gaming in japan
 

Hi, I'm Mysticlight and I really want to go to Japan as soon as possible. I want to design games as a job and just wondered how I might go about this sort of thing in Japan.

Sorry if this is the wrong catergory, I just joined this forum.

I don´t get what you want to know... do you want to know what kind of games they are playing in japan or what requirements you have to have?

requirements. Like, what should I do to get into this career in Japan

Can you speak fluent Japanese?

If not, then why would they choose someone who can't speak Japanese, when there are perfectly capable people living in Japan already?

If you want to be part of the English marketing team for games, that would be a good idea, but you would need to speak some Japanese too.

If not, design games where you are now. America and the UK are doing well for gaming at the moment, so that would be your best bet.

For any game design job, you need an outstanding portfolio, a degree, and work experience. Any design or media based job is very competative with many people all wanting the same job. You have to be better than everyone else.

Thanks for the advice :)

I am going to learn japanese soon, so by the time I go to Japan I will be fluent.

I think I will get all the qualifications in the UK first, then go over there.

Do I need any special extra qualifications for doing this is japan, besides learning the language?

Welcome.

Well first of all you can't just be a 'game designer.' They are the people at the top, so you need to have a speciality and work your way up. Decide if you want to be a modeller, a concept artist, a programmer, a sound technition etc. Get a degree in that, first. You can work your way up the ranks after you have worked there a long time, up to senior modeller/animator for example, then up to game designer, who decide the initial ideas. You need to have skills in all areas and specialise in one if you want to be an actual 'designer.'

I'm getting my degree in Computer Animation so I can be a modeller and animator. Do you have any experience in any of those areas? Are you good at art, or maths for example?

I want to be the person that has the ideas for games and a rough idea of how it will look, but not really the person who models it.

How do you think I should get into this? I am a novice at modelling, I can only make simple animations with it.

At the moment my art isn't fantastic. I know what I want to draw and how I want to draw it, toning and stuff, but I stopped art at year 9.

My maths is about average, I could get it much better with revision.

What are your thoughts?

(thanks very much for your help btw :))

EDIT: I don't know whether you could call this a skill, but I am a fantastic day dreamer |-)

In the modern day games industry the person with the 'ideas' is either a producer or collection of producers, and it is very hard to get to that stage without having a specific talent first.

I want to be realistic with you, but since you have no real interest in art, which modelling, animating, texturing, scripting and storywriting fall under, and your maths is average, which programming comes under, your chances are looking kind of slim.

You really need to pick one of those things and work your way to the top to be a producer. It's going to be hard if you aren't particularly good or passionate about one of those areas.

Which is the most likely you are to be best at/interested in?

Oh and you are welcome :D

Maybe something that includes writing, because I am very good at that. Even though it sounds like I'm not that interested in art, I do draw a lot of stuff on my computer to do with games I think of or w/e. But I don't have any qualifications for art. I am also very good on the computer (GCSE).

So, basically, something where I can be creative.Designing creatures/people, writing etc.

I write or draw what I daydream.

Anymore help?:)

Concept artist or scripwriter sounds good to me. Concept artists means you design creatures/characters, you do all the intial sketches, tweaking, and changing things as you go. Every idea needs to be different and original. To do this though you really need to drop everything else and just do fine art. If your art isn't amazing now, it has to be. Go to life drawing classes, study art.

Are you doing A Levels? You pretty much need to, and if you are going to, I suggest you do Art and Design, English Literature or Language, and then pick 1 or 2 other subjects you are interested in.

Do you have any examples of art work and writing I could see? ~

I'll start practising real life art rather than cartoony. I'll go to classes in the summer and possibly change my a level to art, is it just one subject or does it count as 2? Also, can you do alevel art without GCSE art?

I wanted to do language, but my school doesn't do it so i am doing lit.

I'll post a pic soon.

thanks for your help, before I just had a vague idea of what I wanted to do to get into gaming.

There are 2 types of Art A Level, I think one is double award and one is normal. I did the normal one just because I wanted to do other things, and I recommend doing normal because so many hours of art a week means you tend to lack concentration and inspiration.

And yes you can usually do A Level art without GCSE art, my friend did it, but it depends on the school. If you make it clear you are enthusiastic and passionate about it I'm sure they'll give you a chance.

You are welcome, I am doing this myself so I know a lot of stuff. You won't get a job in Japan but there are many UK companies, Team 17 [Worms, Lemmings], Rockstar Games [Grand Theft Auto, Manhunt], Lionhead Studios [Fable, Black & White.] So try your luck here :D

If you want to know anything else/see examples of my work, feel free to ask~

Hmm. Maybe you are right, but I really wanted to live two dreams at the same time: living in japan and make video games (maybe for nintendo).

Would it be okay to see some of your work please?

Oh yeh, and what are you doing with gaming as a job?

Where are you going to go with your work?

I agree. Study art and try a lot of different things if you decide to be a concept artist! Practise practise practise! You can't just start with something and hope for the best, while holding your brush into the air. Initiate my fellow artist!

Agreed. See, I have the ideas of what to draw, but I am not very good at drawing people, which I need (want) to be good at.

I want to be a modeller/animator. I'm doing a degree in Computer Animation at University in September, and it's a sandwich course, which means you spend a year doing a work placement.

Basically, how I design things is like this:

I start off with a basic idea or a basic sketch.



Then I add colour and detail.



And then try different poses, stuff like that.



Again, same with my other characters.





If you want to see anything else, my website is here: sallysportfolio.tk and deviantart: PrInCeSsPuKe on deviantART

START NOWWWW. RIGHT NOW.. DRAW THINGS, LOOK THINGS UP ON THE INTERNET. Who knows.. you might become extremely good at it after a few years?:)

thanks for the advice =]

Tommorow, I'm going to start practising so I can be as good as you. Not tonight tho, I have french speaking =[

Welcome :D Good luck!

thanks =] i'll need more than luck with french tho.

nice pics on deviant art btw

MysticLight, if I correctly have understood - you wish to become the "game designer"?
It is one of the main people in development of game. The chiefs of the project.
By main (senior) by the designer you do not become! It is the fact!
And junior... I doubt...

The game designer should know and understand base in:
Programming (more than one programming languages)
Drawing, modeling
Sound, music
Computer technologies
Cinema of industry
etc.

You should be able competently write the scenario.
To be able to supervise over the people (chief).
To be the good psychologist.
It is good to understand game industry.
To know advertising skill, management etc.

You should be the writer, film director, chief, artist, programmer, sychologist, manager... etc.
You have little chance of success...

thanks, that helped a lot =]

I know a lot of the things you mentioned, so that's good

There is a steadily growing popularity of Linux in Japan.

Consider that there is a huge doujin softs scene over there, there is a worth of value learning Linux-related developments (games, softwares, etc) in Japan.