Development Cycle Archive
Thread: Team Comments Kurt Stangl
SrinKnorei
Mon May 24, 2004 7:51 pm
#54
any advice for us illustrators looking to get into the computer gaming industry by way of working as conceptual artists? 
Janson
Mon May 24, 2004 7:54 pm
#56
awesome! Thanks man.
I too am one who wants to break into the games industry, tho I am still a senior in high school...I am just testing the waters now and trying to find what I like to do. I have created a few low level games, a la galaga style or pong clones, etc. but am working up to making a fun cool game. I think then I will know. Thanks for the suggestions, tho. I will definately take your advice to heart, as I head off to college next year.
I am gunna miss ya'll at Fan Fest, but I hope to see ya'll at some conference soon 
Keep up the good work.
-- Jan
GKeeper316
Mon May 24, 2004 8:49 pm
#57
was it the 2600? if so combat was cool. but the best game i ever played on it was empire strikes back.
btw atari 2600 consoles with working joysticks go for hella cash on eBay.
Thunderheart
Mon May 24, 2004 9:12 pm
#58
TheLateAnakinSolo wrote:
Hey, TH, I know it's a little off subject, but...
When can we expect TC2 to go up? You say that want our input, but we are kept in the dark about things... I think that it would be better for everyone if you would turn the light on. You would get our input (we don't want another crafting change) and it would make everything go over MUCH better. Well, in my view, it's just wasting everyone's time... what's the use in making a system that will be rejected? I think that you would know this best, as you were one of us once.
Anyways, back on the subject...
I've was here during beta, and still remember your end of beta presentation-slide show. (nice job by the way) It was great to see you get accepted as a new DEV...
When we open things up like that, we'll definately let you know. The Jedi testers were selected by login dates. Those that were steady, consistent testers on TC made the cut. Add them in with the folks who are already Jedi and that's a lot of people. If we open it up for more, I'll definately post about it.
ARC_Casper wrote:
Alot of great info TH. And you are right WHO you know is a big part of it too, i met some great guys in the xbox live beta and they work at activision now, and they told me to start as a QA and i can move up if i stick with it.
Your awnsers just pushed me over the top to go back and turn in the application =) thanks again.
Don't just put in an application - - go in and introduce yourself. Comb your hair and brush your teeth
and go put your best foot forward!
Seshemw
Mon May 24, 2004 9:51 pm
#59
I think the point was more 'When will the change be put on TC2'. Those who didn't 'make the cut' can still participate (and better participate) in testing the system, because Jedi are going to be interacting with NON Jedi. Thus, if only Jedi (padawan TC regulars, knight Jedi-on-live regulars, 'master' dev crew) are testing the system, the critical interaction and balance parts will be fundamentally UNTested.
The whole 'can a bounty hunter win against a padawan? Knight? post-Knight PvP ranked Jedi?' and 'Can a Jedi at (whatever threshold) put up a credible fight against conventional professions?' questions would never get answered in a jedi-only test environment.
And, to add to this, the impression I've had since the publish test's outline was announced, was that it WAS going to be a real test environment, with many non-Jedi (all the TC folks who weren't 'regular' enough to be made padawan, live players who didn't have jedi, whatever) participating. If that's not the case, we'd still like to know. And for that matter, if that's not the case, there still needs to be a public announcement that the test is ready to proceed. Why, you ask? Because there was a public 'Jedi, here's how you can prep for this' post, which said that TC2's copy hadn't been made, and they'd keep everyone posted. if it's a big ole' secret, many of your would-be testers who DO have Jedi may be patiently waiting for an announcement that won't come.
The whole 'can a bounty hunter win against a padawan? Knight? post-Knight PvP ranked Jedi?' and 'Can a Jedi at (whatever threshold) put up a credible fight against conventional professions?' questions would never get answered in a jedi-only test environment.
And, to add to this, the impression I've had since the publish test's outline was announced, was that it WAS going to be a real test environment, with many non-Jedi (all the TC folks who weren't 'regular' enough to be made padawan, live players who didn't have jedi, whatever) participating. If that's not the case, we'd still like to know. And for that matter, if that's not the case, there still needs to be a public announcement that the test is ready to proceed. Why, you ask? Because there was a public 'Jedi, here's how you can prep for this' post, which said that TC2's copy hadn't been made, and they'd keep everyone posted. if it's a big ole' secret, many of your would-be testers who DO have Jedi may be patiently waiting for an announcement that won't come.
VempireAtDusk
Mon May 24, 2004 9:55 pm
#60
that nice but when is TC2 up!!!
today?
tomorrow?
any info is better then none
Mackle
Mon May 24, 2004 10:33 pm
#61
As always, Th, nice read.
I remember your meanest post hehe, I know I dove headfirst into that one lol.
Anyway, hope things continue to go well for ya' Th. You gave a lot to this community, and I am happy to see it paid off.
I miss Scomplink and all the gang there, and sometimes wonder where all those people went to. I miss the whole old timer gang actually. There are a lot of cool people on the boards these days (*evenAckis, although his house is near mine in-game and always smells like fish* ), but back in the day there were some real poets, philosophers, and game theorists running around these boards. The PvP vs PvE battles, playable Stormtroopers, MCS vs SCS, debates abouts planets, species, Jedi, Jar Jar... man, that was a lot of fun. There were nights where I read some threads that went on forever, literally just sitting reading for hours on these boards, without even replying to a single thing.
), but back in the day there were some real poets, philosophers, and game theorists running around these boards. The PvP vs PvE battles, playable Stormtroopers, MCS vs SCS, debates abouts planets, species, Jedi, Jar Jar... man, that was a lot of fun. There were nights where I read some threads that went on forever, literally just sitting reading for hours on these boards, without even replying to a single thing. Usually agreed with your posts. You and Baj were always on point, and Caella, Darthpain, Triforger, Kstar, Lilwookie, PhantomJDie, etc. always would always have something interesting cooking up too (*impossible to agree with all of them at the same time hehe*). I wonder if Caella and Triforger will ever cross paths on a game forum again... hard to imagine how they would.
Anyway, don't mind me getting all sentimental, as if this all took place so long ago (I suppose in MMO terms, a few years is a long time). Glad your still around the community and the guy we turn to get our voices heard. Keep on fighting, and say hi to the old gang for me.
ARC_Casper
Mon May 24, 2004 11:12 pm
#62
ARC_Casper wrote:
Alot of great info TH. And you are right WHO you know is a big part of it too, i met some great guys in the xbox live beta and they work at activision now, and they told me to start as a QA and i can move up if i stick with it.
Your awnsers just pushed me over the top to go back and turn in the application =) thanks again.
Don't just put in an application - - go in and introduce yourself. Comb your hair and brush your teeth
Thanks for the info ill be sure to ummm shave my head extra good since i can't comb it =P im a baldie ( you will see at fan fest =D.)
*checks breath* Alright i am good to go.
I appreciate your time to awnser my questions! I will let you know how things go at Activision. You can always let me konw if they have a QA spot open for SWG /hint hint =).
Have a good one.
GivenToFly
Mon May 24, 2004 11:32 pm
#63
TH is completely right. I started in QA for Vivendi Universal. I worked on a few games there (Crash Kart,Metal Arms,Lords of the Realm 3 and Middle Earth Online to name a few. Self promotion RULES!) It was a good gig, I had a lot of fun and most importantly I learned quite a bit and met some really good people (I had just moved to LA from MN) TH was spot on when he said you don't know what its like in the industry untill you actually WORK in the industry. It's very very much not what you expect. It's alot of money involved and not only that it's someones work. Quite a few someones actually, and they can take it very personally if it's not up to snuff. Anyways, the point of my post is that because I busted my butt (which isn't hard when you love games) and because I "networked" as TH put it, I'm now working in production for Disney.
It was a good gig, I had a lot of fun and most importantly I learned quite a bit and met some really good people (I had just moved to LA from MN) TH was spot on when he said you don't know what its like in the industry untill you actually WORK in the industry. It's very very much not what you expect. It's alot of money involved and not only that it's someones work. Quite a few someones actually, and they can take it very personally if it's not up to snuff. Anyways, the point of my post is that because I busted my butt (which isn't hard when you love games) and because I "networked" as TH put it, I'm now working in production for Disney.Schooling dosen't have anything to really do with it (but it can help..especially with programming) and it REALLY has nothing to do with being lucky. You just gotta set you mind to it and do it. You will know if you are cut out for it because everyone else will let you know if you are not.
Ok, I'll quit preaching now.If you want to get out there and really be in the games industry then do it. work your @$$ off and show them your skills, be it programming,production,design or just being a damn good QA tester and you will make it. I promise
PS. TH thanks for letting me bug you for an hour or so on that last day of E3. the SE is going to knock everyone's socks off.
LordSeckmoth
Mon May 24, 2004 11:34 pm
#64
Hmmm.... Fansites for Community Positions.
Now you're making me wanna brush up on my HTML and other web codes once I'm back to 100%
*scampers off to plot some sort of "Scomplink Reborn" website 
*
(Can't say much more because I'm getting too sentimental hehe )
ResourceMonkey
Tue May 25, 2004 1:20 am
#65
Thunderheart wrote:
I'm not going to comment on anything like that, but I can tell you that people in this industry get hired for doing. If going to a school like that teaches you what you need to know to do what you love, then so be it. Everyone I've met though has been hired by working up through QA, CS, orhad agame theymade (whether its published or not), their art, their abilities and what they can do; not what any piece of paper says. Interviews in this industry tend to be very gruelling and at the end of an interview, you will have answered enough questions and taken enough competency tests to the point where you'll know if you are ready.
Don't forget that it also helps to know people in the industry as well.