Hey

Just wondering who here does Programming for games as a profession, but really comments, advice, abuse from anyone who programms games, in their spare time or otherwise, is welcome

Sooo, like, is it a difficult industry to get into, even with qualifications?

Do you mean like XNA programming? I think there are many who make games in their spare time.

http://www.dreamincode.net/forums/showforum69.htm

I've started working with XNA in my spare time

In all honesty having worked for an indie game company that went out of business, creating a game is fairly simple...creating a game that sells thats the hard part lol

You need several things first off a GOOD TEAM....never try to do everything your self...I would rather be a great programmer then a fair programmer and a fair 3d artist, ect ect ect...know what your good at and make that your priority in your game...

Good Games come from three things...

Good Game Design....Its long its boring and no one really likes to type 10000 million lines about there concept most people want to jump in and start programming....Without a proper blueprint to where you want to go you open yourself up to feature creep buggy code as your always changing it and wasted time...

A Good Team as I said before....Do what you do best, and allow others to do what they do best

and last is Patience..Understand your engine and the technology you are using what it can and can not do....make sure you have the right tools for the right job...

As for as qualifications well if you want to be in with the big boys you need degrees and things like that....if you are going independent which is not a bad living and some really great games have come from that sector then I say you need a good imagination and willingness to learn..

Hope that helps

It does indeed, thanks!