How many people make games full-time, and what do you specialize in?

edited in Questions and Answers
I'm curious, how many people on the forums are making games full-time? I've been surprised lately at how many people in SA are working on games these days, quite a few indie companies seem to have arisen in the last few years.

I'm also curious about the primary interests of people here, and what you specialize in? As in, are most of the folk here primarily interested in smaller indie games, the technology behind games (developing engines etc), game design itself, game art etc. Also, when chatting to new people I often wonder who I'm speaking to (an artists focusing on 2D art, 3D modeller, self-taught programmer, professional programmer, sound guy etc).

Anyway, I suppose this is a barrage of questions rather than just one, but aaaaaaanyhoo.

Comments

  • This may help. It's the long lost introductions thread that wouldn't show up when I searched for it.

    http://makegamessa.com/discussion/1/welcome
    Thanked by 1EvanGreenwood
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    I sincerely believe that TIGSource's policy to have a mandatory introduction thread (for this sort of purpose) is a good idea.
    Thanked by 2Bensonance Merrik
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    I also feel like signatures or our profile pages displaying the links we'd like them to (at least) might help with that as well. There's always a certain amount of butt-sniffing that seems to happen, I'd like to not have to do it ;)

    The old introduction thread doesn't really address a lot of questions though, it's just a sort of "Hello, here's a link" thing. Doe TIGsource have specific questions you have to answer or something?

    FWIW: Full time game design/development consulting since 2006. Started QCF in 2007. Used to just do projects for clients, switched to selling our own games in 2010. Specialise in making stuff fun, I guess you could argue we're just focusing on small indie games, but I don't really see any other kind working in SA.
  • Im not involved in games full time (yet), but I am a full time 3D artist.

    I own a company called BURN with my brother. We are the largest (and best!) 3D architectural illustration company in South Africa.

    But in my spare time, Im a self taught programmer sound guy artist person. ;)
  • My two brothers and I work full-time on game related stuff. We're experienced in the dark lore of Unreal Engine.

    For my part, I do textures, perform other art related sorcery, sound design, music, level design and animation. I don't consider myself a master in any of them yet :P Probably best at audio/music and texturing though :)
  • I agree about the signatures, though I think there should be some sort of limit to the image size/overall height (or just exclude images). It's always annoying scrolling past someone's one word comment, followed by half a page of their banner links and whatnot :P
    Thanked by 1hanli
  • I do nothing but make games at QCF, and play games. I slept once. It was horrible.
  • This may help. It's the long lost introductions thread that wouldn't show up when I searched for it.
    http://makegamessa.com/discussion/1/welcome
    Nice, thanks.
    I slept once. It was horrible.
    Yessss.... sleep is for the weak! *flexes and grimaces in the most manly manner possible*
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    Oh, to reciprocate, I live in Durban, am a lead software developer (ooh that sounds fancy!) at ThoroughTec doing military and mining training simulations, mostly focusing on the military stuff and the framework / engine. I'm pretty much the graphics engine go-to guy at the company. Did a stint in the pro games industry a few years back as well, was quite cool. Occasionally dabble in small game projects in my spare time, but mostly I focus on 3D tech / engine development.
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    I do development in the commercial/industrial/retailer space with a focus on mobile devices. Mostly .NET with a sprinkling of C/C++ and tons of legacy stuff.

    Just recently joined because it's a hobby and I lack a coherent direction. To much research not enough making games.

  • Just recently joined because it's a hobby and I lack a coherent direction. To much research not enough making games.
    Same here. That plus ADHD means never finishing anything.
    Thanked by 1ScurvyKnave
  • That plus ADHD means never finishing anything.
    Tell me about it! I know a few people (including myself) who have the same problem. I have one or two games that are close to being complete (and a few others that I abandoned halfway through)... once the initial inspiration and creativity subside, the real work begins (bug-fixing, arrrr!)
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    I'm currently living the dream as a dev on the Broforce team |o/
    BlackShipsFilltheSky said:
    I sincerely believe that TIGSource's policy to have a mandatory introduction thread (for this sort of purpose) is a good idea.
    Having silly photos of our human forms (like TIG's intro thread I think) is also a nice touch that I'd love to see here.

  • I was looking for the 'introduction' thread here when I registered. Let me just say this site is really clean and simplistic which I appreciate a lot ;)
    Thanked by 1Bladesway
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    Hi Guys, I was looking for a place where I could bring some knowledge back to South Africa and hoping to see the industry back home blossoming. I am a Senior Game Designer but my current role is as Team Lead for Wooga in Berlin on a Game called Monster World for Facebook http://www.wooga.com/games/monster-world/ Last year I was the Studio Senior Game Designer for Nubee, a Japaneses social gaming company based in Singapore where I made Monster Blade for the Asian Market and before that I worked as Game Designer and Producer for Gameloft Auckland where I made Wonder Zoo Prior to all this I was a brass, ambitions and somewhat over confident struggling indi-game developer from Pretoria.

    I would really love to see more Freemium style game developers come from South Africa and see a real industry being built. If anyone wants advice on that field, please, feel free to send me a message and ask any questions you want.

    So I guess, If I count(Since technically I am in Berlin), I am a full time Game Developer :P
    Thanked by 1Tuism
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