Is video game programming within my reach?

I'm currently 15 years old and have been playing video games since I was a toddler. I want to know if I could qualify for a position in a company as a video game programmer.





I know that math is a big part of being a programmer, and I'm quite good at it. Also, somewhat recently I took it upon myself to download a free C++ compiler (www.bloodshed.net/) and use tutorial websites and books from my library to learn the language. So far, I find it fun to write up source codes during my spare time, just to create things for my own entertaintment. I'm so interested in getting into this field, someday, that I'm devoting myself to learning C++ and taking math as my most serious class. This summer I plan on using some money I've saved up to do a sort of "Summer camp" for programming at UC Irvine.





If there are any programmers out there that could give me an idea of what kind of competition I'm going to have to face to get the job of my dreams, please tell me.





Thanks

Is video game programming within my reach?
as long as you have the passion to do the things


you like, it is surely possible.. ^^





there is nothing more miserable


than waking up in the morning and


preparing to go to a work you


don't feel like to go to..





i hope you got my point, and sorry for


any wrong grammar I've said..


Im asian.. A proud Filipino DB programmer.. ahehehe





peace out.. ^_^v
Reply:Sounds like you are on the right path... go for the gold!!!
Reply:A good engine i have tried is called panda3d, which uses python and is easy to use.


http://panda3d.org/


(Note: the website goes down sometimes)








EDIT: CRAP, I thought you were asking for a game engine...


Sorry
Reply:With your passion for video game programming, you will do quite well. Keep it up. Also, continue to play as many different video games as you can. You should also start building up experience to put on your resume. At 15 that will be hard to do in person, but you can find ways. Find some open source projects to participate in or maybe do some work on a website like rentacoder.
Reply:As this is an EXTREMELY competitive field, you really should get a degree first or you will have very little chance of impressing most companies enough that they will want to hire you.I suppose there is a very slim chance that some company might take you without one if you demonstrate enough proficiency, though I sincerely doubt they'd take you at your age. As it is, you owuld probably need to get a work permit first!





If you're not already aware, there are programs that you can download or buy which will allow you to program your own video games. RPGMaker is the only one that I know of, but I am sure that there must be some others.. If you are good at writing programs, though, you can likely learn how to create games on your own. It take A LOT of time to to learn and even more to complete a game, but it would be a REALLY good idea to create samples of your work. This will show potential employers that you have both the skills and the follow-through to be a successful and productive member of the industry, and a very good hire as well.








Once you actually HAVE a program to run, though, there is actually little or no math used to construct the game. It is usually just a matter of learning how to use things called 'flags' which will trigger certain events (e.g. FMVs or any sort of in-game movement), as well as clicking and dragging to show what the actual movement should be. This is a more 'hands-on' approach to game design, and it actually sounds like more fun to me. I'm not good with math, though, so I am obviously a little bit biased. :) The only reason I mention it is that if you want to do THAT sort of thing, you won't have to use much math at all. It's definitely a major asset to be good at math, though, if it is the actual design of the creative programs themselves which is more your goal.





This is a VERY competitive industry, but I think you should go for this if it is your dream. Learn as much as you can as soon as you can, and start creating samples of your work so that you can show the companies that you are prepared.





Good luck!
Reply:If you are asking for a real game like S.T.A.L.K.E.R or GTA that is not a reachable think for one person , if you had the resources or the hardware it would take many lifetimes.


You can simply start by building java games for example.


Of course you can develop into a quality programmer hun, those guys just don't have an extra brain or more body organs


And if you really want, oneday your dreams may come true.

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