Free year of Game Developer Magazine

[Melody]

Yo ppl. I just received the latest Game Developer Magazine ( http://www.gdmag.com ) issue. Inside it was a card that fell out and said they are giving free one-year subscriptions.

I have been receiving this magazine free for a couple years now because I am a member of the International Game Developers Association ( http://www.igda.org .) I want to be a game developer, so it is great for me. If anyone else is curious about game development, it would be a good way to get more knowledge.

The magazine covers programming, art, design, and other things such as the business aspects of game development.

Anyway, the addy is http://www.gdmag.com/freeyear .

~tony

[LAGtheNoggin]

Ahhh, GD mag, I used to get it while I was working on PS2 games, it's a very good mag for the industry.

Judging by the fact the only two countrys listed in that free subscription form are CANADA and UNITED STATES, I'm guessing that means it isn't international. Ho hum. Was planning to subscribe the normal way actually, little steep at $100 a year though. Suppose I could loot off mates still working...

What aspect of games development are you thinking of going into yourself?

[Pockybot]

Ahhh, GD mag, I used to get it while I was working on PS2 games, it's a very good mag for the industry.

You were working on PS2 games? Man I gotta find some 'in the industry' friends online, poo.

[LAGtheNoggin]

Uhhh, generally I prefer my 'in the industry' friends in real life rather than online. It's easier to get pissed blind that way. And I mean, what's a friend if you can't get pissed blind?

[Melody]

Ahhh, GD mag, I used to get it while I was working on PS2 games, it's a very good mag for the industry.

Judging by the fact the only two countrys listed in that free subscription form are CANADA and UNITED STATES, I'm guessing that means it isn't international. Ho hum. Was planning to subscribe the normal way actually, little steep at $100 a year though. Suppose I could loot off mates still working...

What aspect of games development are you thinking of going into yourself?

It is international, but I am guessing it's not free that way. The best way to get the magazine is via the IGDA. http://www.igda.org/membership/discounts.php That way it is free (ignoring the cost of IGDA membership -- $35/year for student, $100/year for nonstudent) to any member regardless of where they live.

I want to enter as a programmer and go up to designer and/or lead programmer/software architect. Then I'll probably make my own company after I am powerful and renown enough.

[Evil Jamie!]

Hm. I should probobly look into that mag. Pity I never see it on the sheves around here.

[McDuffies]

Uhhh, generally I prefer my 'in the industry' friends in real life rather than online. It's easier to get pissed blind that way. And I mean, what's a friend if you can't get pissed blind?

Just as I prefere my drinking friends in real life.

[LAGtheNoggin]

It is international, but I am guessing it's not free that way. The best way to get the magazine is via the IGDA. http://www.igda.org/membership/discounts.php That way it is free (ignoring the cost of IGDA membership -- $35/year for student, $100/year for nonstudent) to any member regardless of where they live.

I want to enter as a programmer and go up to designer and/or lead programmer/software architect. Then I'll probably make my own company after I am powerful and renown enough.

Hummm, I had a look at IGDA and to be honest it looked just a little bit boring. Still got it bookmarked though, I'll have a look into membership...

Programmer eh? It's actually quite easy to rise up high in that field, although you might end up being stifled of creativity. My mate spent about a year working as a lacky programmer and then went straight up into lead position, he's not bad at what he does but he is a bit of a slave. I think he'd rather be working on games other than Bionicle and Catwoman... Still, who knows where he'll go from there? I don't know, I've never asked.

So, bit of a long shot; Are you thinking of programming any mods for Half-Life 2 or UT2004? I've got an idea I need help with.

Hm. I should probobly look into that mag. Pity I never see it on the sheves around here.

It's an industry magazine, shops don't stock it, it's sent straight to wherever it needs to be; Usually dev studios but anyone can sign up if they want it.

[Melody]

I'm only a member for the benefits. Also, at the Game Developer's Conference Awards Ceremony thingie, IGDA members get seats that are closer to the stage. lol

As for being stifled of creativity, I am very discrete and assertive when it comes to certain things. If I feel locked, I will just leave the company and join another. I am not good at lacky-level programming because I find it intensely dull. I am much better at designing systems that other people have to implement. muahahahha. I wouldn't want to be stuck too long doing something which is disjoint from my nature.

However, I wouldn't want a high programming position initially because I want to learn the basics first.

One of the reasons why it might be easy to get into a high position might be because the work conditions scare a good deal of workers away. http://www.igda.org/qol/qol_whitepaper.php If the conditions are too bad, I will go to another company. If they aren't too bad, I'll probably stay. I don't think I'll ever have a family anyway. I'm such a loser.

So, bit of a long shot; Are you thinking of programming any mods for Half-Life 2 or UT2004? I've got an idea I need help with.

Why...eh... Nope. I haven't programmed anything more than Tetris. Tee hee. So you probably know more about programming mods than I do. But, I am beyond competent and learn fast. Well, anyway, what kind of idea do you have?

[Sam_Charette]

Oooh! Sweet! I'd LOVE to get that mag! Hopefully I do get it for free. If I do, I shall bow down to you in eternal thanks

I've been in and out of hobby game programming for a while now. Never really made anything other than a few simple mods for quake2/unreal (and never released them). I took a look at Dark Basic Pro, which is a game development language, and it's pretty cool for those of us who don't want to do the heavy programming that a game requires and still get something decent.

Personally, I program business apps for a living, so coming home and programming a video game, though it sounds cool, is something that I tend to find difficult. Hard to be motivated enough to do it...

... so I just come home and do web programming instead

[LAGtheNoggin]

Wow, another programmer! Don't they just come out of the woodwork?

So, bit of a long shot; Are you thinking of programming any mods for Half-Life 2 or UT2004? I've got an idea I need help with.

Why...eh... Nope. I haven't programmed anything more than Tetris. Tee hee. So you probably know more about programming mods than I do. But, I am beyond competent and learn fast. Well, anyway, what kind of idea do you have?

The Rats! Mod, the battle of rats against mice in a universe several sizes too big (my comic's based on it). It'll be a cross between Conker's Bad Fur Day and Toy Story, should be fun. I've got a design document sitting around but it's a bit wonky with service pack 2 or Firefox and needs some major overhauling, damn my amature code... At the moment I'm really after someone who knows their stuff so I can discuss game possibilites, I'm just an artist, I don't really know what's possible code wise.

At the moment the mod's not on the official go though, I need to get the Design Document and some art hammered out before I start really pimping.

[Melody]

Yo, Sam. ^_^

Aboot Rats!. I think I'm going to try my hand at mod development; but of course, as you said yourself, you would be much better off with some other dudes at the moment. Especially because I'm too busy with school.

I hope to see you guys maybe at the GDC. Or at least hear about yous' accomplishments in the videogame industry in the future. (I will ignore any non-videogame accomplishments you make. )