Posts by e-freak

  • CryENGINE3 SDK Free-of-Charge is OUT!

    Is that the FreeSDK or the C2 SDK? In case it is the C2 SDK - do you experience any problems with other DX11 applications?

    Do you monitor the heat? The fact that the 2D-Elements of the Editor get weird artifacts makes it a bit weird, cause usually if it's just the driver than it would only artifact the DirectX elements (viewport).

  • DOTA 2

    Steam related - finally a mobile app - now waiting for my beta key!

    http://store.steampowered.com/mobile

    VALVE ANNOUNCES MOBILE STEAM APP

    Closed Beta Available Now For iOS and Android Devices

    January 26, 2012 -- Valve, creators of best-selling game franchises (such as Counter-Strike, Half-Life, Left 4 Dead, Portal, and Team Fortress) and leading technologies (such as Steam and Source), today announced the beta release of the Steam application for iOS and Android devices.

    With the Steam app, gamers around the world may chat with Steam friends, browse community groups and user profiles, view screenshots and user-generated content for their favorite games, read the latest gaming news, stay up to date on unbeatable Steam sales, and more.

    "The Steam app comes from many direct requests from our customers," said Gabe Newell, co-founder and president of Valve. "Seeing which of your friends are online and playing a game, sending quick messages, looking at screenshots for an upcoming game, or catching a sale - these are all features customers have requested. Mobile is changing way people interact, play games and consume media, and the Steam app is part of our commitment to meet customer demands and expand the service functionality of Steam to make it richer and more accessible for everyone."

    Those who wish to join the beta just need to download the Steam app (free of charge) and log in to their Steam account via the mobile app to express interest in the beta. Gamers will be added to the Closed Beta as the service ramps up.

    Steam is a leading platform for the delivery and management of PC and Mac games with over 40 million accounts around the world and over 1,800 titles offered.

    For more information, please visit http://store.steampowered.com/mobile

  • How to break in the games industry - an insiders' guide

    Well, first question: Which country are you in, which kind of university is it and what would be the country you are looking to work in?

    As long as you stay inside of one continent/country a degree is not a necessesity to get a work permit. Degrees are mostly helpful with traditional visa application processes (e.g. migrating from EU to US). But for the actual job they are pretty unrelevant in most cases and the portfolio is the only thing that counts. If you don't want to go back for the degree because it does cost you something, the best choice would be to work on a Portfolio of your own.

    Keep in mind, junior positions/internships are in most cases production positions. Applying as "Game Designer" is usually seen as applying as "The idea guy", which translates to "I like video games, have no clue how to make them and should be in charge of everything". So - in short, it's a pretty bad idea to apply for that. See what you like about creating games. Is it level design (actual proving of game mechanics, player guidance etc), is it environment art, character design, animation, tech-art and tools, cinematics, vfx (particles) or sound? It might be a good idea to look into all of these subjects. See if there's something in there in which you excel or you see your self having motivation to improve in and strengthen that.

    Once you got that nailed, take the time the degree would have taken you and build a strong portfolio, make your progress visible (by posting here and on other forums like polycount) and start looking into what studios could be interesting. Keep in mind - for your first position it might be enough to work at a smaller company in your hometown or state. That will lower the risk for you to getting lost. And it will probably raise your chances in actually landing a job, because relocation is usually pretty expensive for the studio, so if they look for a junior then they might prefer someone with low relocation costs.

    If you want to get a degree and you feel the degree you can get at your university is not worth the paper it is printed on, get a degree in something else. Would I have the chance today to study again, I'd probably get a degree in maths, physics or computer sciences. Gives you a broader spectrum of jobs to fall back on to, the degree and course is established and in the end it will always come in handy in whatever part of game development you work in.

  • DOTA 2

    give the game a try, I bet you that you'll be interested afterwards for me the perception changed from: no interest at all to "how the f did they go from FPS games to RTS and managed to create this awesomeness". given - it's more or less just a copy of the leg work icefrog did on the warcraft map but it feels like a really solid game and with the "Valve spin" to it there's a lot of polishing on it already and I guess they'll keep polishing it further and further. It's also probably the most addictive game Valve has done so far.