dallasrobinson In reply to TearinX [2009-09-23 15:35:00 +0000 UTC]

Oh HEY! Thanks for writing! The great debate of games versus movies... honestly, I would say that they are about the same in terms of stability. Games is a little better because they tend to hire people more often for full time employment (which is great for health benefits and 401k etc. etc..) The good news is that now your really don't have to choose one over the other. You can actually have both . Just have a strong 3D skill set and you'll find that you can go back and forth. Myself, when I was in school I learned high end 3d for movies and Tv first then learned how to make things for games. doing it that way you'll find it easier to learn games stuff because even with all this 'next gen' stuff games is always a simpler version of high end 3d. (note: if you can do learn the Unreal 3 editor though. a lot of people use that for next gen stuff.)

About being an animator. I would say if you have a burning driving passion for it then do it. however do know that animators are really a dime a dosen so you really have to be good or have good contacts to make it. don't panic just know that animation is a tough route. For me, actually games was not my first choice in terms of work. It was my back up. I can't stress this enough! have a back up portfolio or plan! Take a good solid look at your skills. what do you do well? then, if you couldn't do that what's runner up? that's your "back up". I'm not suggesting you become 'Jack of all trades and master of none' just that I bet you can do more then just one thing so you might as well show it. Just know where your strengths are and focus in on those.

On that note, here's a little inside hint I can give you. Character artists are also a dime a dozen. however it's really hard to find environment/prop/User interface/special effect artists. It's not a glory job but it will get you work. so much art is needed to make a game but people forget that your character needs to run around in a world, interact with objects, you need to be able to select things from the pause menu, and you need cool fireballs when you blow stuff up. That's like 4-5 artists right there just to do that while you only need one artist to make characters. Again, if you have a burning passion to do characters then do that but understand that there is a large gab between passion and the needs of the workforce.

my final bit of advice would be what year are you in? If your just starting out and have a while before graduating i would say chill just focus on being a well rounded artist. those figure drawings and stuff really do matter. if your about half way done or near the exit door then i would say start looking at job boards and look at what jobs you like and which jobs are looked for the most often by companies. this should give you a good idea of where you stand.

i hope that was helpful. take what i say with a grain of salt. Just because i "made it" this way doesn't mean that you will, find your own path. trust yourself, be HONEST with yourself (can't stress that one enough). and really, believe in your dream cuz when your up at 3 am working on something sometimes only your dreams get you through

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TearinX In reply to dallasrobinson [2009-09-23 18:33:24 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much man. I actually just started at the Art Institute so I have plenty of time. I will keep what you said in mind. I swear that your words helped a lot! Thanks again man.

Games was always my first choice, but I just wanted to be sure that movies wasn't so that's why I entered the media arts and animation program, just to get a feel for it. Now most I might probably switch majors into game art and design; however, like you said I'm gonna chill still and check it out some more.

As far as software, what would you recommend I should be practicing with to get ahead of the game? and do you know of any good tutorials videos or anything?
(I use photoshop a lot to do photo manipulation if you check out my gallery so I think Im ok with that unless theres more I should know?)

I really appreciate you helping me out man, thanks again.

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dallasrobinson In reply to d00mg1rl [2008-06-06 18:28:58 +0000 UTC]

Oh! thank you! I'm kinda new to this site so your my first person to reply! thanks!

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d00mg1rl In reply to dallasrobinson [2008-06-06 18:35:14 +0000 UTC]

well let me be the first to welcome you to DA

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