The Hows and Whys of the Games Industry Released! + New Tuts

[Hourences]

I have released my new book: The Hows and Whys of the Games Industry!

* Intended for amateurs who wish to ‘break into' the games industry and who are looking for additional information. It's also for those who are yet undecided on whether or not to pursue a career in the games industry.

* Aims to provide the reader with a honest and objective discourse about the games industry, its pros and cons, and why one would, or would not, want to be active within this industry.

* Interviews with over twenty industry professionals on how they got in, what they like, and what they dislike about the games industry.

* Attempts to provide the reader with answers to some of the most common questions beginners have; such as how much one can expect to earn, the best way to apply to a studio, and what to expect during a job interview. The book will provide the reader with plenty of tips about what to look for when searching for a job.

* Illustrated with exclusive concept art by Romano Molenaar.

Two example extracts are available.

http://www.hourences.com/book/book2procon.htm

http://www.hourences.com/book/book2interview.htm

Order : http://www.hourences.com/book/bookorder.htm

The book is shipped world wide and counts 236 pages.

Because of my extensive experience with online communities and the modding scene, as well as with permanent on-site jobs and freelance offsite jobs, and having performed work in both small studios as large studios, nearby as well as far away, I believe I am able to present an accurate picture of the games industry and approach various subjects from a different and more community minded perspective than similar books.

More information on http://www.hourences.com/book!

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Also, I've released three new UE3 tutorials:

http://www.hourences.com/book/tutorialsue3faq.htm

http://www.hourences.com/book/tutorialsue3terrain.htm

http://www.hourences.com/book/tutorialsue3phys.htm

Enjoy!

[RA7]

Good work

[Psyshokiller]

Been waiting to be able to order your book, I'm sure it will be helpful to me.

Nice tutorials aswel, coming from another engine they help to adapt the different workflow.

I hope you keep going with your engagement to the community.

[e-freak]

Wishlist updated for Christmas (right below the new wacom )

[Furyo]

Congrats on this second release !

[st0lve]

congrats

[Skjalg]

reading it now : )

[Minos]

Very nice read sir, I like your writing style a lot

[Skjalg]

Guess I sat up all night reading this, its now 7:30am.

You portrayed the whole industry as very scary, especially the interviews at the end really nailed that point home.

I'm still going tho : ]

[Hourences]

Awesome Skjalg

Liked it I take if you read through it in one go?

If your conclusion is that it's a really scary industry, you must have read over all the positive points mentioned:)

It is not that bad, if it was, I and everyone else in this industry would have quit their jobs long ago already, but I did wanted to stress how not every day and every year is one big party. A lot of beginners think it's like heaven, and end up being exploited by some half assed and entirely clueless local start up company, or are being talked into some game development course by a biased local school, promising them all kinds of great things, only to get smacked in the face by reality a couple of years later.

It wasn't my intention of talking people out of the idea of joining the industry, but rather about finally presenting them a more or less accurate and more importantly objective discourse on the industry, so they know exactly what to expect and are thus hopefully better prepared for what's to come.

As we all know there is a lot of crap going on in this industry, and you don't survive this industry unless you a.) are really passionate and/or b.) make the right decisions. Pick the right mod team, pick the right studio, and pick the right path and you'll probably have a great time

[dux]

And don't work for EA, or have they cleaned up a bit

[Skjalg]

Yeah excactly, thats what I ment by scary, since the view most people have is that its all dancing on clouds playing games and drinking beer (at the same time).

I think it's a must read for everyone who is not yet hired and are thinking of going into the industry. For those of you that are in the industry the book also covers some good stuff about what the danger signs are in a bad company and things you need to think on when choosing another place to work.

I wish I had this 3-4 years ago tho, if I had I might not be in the same place I am today.

[SnipaMasta]

Probably not dux.

One bad thing is surely the opposite of Satisfaction? If you work gets noticed in a game that's reveered as really good, say, UT3 or GOW, horray! But if you do work for a game and it flops, surely that would really piss you off?

[-HP-]

I'm gonna order it asap!

This looks promising...

[JamesL]

Grats mate. I really have no idea how you manage to write these and hold down a job at the same time. Awesome