Actually, every instructor I've had works in the industry. Not *DID WORK*....but *WORKS*. Classes are at night. It's in Austin, so there are plenty of studios to pull from. I've had instructors that have worked on games from all eras and genres. Some of the companies that represents: Sony and SOE, Midway, NCSoft, and Microsoft. Plenty who have started their own studios after having worked at bigger ones, too.
It's not a degree program (yet), but I'm not too worried about that since I already have a CS degree. For me, it's more about having fun, learning some new stuff, and making good contacts for when I'm ready to jump into the industry.
Check out the list of names on the Advisory Board and the list of Instructors. There are some influential names on that list.
I take game programming classes. One of the instructors made some very good points related to innovation. His context was game wise, but since my background is business application programming, I can easily see how it applies here.
When you innovate in a game, only make one....maybe two innovations. Otherwise, you skew so far away that you usually end up a complete failure. Applying it here: sure, keep things interesting by doing some piece new, but keep it manageable by keeping the rest of it "boring". You gain predictability while retaining "fun".
Texas *IS* an at will state. He's good to go: whereever, whenever. Look at Randy Mott. He left Dell for HP. He's located at the HP office in Austin. You would have to imagine there was some sort of non-compete clause in there for that sort of move, but nothing they could do.
Now, that being said, the whole "trade secret" / NDA stuff you might have signed is all still valid.
1. Does this design perform better than other windmill designs (for generation). 2. What will this do to the atmospheric conditions? 3. If everyone has one....will it no longer rain?
Of course, my HOA won't let me do anything to my house that makes it deviate from a socially accepted norm.....which basically means that I can't be first, but I can be next.
I somewhat agree with you on this....if the idea is good, you should be able to share the "elevator speech" version of it even in a community like Slash-Dot.
Consider this game idea -
It's a card game you play by yourself. You deal cards out in to seven columns, all face up (the extra make an incomplete row). You are trying to move the cards around such that you can collect an entire suit (Ace to King) in a special location to the side. -- Freecell. That didn't give away any of the "secret" rules but gives people an idea of what the game is.
If you can't share your game at that sort of level, then it probably needs a *LOT* of work.
First off, these are not my comments, so don't ask any more than this. But I know someone with a published game and someone else who has a game to publish. I sent this e-mail to the former and forwarded the response to the latter. That's about all of my involvement in the process of getting a game published. But since it is on topic, I thought I'd include the response here for you.
I'm in Austin, so the reference to Steve Jackson Game might not be as convenient for you as it is for me, but the concept of getting with people who actually make/sell games isn't a bad thought. Also, an earlier response talked about making it "printer-ware", which my published friend indicates that she and her husband do....in fact, she indicates that she might be open to putting it on her site (instant traffic, just not sure of how much).
Good luck on your efforts, but don't hope for anything quick. Unless it's an awesome game, expect years of effort.
Layne
GAMA (http://www.gama.org/) is the Game Manufacturers Association, and they have some worthwhile resources. We went to two of their tradeshows in Las Vegas; met folks, learned some things. I think Jon also hangs out with RPGnet (http://www.rpg.net/), which is more than just role-playing games, and the Game Publishers Association (http://www.thegpa.org).
It's not too difficult to get yourself an invite to a Steve Jackson Games playtesting session, which is certainly... illuminating. (Heh. That's a pun. Uh, anyway.) Playtesting, however, is kind of gruelling, and there's not much glamour to it. But you can see his shop and talk to his people and get some insight into how it goes.
And, of course, there's us: http://www.invisible-city.com/play/ We put our games up for free on the web. They're print-and-play, or composed of household parts like poker cards and checker boards. We host games by guest designers, too.
Mossberg does mention that Enso works in plain English (nothing to memorize), but I have a hard time believing that holding down Caps and typing "open fire..." is faster than simply clicking an icon. Or that it's harder to remember to type "ctrl+alt+f" than caps+"open fire...". You an also put a toolbar with frequently used shortcuts on your Taskbar, or move the shortcut to the top of the Start Menu.
In other news: President Bush inadvertantly started a nuclear war when he was trying to open his internet browser using Enso.
Windows+R iexpore enter Windows+R winword enter Windows+R mailto: enter Windows+R cmd enter Windows+R calc enter Windows+R http://www.slashdot.org/ enter
Why would I need a 25MB memory resident program to handle that?
Do we really need Super Mega Hyper Extra Street Fighter 9 or something? I love to play the game, but Anything past SFIICE is just sort of overkill to me. Same for MK.
Not having access to either a PS3 or a Westinghouse TV my questions would be:
1. Does the PS3 work with all other devices that have implemented this feature? 2. Does the Westinghouse TV work with all other devices that have implemented this feature? 3. Is there an issue with the connection (as in - are the cables good or to blame)?
I don't care either way. It doesn't impact me (and likely won't in the future)....unless the problem pops up with other HDMI interfaced devices.
You'll get two....one that looks like an Angel and one that looks like a Devil. They'll sit on each shoulder and argue with each other. Eventually, you figure out that doing what the Devil says is more fun but doing what the Angel says keeps you out of trouble. That's when the Fox shows up behind you and shows you how to make people think you are acting like the Angle when in fact, you are acting like the Devil.
But to buy that hybrid car, you have to pay an extra 10 to 15K over the price of the exact same gas-only version. You have to keep the car for almost 18 years in order to have the difference pay off (in your pocket book -- ignoring any environmental benefits).
Assumptions: Annual miles - 15,000 Cost per gallon - $2.50 Hybrid MPG - 40 (375 gallons per year - $937.50) Gas MPG - 25 (600 gallons per year - $1,500)
Annual savings - $562.50 Years to pay back (assuming $10,000 price difference) - 17.78
Even if the Hybrid gets 60MPG and the gas-only gets 25MPG, that's still more than 10 years. I can't think of too many people that will keep a car that long.
Buy a Hybrid because you want to be cool. Buy one because you feel strongly about the environment. Whatever. But don't buy one because you want to save money.
We've seen groups of things travelling at greater than the speed of light (both sound and light)....granted the individual waves do not, but the collective [word used intentionally] does. So, we just put a whole bunch of probes in some loopy PVC pipe and, "poof", we can get across the galaxy in a fraction of the time.
That's well and good if project management is your goal. I find myself in a similar boat as the one posing the question (although, I'm in a senior position already). It has been 7 years since my last promotion. My next step would likely be to a management position or project management position, however, my desire is to remain technical. It's a tough position to be in. But yeah, I graduated college in 94 and feel like I'm pretty much topped out without changing to management. If I don't change industries in the next 5 years, I don't see much more than "cost of living adjustments" in my future - at least until I max out my salary band.
As far as making yourself invaluable (more or less what everyone is suggesting), I recommend becoming the database programming expert. It is the one area that I find lacking in every group I've dealt with. It is still very technical, there is a ton if information available (both in print and electronic), and there is a huge need for that skill. Standing out in a crowd of Java/C++/C# developers is a lot harder than standing out in the smaller crowd of database developers. The position still has lots of upside salary wise (call yourself a DBA and six figures isn't impossible to reach, but I'd stick to Database Developer if you don't want to carry a pager).
The other benefit is that if you want to leave your current company, it is a skill that will get you in pretty much anywhere, regardless of the language of choice (C-based or script-based or.NET based, Windows or Linux, etc.) If you know MS SQL Server and Oracle, you've pretty much covered 90-something % of what you need to know to work on any DBMS (yeah, I know DB2, Sybase, MySQL, etc. -- but if you know MS and Oracle, transitioning to any of those should be cake).
Slashdot Mirror
Actually, every instructor I've had works in the industry. Not *DID WORK*....but *WORKS*. Classes are at night. It's in Austin, so there are plenty of studios to pull from. I've had instructors that have worked on games from all eras and genres. Some of the companies that represents: Sony and SOE, Midway, NCSoft, and Microsoft. Plenty who have started their own studios after having worked at bigger ones, too.
http://www.austincc.edu/techcert/Video_Games.html
It's not a degree program (yet), but I'm not too worried about that since I already have a CS degree. For me, it's more about having fun, learning some new stuff, and making good contacts for when I'm ready to jump into the industry.
Check out the list of names on the Advisory Board and the list of Instructors. There are some influential names on that list.
Layne
I take game programming classes. One of the instructors made some very good points related to innovation. His context was game wise, but since my background is business application programming, I can easily see how it applies here.
When you innovate in a game, only make one....maybe two innovations. Otherwise, you skew so far away that you usually end up a complete failure. Applying it here: sure, keep things interesting by doing some piece new, but keep it manageable by keeping the rest of it "boring". You gain predictability while retaining "fun".
Layne
Dude....I'm not sure if you could tell or not, but I was going for FUNNY. Not TROLL.
Layne
But Sally Struthers says that I can use that 5 cents a day to solve world hunger.....ethics? or business? Tough call.
Layne
Taken from some forwarded jokes. Layne
Texas *IS* an at will state. He's good to go: whereever, whenever. Look at Randy Mott. He left Dell for HP. He's located at the HP office in Austin. You would have to imagine there was some sort of non-compete clause in there for that sort of move, but nothing they could do.
Now, that being said, the whole "trade secret" / NDA stuff you might have signed is all still valid.
Layne
I'm sold. Who do I make the check out to? (Keep in mind that it will likely bounce.)
Layne
I knew about this back when I was a younger geek (guessing like 1984ish):
h tml
http://www.desertusa.com/mag98/dec/stories/water.
Layne
My original assumption was that the windmill was created to generate power and the side effect was condensation of water.
Layne
Oh, and if you put the windmill high enough, can you also generate considerable electricity with the water as gravity brings it down to the ground?
Layne
Things I would like to know:
1. Does this design perform better than other windmill designs (for generation).
2. What will this do to the atmospheric conditions?
3. If everyone has one....will it no longer rain?
Layne
Another case of a botched NASA program???
//break product
//NASA code //break product
Instead of writing this code:
if (today() >= warrantyEnd + 1 month) {
}
They must of switched signs:
if (today() >= warrantyEnd - 1 month) {
}
Layne
(joke stolen shamelessly from a cohort)
Of course, my HOA won't let me do anything to my house that makes it deviate from a socially accepted norm.....which basically means that I can't be first, but I can be next.
Layne
I somewhat agree with you on this....if the idea is good, you should be able to share the "elevator speech" version of it even in a community like Slash-Dot.
Consider this game idea -
It's a card game you play by yourself. You deal cards out in to seven columns, all face up (the extra make an incomplete row). You are trying to move the cards around such that you can collect an entire suit (Ace to King) in a special location to the side. -- Freecell. That didn't give away any of the "secret" rules but gives people an idea of what the game is.
If you can't share your game at that sort of level, then it probably needs a *LOT* of work.
Layne
I'm in Austin, so the reference to Steve Jackson Game might not be as convenient for you as it is for me, but the concept of getting with people who actually make/sell games isn't a bad thought. Also, an earlier response talked about making it "printer-ware", which my published friend indicates that she and her husband do....in fact, she indicates that she might be open to putting it on her site (instant traffic, just not sure of how much).
Good luck on your efforts, but don't hope for anything quick. Unless it's an awesome game, expect years of effort.
Layne
In other news: President Bush inadvertantly started a nuclear war when he was trying to open his internet browser using Enso.
Open Fire!
Layne
I thought launching was covered.
Windows+R iexpore enter
Windows+R winword enter
Windows+R mailto: enter
Windows+R cmd enter
Windows+R calc enter
Windows+R http://www.slashdot.org/ enter
Why would I need a 25MB memory resident program to handle that?
Layne
Don't forget arcade games as well.
Do we really need Super Mega Hyper Extra Street Fighter 9 or something? I love to play the game, but Anything past SFIICE is just sort of overkill to me. Same for MK.
Layne
Not having access to either a PS3 or a Westinghouse TV my questions would be:
1. Does the PS3 work with all other devices that have implemented this feature?
2. Does the Westinghouse TV work with all other devices that have implemented this feature?
3. Is there an issue with the connection (as in - are the cables good or to blame)?
I don't care either way. It doesn't impact me (and likely won't in the future)....unless the problem pops up with other HDMI interfaced devices.
Layne
You'll get two....one that looks like an Angel and one that looks like a Devil. They'll sit on each shoulder and argue with each other. Eventually, you figure out that doing what the Devil says is more fun but doing what the Angel says keeps you out of trouble. That's when the Fox shows up behind you and shows you how to make people think you are acting like the Angle when in fact, you are acting like the Devil.
Layne
My 1000 is in my garage.....but it does still work. Never got around to getting the hard drive for it, though.
Layne
But to buy that hybrid car, you have to pay an extra 10 to 15K over the price of the exact same gas-only version. You have to keep the car for almost 18 years in order to have the difference pay off (in your pocket book -- ignoring any environmental benefits).
Assumptions:
Annual miles - 15,000
Cost per gallon - $2.50
Hybrid MPG - 40 (375 gallons per year - $937.50)
Gas MPG - 25 (600 gallons per year - $1,500)
Annual savings - $562.50
Years to pay back (assuming $10,000 price difference) - 17.78
Even if the Hybrid gets 60MPG and the gas-only gets 25MPG, that's still more than 10 years. I can't think of too many people that will keep a car that long.
Buy a Hybrid because you want to be cool. Buy one because you feel strongly about the environment. Whatever. But don't buy one because you want to save money.
Layne
We're spending quite a bit of money and effort exploring two nearby "dead rocks". The Moon and Mars (ok, Mars might not be dead.....).
Layne
We've seen groups of things travelling at greater than the speed of light (both sound and light)....granted the individual waves do not, but the collective [word used intentionally] does. So, we just put a whole bunch of probes in some loopy PVC pipe and, "poof", we can get across the galaxy in a fraction of the time.
- Faster-than-Light-24167.shtml
Layne
References:
http://physicsweb.org/articles/news/9/11/1
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Light-that-Travels
http://www.physorg.com/news88249076.html
That's well and good if project management is your goal. I find myself in a similar boat as the one posing the question (although, I'm in a senior position already). It has been 7 years since my last promotion. My next step would likely be to a management position or project management position, however, my desire is to remain technical. It's a tough position to be in. But yeah, I graduated college in 94 and feel like I'm pretty much topped out without changing to management. If I don't change industries in the next 5 years, I don't see much more than "cost of living adjustments" in my future - at least until I max out my salary band.
.NET based, Windows or Linux, etc.) If you know MS SQL Server and Oracle, you've pretty much covered 90-something % of what you need to know to work on any DBMS (yeah, I know DB2, Sybase, MySQL, etc. -- but if you know MS and Oracle, transitioning to any of those should be cake).
As far as making yourself invaluable (more or less what everyone is suggesting), I recommend becoming the database programming expert. It is the one area that I find lacking in every group I've dealt with. It is still very technical, there is a ton if information available (both in print and electronic), and there is a huge need for that skill. Standing out in a crowd of Java/C++/C# developers is a lot harder than standing out in the smaller crowd of database developers. The position still has lots of upside salary wise (call yourself a DBA and six figures isn't impossible to reach, but I'd stick to Database Developer if you don't want to carry a pager).
The other benefit is that if you want to leave your current company, it is a skill that will get you in pretty much anywhere, regardless of the language of choice (C-based or script-based or
Layne