Week 22 : Instructor

Funny thing, I have been applying to game companies for two months now and have not heard any word back. So over the break I decide to apply to game schools. Not only have they all replied they replied quickly, like under 24 hours. So it makes me think. . .  what chance does a student of game design actually have if the companies they want to work for won't even respond to their instructors? It is dis heartening to say the least. Are the requirements for game jobs too specialized? Does the game industry just recycle the same programmers over and over? Won't they run out of people?

Many of the positions I see require specialization, for example optimization. Which in layman's terms mean 'can you write algorithms which will be executed on parallel processors?' Well I have read the Open CL  specification, I know the concept, but never had the opportunity to build something my self. So I consider what gaming schools teach. They teach the basics, what are the tools, what is the process. . . . I doubt very much that the students of game schools build a game engine little less designing them to work in heterogeneous systems.

I once believed it was experience the industry wanted so I worked with Indie companies. Then I realized it was a piece of paper stating I knew computer science, which is why I am wrapping up my Masters. Now I fear it is the name of the school which gets you hired. I have know people who have come from highly recognizable schools get jobs in the industry right out of college but fail because they don't have the competitive spirit. A spirit I have, why else would I hold on to this dream without the slightest encouragement from the industry?

Perhaps I am being impatient, maybe I will get that interview today. I hope so, I feel I deserve as much. In the meantime I am applying to other instructor positions. I figure if I find my self teaching again I should choose a school where I can get a PhD while I teach. Though I'd rather be building games.




See you in Nineteen weeks