Hello!Hello!

I’m Going To Talk About….I’m Going To Talk About….

What I do and what I’ve doneWhat I do and what I’ve done Game Industry overview.Game Industry overview. Game development processGame development process Getting into the game industryGetting into the game industry

What I DoWhat I Do

Senior Programmer at Sony Computer Senior Programmer at Sony Computer Entertainment America, San DiegoEntertainment America, San Diego

Lead Programmer for the R&D team for Lead Programmer for the R&D team for Sony’s Next-Generation PlayStation Sony’s Next-Generation PlayStation Basketball games.Basketball games.

3D Graphics Programming, Tools 3D Graphics Programming, Tools Programming, Management & Planning.Programming, Management & Planning.

Why Do I Do It?Why Do I Do It?

I love games, programming and I love games, programming and computers.computers.

Having the ability to reach millions of Having the ability to reach millions of people with your work is a great feeling.people with your work is a great feeling.

Videogames can change the world!Videogames can change the world! Its better than having a real job Its better than having a real job

What I’ve DoneWhat I’ve Done

10 years videogame experience10 years videogame experience Small companies (Angel Studios, ATD), Small companies (Angel Studios, ATD),

and big companies (SCEA, Konami)and big companies (SCEA, Konami) Some good games, some not-so-good Some good games, some not-so-good

games, some sadly-never-released games, some sadly-never-released games.games.

Mostly programming, with some Mostly programming, with some management.management.

A Misspent YouthA Misspent Youth

Started programming at about 11 years Started programming at about 11 years old (BASIC, Assembler) on 8-bit micros.old (BASIC, Assembler) on 8-bit micros.

The Big Lie!The Big Lie!

““Andrew, get off that computer and do Andrew, get off that computer and do your homework, playing games won’t help your homework, playing games won’t help you get a job!!”you get a job!!”

EducationEducation

BSc Computer ScienceBSc Computer Science Took selective courses in 3D graphics, Took selective courses in 3D graphics,

Artificial Intelligence.Artificial Intelligence. Lots of C programming.Lots of C programming. Lots of Math.Lots of Math.

The First JobThe First Job

Wrote Air Traffic Control software for the Wrote Air Traffic Control software for the UK for ~18 months. BORING!UK for ~18 months. BORING!

Worked for 6 months writing demos/ Worked for 6 months writing demos/ sending resumes to every game company sending resumes to every game company in the UK who’d taken them!in the UK who’d taken them!

Into GamesInto Games

First game job, writing porting a 3D game First game job, writing porting a 3D game to the Apple Macto the Apple Mac

Learnt lots about practical game Learnt lots about practical game programming, 3D and optimization.programming, 3D and optimization.

Second game job, writing AI for Second game job, writing AI for PlayStation. PlayStation.

Third game job (hello America), lots of Third game job (hello America), lots of experience in many different areas.experience in many different areas.

The Games IndustryThe Games Industry

The Good, The Bad & The EvilThe Good, The Bad & The Evil

QUESTION!QUESTION!

What is the games business What is the games business about?about?

MAKING MONEY!!MAKING MONEY!!

(The Jaded Answer)(The Jaded Answer)

Making MoneyMaking Money&&

Entertaining PeopleEntertaining People

(The less Jaded version!)(The less Jaded version!)

Dev BusinessDev Business

11stst Party Hardware Manufacturers/ Party Hardware Manufacturers/ Publishers (Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo)Publishers (Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo)

22ndnd Party Developers publish through 1 Party Developers publish through 1stst parties (Insomniac).parties (Insomniac).

33rdrd Party Publishers release titles across Party Publishers release titles across multiple 1multiple 1stst parties (Electronic Arts, Take parties (Electronic Arts, Take Two)Two)

33rdrd Party Developers (um, any left?) Party Developers (um, any left?)

Non-DevNon-Dev

Retail (Electronics Boutique, Walmart)Retail (Electronics Boutique, Walmart) Press (G4, Gamespot, monthlies).Press (G4, Gamespot, monthlies). Recruitment companies.Recruitment companies. Advertising, marketingAdvertising, marketing Distribution (often a part of publishing)Distribution (often a part of publishing) Conferences (E3, GDC)Conferences (E3, GDC)

Industry TrendsIndustry Trends

New consoles released every 5 years.New consoles released every 5 years. New consoles ~600x more power than New consoles ~600x more power than

their predecessor.their predecessor. Handheld release is more sporadic.Handheld release is more sporadic. Companies are consolidating.Companies are consolidating. Costs are rising.Costs are rising. Outsourcing & MiddlewareOutsourcing & Middleware

Why Do We Need More Power?Why Do We Need More Power?Why Do We Need Better Graphics?Why Do We Need Better Graphics? Because of evolution we’re very good at Because of evolution we’re very good at

knowing when people move or look wrong knowing when people move or look wrong in a videogame.in a videogame.

The more realistic people look and move, The more realistic people look and move, the more empathy we feel with them.the more empathy we feel with them.

A 5 year old can connect with Pac Man… A 5 year old can connect with Pac Man… a 50 year old has more difficulty.a 50 year old has more difficulty.

We want everyone to enjoy computer We want everyone to enjoy computer entertainment.entertainment.

Making VideogamesMaking Videogames

(For Consoles)(For Consoles)

Phases In Game DevelopmentPhases In Game Development

The Idea!The Idea! What are we going to do? What are we going to do? Pre-Production.Pre-Production. How are we going to do How are we going to do

it.it. Production.Production. Do it! Do it! Alpha.Alpha. All features complete (in theory), All features complete (in theory),

tweaking, many bugs.tweaking, many bugs. Beta.Beta. Really complete, just bugs left. Really complete, just bugs left. Final.Final. Done! Done!

The IdeaThe Idea

What kind of game do we want to make?What kind of game do we want to make? Why will people want to play it?Why will people want to play it? Why do we think it sell?Why do we think it sell? What it makes it different from other titles What it makes it different from other titles

in the marketplace?in the marketplace? What makes it the same as other titles in What makes it the same as other titles in

the marketplace?the marketplace?

Pre-ProductionPre-Production

Create a plan.Create a plan. Assemble a teamAssemble a team Identify key parts of the game which need Identify key parts of the game which need

to be developed and built.to be developed and built. Choose tools and middleware.Choose tools and middleware. Reduce risk by identifying potential Reduce risk by identifying potential

problems in development.problems in development. Create the workflow.Create the workflow.

ProductionProduction

Making the game.Making the game. Building artwork.Building artwork. Improving tools and workflow.Improving tools and workflow.

AlphaAlpha

Feature Complete!...Feature Complete!... … … but it never really is but it never really is Tune and adjust the game.Tune and adjust the game. Fix major problems.Fix major problems.

BetaBeta

Fix all remaining bugs… or mark them as Fix all remaining bugs… or mark them as “won’t fix”.“won’t fix”.

Make sure all TRC requirements are met.Make sure all TRC requirements are met. No more code change, no more art No more code change, no more art

change, unless it’s a bug.change, unless it’s a bug.

FinalFinal

Submit discs to hardware manufacturer Submit discs to hardware manufacturer (eg. Microsoft, SCEA, Nintendo)(eg. Microsoft, SCEA, Nintendo)

They run tests on the disks, make sure They run tests on the disks, make sure you pass all TRC requirements, and that you pass all TRC requirements, and that the game doesn’t have major bugs.the game doesn’t have major bugs.

Can take a week or two….Can take a week or two…. Nerve wracking!Nerve wracking!

Game Development ScheduleGame Development Schedule

Typical game development cycle is now Typical game development cycle is now 24-36 months.24-36 months.

Some games take less (sports games).Some games take less (sports games). Most of this time is spent in Production or Most of this time is spent in Production or

Pre-ProductionPre-Production 3 months Alpha, 1 month Beta.3 months Alpha, 1 month Beta.

Game Team OrganizationGame Team Organization

Producer

DesignTeam

ArtTeam

ProgrammingTeam

Each team has a Lead or DirectorEach team has a Lead or DirectorFor Multiple SKUs, a Lead for each.For Multiple SKUs, a Lead for each.20 - 120 people in a game team!20 - 120 people in a game team!

ProducersProducers

Responsible for making sure the project Responsible for making sure the project ships on time and on budget.ships on time and on budget.

Sometimes responsible for “The Vision” of Sometimes responsible for “The Vision” of the project.the project.

Uses tools such as MS Office, MS Uses tools such as MS Office, MS Project,Carrot & Stick.Project,Carrot & Stick.

Game DesignersGame Designers

Responsible for designing parts of the Responsible for designing parts of the game or the whole game.game or the whole game.

Sometimes the Lead Designer is the Sometimes the Lead Designer is the project’s director too.project’s director too.

Plays the game daily, tests new features Plays the game daily, tests new features for playability.for playability.

ArtistsArtists

Broad tem, encompassing 3D modelers, Broad tem, encompassing 3D modelers, 2D texture artists and character animators.2D texture artists and character animators.

3D artists use Maya, less commonly 3DS 3D artists use Maya, less commonly 3DS Max.Max.

Adobe Photoshop for textures.Adobe Photoshop for textures. Maya and/or Motion Builder for animation.Maya and/or Motion Builder for animation. Multitude of plug-ins for the above Multitude of plug-ins for the above

software.software.

ProgrammersProgrammers

Write the game & tool code.Write the game & tool code. 95% of code is written in C++.95% of code is written in C++. 5% of code is in Assembler/ Microcode.5% of code is in Assembler/ Microcode. Use standard tools such as .NET, GCC, Use standard tools such as .NET, GCC,

OpenGL, DirectX, Maya API.OpenGL, DirectX, Maya API. Programming disciplines include tools, Programming disciplines include tools,

game logic, AI, physics and 3D.game logic, AI, physics and 3D.

Tools & HardwareTools & Hardware

Hi-Spec Windows PCs.Hi-Spec Windows PCs. Development console (eg. T10-000) has Development console (eg. T10-000) has

lots more memory, extra debugging lots more memory, extra debugging features.features.

Compilers, debuggers.Compilers, debuggers.

Careers In The Game Careers In The Game IndustryIndustry

Entry Level PositionsEntry Level Positions

A good programmer with a degree in A good programmer with a degree in Computer Science should be able to get a Computer Science should be able to get a job as a programmer.job as a programmer.

For artists, education is important, but a For artists, education is important, but a good demo reel is critical.good demo reel is critical.

Next to impossible to get a job as a game Next to impossible to get a job as a game designer (unless you know somebody!).designer (unless you know somebody!).

Many producers begin in another field.Many producers begin in another field.

Other Entry Level PositionsOther Entry Level Positions

Game TesterGame Tester Production AssistantProduction Assistant

Skills required will vary from project to Skills required will vary from project to project.project.

Getting A Programming JobGetting A Programming Job

Have a good understanding of key game Have a good understanding of key game programming disciplines.programming disciplines.

Excellent C++ skills, debugging skills.Excellent C++ skills, debugging skills. Don’t lie about what you’ve done!Don’t lie about what you’ve done! You’re not expected to know everything You’re not expected to know everything

(coz you don’t !)(coz you don’t !) Know somebody!Know somebody!

Thank You!Thank You!

Questions?Questions?