Back to game dev. I tried the first time around over ten years ago, dropped out of college, got one abusive job in, then switched to QA automation for pay. I had a heavy focus on programming because I’m naturally good at it but I want to be a level designer so I’m going to study that specifically. Gonna halve my salary or worse to get into level design
I feel the gaming industry itself is abusive and low pay. In HS, I thought I was going into the video game industry as well. But now I’m just doing enterprise-y REST API development. It pays more and is less demanding than making games. Family comes first I guess. I can do my passion projects on the side if I want. I managed to buy a home by moving to LCOL area in Texas instead of going to California.
My entire social circle and marriage fell out from under me in the last year. Nobody left but me so I’m going to take advantage of the freedom to make questionable decisions since it will only affect me now if it goes sideways
You didn’t even miss the misplaced comma. Check mate. (Edit, I jest, but just asking the question means you don’t know and are probably a dev. Making something work one way is easy. Covering everything the dev missed because horse blinders takes skill. The best developers are ex-QA engineers.)
I graduated college a couple years ago with a comp sci degree. I had dreams of game dev as a kid, but anxiety about pay and affording a house plus just the overall shittiness in the games industry pushed me elsewhere. I’m currently in a QA automation job for a consulting company… wondering if I’m going to become you in 10 years
If you’re trans too then add that to the list lol. I got pulled away from the industry for stability reasons but I’m not in that situation anymore. I’ve only ever wanted to be a game dev, as a kid it never occurred to me to be anything else, it still doesn’t. I know I’m not one of those hotshot early twenties devs who cracked into the industry right away, I’m a bit slow to it, but I’ll get there if it kills me
Back to game dev. I tried the first time around over ten years ago, dropped out of college, got one abusive job in, then switched to QA automation for pay. I had a heavy focus on programming because I’m naturally good at it but I want to be a level designer so I’m going to study that specifically. Gonna halve my salary or worse to get into level design
I feel the gaming industry itself is abusive and low pay. In HS, I thought I was going into the video game industry as well. But now I’m just doing enterprise-y REST API development. It pays more and is less demanding than making games. Family comes first I guess. I can do my passion projects on the side if I want. I managed to buy a home by moving to LCOL area in Texas instead of going to California.
My entire social circle and marriage fell out from under me in the last year. Nobody left but me so I’m going to take advantage of the freedom to make questionable decisions since it will only affect me now if it goes sideways
I envy that type of freedom. Go for it! Hope you meet some awesome game developers and learn a lot!
Good QA is much more difficult than dev. If you got that down good, dev will be cake by comparison.
what qualifies you to make such a blanket statement?
You didn’t even miss the misplaced comma. Check mate. (Edit, I jest, but just asking the question means you don’t know and are probably a dev. Making something work one way is easy. Covering everything the dev missed because horse blinders takes skill. The best developers are ex-QA engineers.)
Word of advice, don’t get into game dev. There’s no possible way it’s better than your current job.
Don’t tell me not to follow my life goals. I know what I’m getting into
At least you have your experience to fall back on if it doesn’t work out.
deleted by creator
I’m not sure I understand the reaction, mind explaining?
I graduated college a couple years ago with a comp sci degree. I had dreams of game dev as a kid, but anxiety about pay and affording a house plus just the overall shittiness in the games industry pushed me elsewhere. I’m currently in a QA automation job for a consulting company… wondering if I’m going to become you in 10 years
If you’re trans too then add that to the list lol. I got pulled away from the industry for stability reasons but I’m not in that situation anymore. I’ve only ever wanted to be a game dev, as a kid it never occurred to me to be anything else, it still doesn’t. I know I’m not one of those hotshot early twenties devs who cracked into the industry right away, I’m a bit slow to it, but I’ll get there if it kills me