:

1.     Approach the situation with diplomacy; the ultimate goal is to get back on track. Not everyone takes criticism the same, so be mindful of their feelings.

2.     Show that you’re open to compromise; everyone has a different way of working and meeting your teammates half-way can smooth out some of the bumps in the road.

3.     If after attempting to approach a teammate and communication breaks down, take your grievance to your teacher. Show that you’ve taken initiative to solve the situation on your own, but were unsuccessful.

I would use suggestion number 3 as a last resort. Illustrating that you’re a team player is very important, for you’ll rarely work alone. Always try to solve teamwork issues with those involved; running to your teacher or Lead can make others, as well as those in authority, view you as a tattle-tale, complainer or unwilling to cooperate/compromise with others. On the other hand, when dealing w/ someone in the position of authority I would suggest choosing your battles carefully. We are all human after all and we’re bound to make mistakes once and awhile. However, if you feel that you’ve been faulted in some way to which you felt were reasons beyond your control, find a way to approach your teacher or Lead with the same diplomacy and tact you would your teammates.

Hello everyone,

My name is Ceejay and I’m happy to be a part of Today.com. I’m taking this opportunity to introduce my blog and its subject matter. I’m a video game level design student who’s 4 weeks away from graduation.  I am eager to begin my journey in the gaming industry; creating video games happened to be a developing passion of mine. I also have a passion for writing and my blog will consist of both. The topics I plan to discuss with you are based on my personal experiences and lessons I have learned thus far. Also, I’ll be documenting my transition from the desk of a classroom to the desk of a developer company. I always welcome questions, comments and feedback. I hope that the information you receive is helpful and useful.

See you Soon,

Ceejay