Resumes
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I'm getting close to that point in college where I need to seriously start hunting for a job. I'll be graduating with a degree in CS, and I've also got several completed software projects for some local businesses which'll find their way into my portfolio. As a spare-time thing, I've been working on a game engine, but I'm not really thinking of going into game programming for a career. So a question: would having "coded a game engine" on my resume make a difference in a field other than game design? Would it be worth trying to finish to add to my portfolio, or would it really not have an impact?
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I'm getting close to that point in college where I need to seriously start hunting for a job. I'll be graduating with a degree in CS, and I've also got several completed software projects for some local businesses which'll find their way into my portfolio. As a spare-time thing, I've been working on a game engine, but I'm not really thinking of going into game programming for a career. So a question: would having "coded a game engine" on my resume make a difference in a field other than game design? Would it be worth trying to finish to add to my portfolio, or would it really not have an impact?
It might give the interviewer a little thing to help break the ice with you and then you can give them some insight into yourself too. I actually add some game related stuff on my resume and then ended up being interviewed (for a job that I took) by one of the guys that did Railroad Tycoon for the Mac. And at my current job, I am working with another guy that has done game coding. Steve Maier, MCSD
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I'm getting close to that point in college where I need to seriously start hunting for a job. I'll be graduating with a degree in CS, and I've also got several completed software projects for some local businesses which'll find their way into my portfolio. As a spare-time thing, I've been working on a game engine, but I'm not really thinking of going into game programming for a career. So a question: would having "coded a game engine" on my resume make a difference in a field other than game design? Would it be worth trying to finish to add to my portfolio, or would it really not have an impact?
'coded a game engine' - eh no... 'coded a geometry rendering engine requiring a firm understanding of analytical geometry.' - best I could come up with in 5 minutes, but you should get the idea. I know for a fact that there is much more to coding a game engine than drawing some blood and adding 10 points to a score. Maybe in 25 words you can say more than just 'coded a game engine'. Tim Smith Descartes Systems Sciences, Inc.
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I'm getting close to that point in college where I need to seriously start hunting for a job. I'll be graduating with a degree in CS, and I've also got several completed software projects for some local businesses which'll find their way into my portfolio. As a spare-time thing, I've been working on a game engine, but I'm not really thinking of going into game programming for a career. So a question: would having "coded a game engine" on my resume make a difference in a field other than game design? Would it be worth trying to finish to add to my portfolio, or would it really not have an impact?
You could angle that accomplishment to show that you are creative and don't just code mundane business applications all day long. However, you have to be careful 'cause some may take it the wrong way, think that you're hooked like drugs on games, and be non-productive at work. If you've got a lot of professional (ie. non-school) work experience already then you may want to leave it off for a more professional look. But if you don't have much work experience, are proud of the engine, or don't have a lot on your resume then stick it somewhere under your "Other Interests/Projects" section.
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I'm getting close to that point in college where I need to seriously start hunting for a job. I'll be graduating with a degree in CS, and I've also got several completed software projects for some local businesses which'll find their way into my portfolio. As a spare-time thing, I've been working on a game engine, but I'm not really thinking of going into game programming for a career. So a question: would having "coded a game engine" on my resume make a difference in a field other than game design? Would it be worth trying to finish to add to my portfolio, or would it really not have an impact?
It shows that you have an interest in coding beyond it just being a job. This can be very important to a lot of good employers. Getting it to a finished state is important because in the job world everything has to get finished. Even if you're still working on it, that can be "the next stage". It also shows that you are capable of doing more than business applications, which opens up more interesting jobs. An employer may not be interested in gaming, but they may be looking for someone with graphics experience i.e. a GIS application. They may also need a coder right now, and someone with your experience 6 months down the road. As Tim says, describe what you're doing in more detail, especially if it is your own personal project. "Harland Pepper, would you stop naming nuts" - Harland Pepper
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I'm getting close to that point in college where I need to seriously start hunting for a job. I'll be graduating with a degree in CS, and I've also got several completed software projects for some local businesses which'll find their way into my portfolio. As a spare-time thing, I've been working on a game engine, but I'm not really thinking of going into game programming for a career. So a question: would having "coded a game engine" on my resume make a difference in a field other than game design? Would it be worth trying to finish to add to my portfolio, or would it really not have an impact?
I don't think it will make a large difference in getting an interview, though I think that could be great to bring up during the interview for everyone's reasons above (show your creativity, other interests...etc)
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I'm getting close to that point in college where I need to seriously start hunting for a job. I'll be graduating with a degree in CS, and I've also got several completed software projects for some local businesses which'll find their way into my portfolio. As a spare-time thing, I've been working on a game engine, but I'm not really thinking of going into game programming for a career. So a question: would having "coded a game engine" on my resume make a difference in a field other than game design? Would it be worth trying to finish to add to my portfolio, or would it really not have an impact?
My 2 cents is that it wouldn't hurt, and would be helpful. Developing a game engine (let's take for example a 3D engine) has a lot of applicable areas in the professional arena. First off it is mathematically extensive, you have to have a firm understanding of math, physics as well if you have tried to duplicate any form of physics in your game engine. It also shows determination, you finished a project without any exterior forces acting upon you (a boss, deadlines, etc...) If you provided your game engine to the community, you may have had to deal with technical issues, this shows that you are capable of interacting with others in a support role, then there is. Another plus is if you used DirectX or OpenGL, or other libraries out there it tells the boss that you can acquire and SDK (of sorts), decipher, and utilize it without any supervision, that if you wanted to get the code to work you knew where to look and acquire help. Plus coding a game engine involves lots of debugging and optimization two great skills to have in any area of programming! I would definetly put it on my resume as a matter of fact I did, and I got my first job in the industry 4 years ago as a tech support person, I got the job even though I didn't have the prerequisite degree (not saying a degree doesn't matter, I kick myself in the butt everyday for not getting one :-( ) Now four years later I'm the system manager at a marketing company that has to deal with hardware/software design, training, and implementation. Just think of the kind of job I could have now if I completed a degree and that game engine I was tinkering on :-) Sam C ---- Systems Manager Hospitality Marketing Associates
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You could angle that accomplishment to show that you are creative and don't just code mundane business applications all day long. However, you have to be careful 'cause some may take it the wrong way, think that you're hooked like drugs on games, and be non-productive at work. If you've got a lot of professional (ie. non-school) work experience already then you may want to leave it off for a more professional look. But if you don't have much work experience, are proud of the engine, or don't have a lot on your resume then stick it somewhere under your "Other Interests/Projects" section.
If you are going to lose a job opportunity just because you've coded a game, then the job is clearly not for you. (2b || !2b)