Q: What do you do again?

[scrawld]

When someone "outside" of the industry asks about what you do, how do you reply?

Sorry if this seems a silly and irrelevant thread to start. I ask because at the moment I don't have an industry job. So whenever anyone at work or otherwise asks what I'm looking to do, or what my portfolio is about, I have a hard time explaining.

The most appropriate title I guess would be "video game artist". But depending on who asks that response is usually met with a glazed expression, as if its a fake hobby that I just made it up. Like a fancy way of saying "I like to play video games".

I usually just explain it as computer animation. Most people seem to have a good handle on what that is.

Does anyone else ever have this problem?

I also ask because I'm rewriting mv CV so its suited to a job not related to video games. So i'm not sure how to word "video game artist" as a hobby, rather than something that I might be leaving to persue 3 months down the line.

Ps I'm aware this makes me sound a little arrogant. :poly122:

[danr]

"We", always we, not I "make video games"

People generally know what a game is, so that's easy

Then its "what, do you design them or something?"

To which I usually reply "bits of them", which is generally true.

[HitmonInfinity]

Right now I work for IDV (Speedtree) and I make trees for the library all day. Explaining THAT is always a headache. Luckily now I can talk about Avatar, so that helps.

[cw]

Heh this is a fave topic. 2 answers, depending on the nature of the enquirer.

1) If the enquirer is a dick or not likely to really get the concept without tons of protracted explaining, i just say I work in IT.

2) If the person has a hope of understanding, I just tell them honestly what I do!

The only problem is if someone is a 2 and then turns into a 1 as the conversation goes on, that can be tricky. I usually switch the conversation to them and then escape.

I used to make jokes about various things to do with my job but I stopped after a few went pear shaped on me. :)

[fearian]

'I'm a CG artist!' if they don't get what that means, they usually ask, and once a simple definition of a CG artist is established, the jump to 'Working on videogames' is a very small one.

[Mark Dygert]

It's a lot easier to answer now that I animate, like you said they have some kind of frame of reference even if it's way off the mark they don't stare at me blankly.

Outside of the industry:
What do you do?
I'm a lead character animator.
So what does a lead character animator do?
I lead the character animation team, make schedules, assign, oversee and check everyone's work. Work out technical problems and do a mountain of dialog and cinematics myself.
I bet that's fun?
It's pretty technical and repetitive at times [grit teeth] thanks to our engine[/grid teeth], I'm not sure I'd call it fun but it has high job satisfaction for me.
But you play games all day right?
I help test sometimes... Oh hold that thought I've got to go get another one of these...
(if not holding a drink pick up some random item and wonder off looking for another one).

Inside:
What do you do?
Lead character animator.
Oh yea where?
Her Interactive, we do Nancy Drew Mystery adventure games.
<Snickers> or oh...
5th year of full time stable work. Where do you work?
I'm taking some time off to work on personal projects, freelancing you know living the ronin lifestyle.
Cool. Hey have you checked out bla bla bla I hear its pretty fun?
Yea its sweet!
Tell me about it I haven't looked into it much, just heard good things.

[Del]

~ True Story


Girl: "So what is your job exactly?"

Me: "I'm a 3d character artist for videogames"

Girl: "Oh so you draw up people and then they go into a game?"

Me: "No. That's a concept artist. A 3d character artist uses polygons
and other--"

Girl: "WHAT THE HELL IS A POLYGON?"

Me: "... I use digital 'cards' to make a person. Imagine someone making
a house of cards.
Now imagine a person making a sculpture of a person out of cards he
can stretch, but is allowed to use glue to stick em together. Then
after person is made I would have to paint it to look like a person"

Girl: "HO-LY SHIT. That sounds so impossible. You're amazing"

Me: "Yes. Yes I am"

[scrawld]

CG artist is not a bad term to use. I might use that in the future. I've used the words "3D modelling" before, but that just raises more questions than it answers. :poly105:

[nightFlarer]

"Yes. Yes I am"
Totally humble haha

I really just come up with something simple that doesn't require explanation, like 3D artist, digital artist or 3D animator (but I don't do animation :P).
People get the general idea if the word 3D is in it, and automatically think pixar or something like that.

[xvampire]

~ True Story


Girl: "So what is your job exactly?"

Me: "I'm a 3d character artist for videogames"

Girl: "Oh so you draw up people and then they go into a game?"

Me: "No. That's a concept artist. A 3d character artist uses polygons
and other--"


Me: "Yes. Yes I am"

:D but ur website domain is .........
www.drawingyourdreams.com

[bbob]

If you wanna avoid awkward silence, try giving people more than just your job title.

So what do you do?
I'm a video game character artist. More specifically I sculpt, model and colour members of the cast in games, and make them ready for animation bla bla.

That way the person has more subjects to latch onto to keep the conversation flowing and also does not feel dumb for not knowing what the hell you just said..

[conte]

hahah Dreamer, that's brilliant :D

[raul]

i hate the "wtf, what a nerd face". lol. So i avoid it all, by simply saying. I just got a cool, office job.

[Neo_God]

It's all about using references that everyone will know. If you use any technical terms you're going to lose the average person. The second you talk about polys you might as well be talking about string theory. I once took it upon myself to explain what a normal map was to someone who was willing to listen I even showed them examples of how it worked, and it didn't go well at all. Because it really all sounds and looks like madness.

"See this brightly colored blue picture? Well this tricks the lights into thinking this object has a surface it doesn't have"

So when I was still doing freelance CG for a living I simply said I make characters on the computer like Woody in Toy Story. That clicked with people and they knew what I did. If they knew about video games, I asked them what their favorite game was, and if it was a 3d one, I said I make characters like *insert character name*.

Oh, and there's something about the concept of UVs that even people who have a basic understanding of 3d modeling have a hard time grasping. I think it's that the object exists on two different coordinate planes in different forms at the same time that blows people's minds.

[ZacD]

Oh, and there's something about the concept of UVs that even people who have a basic understanding of 3d modeling have a hard time grasping. I think it's that the object exists on two different coordinate planes in different forms at the same time that blows people's minds.

I tell people think of it as a bear skin rug, you have to cut up the geometry like you have to add cuts to the bears skin to make it lay flat and even.

[Neo_God]

I tell people think of it as a bear skin rug, you have to cut up the geometry like you have to add cuts to the bears skin to make it lay flat and even.

Haha, that usually ended up being the example I used, and just said once It's painted on, than it just appears on the model.

At least I'm not, nor never was a programmer. I feel like there are no easy ways to explain that one, other than "I make it so when you push a button, the character jumps".

[JacqueChoi]

Girl: So what do you do?

Jacque: I make video games.

Girl: SO you just go in and play video games all day?

Jacque: Yup that's what I do. I go in for 8 hours, play video games, and 18 months later the game is done. It's similar to how movies are made, where the directors actors, sound guys, and everyone at the movie studio, just goes to the set, watches movies all day, and 6 months later their movie is just done.

Girl: Shut up.

[Jason Young]

I usually just say I'm an artist. Once they process that someone can make art for a living, they ask what the art is created for. Then I say videogames, and it registers pretty quickly. In the past I've said stuff like "I work for a video game studio" and people think I work at gamestop or something like that selling games.

[PogoP]

Hahahaha some brilliant replies in this thread. It's so true. Everybody just presumes that because we're into video games, we aren't proper artists and there is no technical stuff involved. Whereas in fact, it's probably the most technical form of art you can actually do..

[rolfness]

"whatever I want"

[MM]

Q. Occupation ?

A. Artist.

[LRoy]

This thread will help with the incredible awkwardness that occurs when people ask me this question.

[thatanimator]

I whore myself out to the lowest bidder

I am a dirty filthy whore, fuck yeah!

hey mistah, you wan animation? I make animation fo you, best animation 5 dollah.

[The Mad Artist]

If I want to sound impressive, "I'm the senior environmental artist at a company that designs military simulation software and home theater games." And then it usually ends up like "you know Call of Duty? Well, we make stuff like that, only specifically for the military to train with."

Computer graphics artist, or digital artist works well for family members outside of my immediate family. I will say, thank god for Toy Story, because if it wasn't for that movie I think 95% of cg artists would have no idea how to get people to understand what they do.

[Hazardous]

Q. Occupation ?

A. Artist.

^^ This :)

[scrawld]

If you wanna avoid awkward silence, try giving people more than just your job title.

So what do you do?
I'm a video game character artist. More specifically I sculpt, model and colour members of the cast in games, and make them ready for animation bla bla.


I do give an explanation of the kind of stuff I do. Its not like announce myself as a video game artist and then walk away laughing at there blank expression :P.

When its someone who has actually played a video game giving a decent explanation does usually help. But if its someone who's never held a controller in theirs hands before trying to give an explanation usually makes things more awkward.

Having said that, before now I've been explaining the kind of stuff I did at university to a co-worker, which yielded a pretty interesting discussions. They had hardly used a computer before, so talking about how much work goes into an animation left them quite intrigued.

[ceebee]

Q: What do you do?

A: I'm a student working towards being a character artist :D

Post-Q: ...oh, that's nice. CYA!

D:

[Bigjohn]

Q. Occupation ?

A. Artist.

Yeah, I have to quote this. This is the best way I found to go about answering it. Then when they ask "what kind of art?" I say "I make characters for video-games".

[chadabees]

No matter what I say to someone 3d artist, environment artist, cg artist all I get back is, "So you are a graphic designer?"

[maze]

the "artist" word is overrated I find, it kind of annoys me to a certain point. I prefer saying 2d/3d designer that's it, I ply misuc instruments for more than 10 years and I dont go around saying I am a musician...I simply like playing instruments. Nowadays anyone able to do couple cool stuff in a 2d or 3d program call themselves "artists" ...while some might be, I prefer that term to be told by someone else than the "artist" itself...

[Zipfinator]

Yeah, I have to quote this. This is the best way I found to go about answering it. Then when they ask "what kind of art?" I say "I make characters for video-games".

I think I might switch to something like this, except say Environments instead of Characters. At least this will give them a chance of seeing me as an artist and not some kid who just sits at a computer all day messing around with games.

One of the most recent times this happened was when I was getting a haircut.

Girl: "So what do you do? Do you have a job or are you in school?"

Me: "I'm currently studying video game art." (Note how I went far enough to say Video Game but not far enough to state what specific area I work in. Also I didn't say I'm an artist, just that I study the art. This is a mistake.)

Girl: "Oh... Okay."

It seems that the concept of art in video games is somewhat hard to grasp for a lot of people. I don't think they see it as art, probably partly because they don't know how it's made or because they can't grasp the concept that the mouse, keyboard and tablet combined are just another artistic medium. Even one of my gamer friends from when I went to High School who's been fairly interested in what I do and asks a lot of questions about it regularly doesn't get it completely.

This is the curse we must live with I guess.

@Chadabees, ha... That's what my Mom has been going around telling people when they ask her what I do. It's not even close to what we do but it actually helps some people understand if they're told "Graphic Designer for Video Games."

[luke]

haha some good replies, i recently encountered,
girl: so what you studying?
me: Games Design
girl: oh like sport games,
me: nah video games
girl: oh

[scotthomer]

True story,

Couple of months ago a builder came over to my house, with all my housemates out, i was stuck entertaining him. He asked what we did at university and I told him that we where "3D Games Artists" the conversation then progressed to:

"Oh really! my son wants to do that.."
"oh sweet, well hes in the right place, the university of hertfordshire is a great place to learn the ropes!"
"well, hes not really interested in learning, he just likes coming up with ideas for games.."
"okay....like what?"
"well he wants to make a game, basically its Prison Break the game, you have to like break out of prison..."
"hmm okay, well it doesnt really work like that im afraid, very few people actually get to make the ideas up, mostly the artists are there to put together the work that supports the ideas that are developed by the 'higher ups'"
"well he also had this awesome idea, its for Kidulthood (a british movie) the game, you have to like escape from london"
"okay, well i wish him the best of luck, im sure if he's determined he'll go far, how old is he by the way?"
"11"

Another conversation i had the other day was with the checkout lady at ASDA (walmart). it went something like:
"Oh, are you a student?"
"yeah im just finishing up my degree so not for long!"
"oh thats lovely, what is it you are doing?"
"3d Games Art, creating artwork to be used in video games"
"and you need a degree for that?!?"
*dies inside*

[Mathew O]

"and you need a degree for that?!?"


I've had that so many times now :'(

[Stinger88]

"So, What do you work as?"
"I work for a video games company."
"Oh. great. My son is always playing games. So do you have any sales on at the moment?"
"Sorry?"
"At the video games store."
"ah..no. I don't work in a games store. I make video games. I'm an artist."
"Oh....thats interesting...(*pause)....hey, did you see the Newcastle united win at the weekend?"

[Surfa]

Ha I feel your guys pain even though this is just a hobby for me and I study mechanical engineering but I do get the same thing.

Q: So what are you studying?
A:Mechanical Engineering.
"So you can fix my car then"

[gsokol]

I have to thank Avatar for giving making the explanation of this a lot easier.

Anybody I talk to says...."oh...so its like Avatar? Cooooool" and I usually just leave it at that.

But for some odd reason my Grandpa still has no f*cking clue what I do. He always asks me how my job in the factory is going. I've given up trying to tell him that I work in an office...(not even kidding)

[crazyfool]

Me and my brother were talking about this the other day, feels so nerdy when talking to people about what you actually do. Our folks are really proud so its really funny listening to them try to explain it to everyone they meet haha.

heres my son he makes games on the computer with a pen lol

[Saman]

Some of the posts here are very funny, especially the factory job one ;)

When I try to explain how 3d works I usually tell people that I sculpt, like clay, but digitally in the computer. They usually understand when I tell them that I do artist work but with a computer as a tool. When I explain to people that I work with games I tell them that we do the visual stuff that you see in games. People usually get it when I explain it like that...

[Rico]

Them: So what do you do at your job?

Me: I'm an environment artist at a video game company.....I make everything you see in a the video game except for people.

Them: Oh.....cool. So you just place buildings and stuff like in Far Cry 2?

Me:.....Yeah......exactly.

I think everyone outside of the industry thinks environments and characters are built with level editors or those character customization tools some games have at the very beginning.

I guess they don't realize that there is people that have to make all those props and clothes for them to play with.

[Swizzle]

Them: What do you do?

Me: I make 3D models for video games.

I've found that even when people ask me about personal projects and stuff that has basically nothing to do with actually putting things in real video games, it's easier to just say that. So far, this has not led to any confusion, even for people who aren't familiar with video games. Most people realize that the majority of games these days use 3D, so it's a quick, easy answer.

[JacqueChoi]

Q. Occupation ?

A. Artist.

I used to say that.


The response would be "So you use a Mac"???


To which I would reply: No, I'm an EMPLOYED artist.

[nightFlarer]

Yeah, I hate how they stereotype artists like that.

Next time I want to answer, "I'm a character artist rockstar"

[vcortis]

Haha I love this thread. Yeah it's just about next to impossible to explain what it is I do to anyone.

"What do you do?"

"I'm an artist"

"For what?"

"I make the environments in video games"

"Oh so like a graphic designer?"

"Yea exactly like that...."

[Super Happy Cow]

Even people who know nothing about games immediately get that I design assets for games when I say game artist. Living in L.A. is fecken weird.

the "artist" word is overrated I find, it kind of annoys me to a certain point. I prefer saying 2d/3d designer that's it, I ply misuc instruments for more than 10 years and I dont go around saying I am a musician...I simply like playing instruments. Nowadays anyone able to do couple cool stuff in a 2d or 3d program call themselves "artists" ...while some might be, I prefer that term to be told by someone else than the "artist" itself...

"Oh, I'm a scientist."

"Wow, dude. You're a dick."

Doesn't quite click, does it? Well, it doesn't for me. Shouldn't be taboo for artists, either. And just to be clear, anyone can judge whether someone is a scientist, or not. Kent Hovind, for instance... Same should be said for artists. : $

[Rick Stirling]

I got as far as explaining "building wee men out of triangles" once and the girls trousers caught fire.

[Wahlgren]

the "artist" word is overrated I find, it kind of annoys me to a certain point. I prefer saying 2d/3d designer that's it, I ply misuc instruments for more than 10 years and I dont go around saying I am a musician...I simply like playing instruments. Nowadays anyone able to do couple cool stuff in a 2d or 3d program call themselves "artists" ...while some might be, I prefer that term to be told by someone else than the "artist" itself...

Hey now. My contract says Artist, I'm an artist. DUN TUN TUN! :D

[Stinger88]

"I'm a Visual media entertainment pixel and polygon technician"....or "VMEPPT" for short.

nah. I'm an artist.

[marks]

Q. Occupation ?

A. Artist.

This. I dont really go into much more detail unless they ask / seeme interested.

[[HP]]

I just say I make the environments where the players walk and jump on pretty, works for them.

[maze]

Hey now. My contract says Artist, I'm an artist. DUN TUN TUN! :D

hahah... man dont take it bad is just a personal opinion, I just got tired of the "artist" word thats all... heard it too often in the cg industry for whatever position you are doing...and it sort of lost its value for me... ironic thing is the the people I consider "real" artists as a whole, I never heard them saying hey you know I am a xyz artist man... more yeah I am painter, I play the flute, I am a singer...whatever...


Now I understand also that in this industry you should label yourself as
"xyz artist" in order to search for a job and fit a certain position, that's it, that is how this industry is built (therefor the term on your contract). Thats ok for me, again I probably just heard that too often thats all..

[Blaizer]

worried? about what others may think about you?

"I work doing 3D", that's what i say.

[Prophecies]

I was talking to a girl once, and it went like this:

Girl: So what's your job?
Me: I'm a 3D artist.
Girl: Oh, what's that?
Me: Well, simply put, I model 3D objects that are then put into a game.
Girl: Oh! So you're like a mannequin right? What's it like to be a model?
Me: No, see, I'm not a model, I MAKE models.
Girl: What?! Models are people!

Me: *facepalm*

[Wahlgren]

I "like" that everyone assumes we have some easy fuck around with games all day kind of job. I've often heard... "You're lucky you got yourself such a good job" or any variant there of.

Yeah I suppose all those late nights, lack of social life crunching at your portfolio 24/7-times (and to this day still obsess about your portfolio even though you have a job) didn't have anything to do with it.

My grandmother understands fairly well what I'm doing but that's because she's seen me work and not just the end result so she knows it can take a few months of hard work to get something good. She always chimes in with "Luck has nothing to do with it" every time some relative or whatever says the above line.

[Joao Sapiro]

I usually say im a 3D rapist.

[fearian]

As people say, I think sparing people any technical terms is the way to go. Eventually though you will end up explaining two things to a non technical person:

1. Unwrapping a model

2. Normal maps

I'm convinced this is an inevitability. I've had a go at explaining both when my girlfriend has made the mistake of asking "what do you mean, 'texture'?" and "why do you keep talking about baking?" I think I got UV maps across. Normal maps, not so much, the act of baking, partially!

Partially due to the fact that I've never really been working back at home, My parents have only a vague idea of what I do.

[D4V1DC]

Love the posts here some funny stuff. :)
I've said a couple of times (to make It easy on myself) I make the guy you play with when you play a video game.

I want to say: I make 3D objects for games b-tch, how you like me now!
(the guy, girl posts are the best, your a model! lol-you should have stuck with that if they were hot.)

You got to dumb It down for them but if they are really interested you get all into It and say well It works like this...see there's this triangle...
In the end people don't really care, unless they want to start a life with you or become your new bff.

[dregoloth]

When people ask me what I do in my free-time I usually say 'Wikipedia and some web articles, occasionally screw around in Photoshop or some other software.' I've only taken time to explain it to a few select people.
Like $!nz said; people don't actually care, so that's good enough.

If I dislike the questioner, I'll beat him to death with techno jargon, and then leave him in his confusion.

[Kevin Johnstone]

I tell them I'm a sculptor and that I do this on the computer to build the worlds in video games. That way they get the principle of modeling in 3d, the rest is just black magic where they assume 'oh he gets the computer to do it for him' I expect but I refuse to dumb it down anymore than that.

Its just never going to be something you can explain to the uninitiated so why bother, much like any creative job.

[dregoloth]

...the rest is just black magic where they assume 'oh he gets the computer to do it for him'.

That's another reason to be vague. Unless I pull out my laptop and start modelling something from scratch in front of them, they assume I just press a make model button.

[Super Happy Cow]

Man, you all wield a lot less social prowess than I thought. Trying to get someone to understand unwrapping is probably a little bit of a stretch, but normal mapping? : D

"See that chair, or that woman standing there? I would sculpt her into a computer, except with bigger breasts. Then I would add some color, and viola. Game ready object."

But if someone were to respond to that by asking why I would give a chair bigger breasts that'd be the end of the line.

I usually say im a 3D rapist.Good on you. Scare the women into my massive loving arms.

[fearian]

Man, you all wield a lot less social prowess than I thought. Trying to get someone to understand unwrapping is probably a little bit of a stretch, but normal mapping? : D

Generally I wouldn't. But for my girlfriend or maybe close friends, if they want to know what I'm working on beyond 'I'm [technical gibberish]ing!' I'll have a go.

[Saman]

hahah... man dont take it bad is just a personal opinion, I just got tired of the "artist" word thats all... heard it too often in the cg industry for whatever position you are doing...and it sort of lost its value for me... ironic thing is the the people I consider "real" artists as a whole, I never heard them saying hey you know I am a xyz artist man... more yeah I am painter, I play the flute, I am a singer...whatever...


Now I understand also that in this industry you should label yourself as
"xyz artist" in order to search for a job and fit a certain position, that's it, that is how this industry is built (therefor the term on your contract). Thats ok for me, again I probably just heard that too often thats all..
I've met a few people who claim to be "real" artists as you call it. They don't fall into a specific category like painter etc because what they do is too random. Like pretending to be crazy, building a pile of junk or acting like a dog... Traditional artists are apparently passé now.
I went to a school years ago with lots of other category artists than cg. The most common notion was that cg artists just clicked on a button and a complete character or whatever would pop up.

[confracto]

normal maps cheat, and allow you to draw shadows where there shouldn't be any.

[Dylan Brady]

one of my little brothers friends randomly asked me what I do (In MY house mind you)
15yr old girl: what do you do?
Bonebrew: Im a video game artist, I work on characters
15yr old girl: Oh, but thats really nerdy isnt it?
Bonebrew: ....yeah, i guess....

[Zipfinator]

one of my little brothers friends randomly asked me what I do (In MY house mind you)
15yr old girl: what do you do?
Bonebrew: Im a video game artist, I work on characters
15yr old girl: Oh, but thats really nerdy isnt it?
Bonebrew: ....yeah, i guess....

What a rascal.

Also your signature link to your portfolio doesn't work. It should just be dylan-brady.com without all of the polycount shit before it.

[Adam L. Gray]

For some reason, people always tend to believe that I'm some sort of programmer... no offense to you programmers out there.

But my uncle, who had even seen my work before asked me recently how the programming was going. I figured he just got it wrong and once again explained that I don't do programming but create models/art etc.

For some reason, he apparently thought that I programmed models into existence. An assumption I'm not too offended by, a good change from the 'oh, you're a computer geek?'. But jizzy crizzy, why the programming assumptions? Never said I did! :s


As for normal maps, someone once mentioned a good comprehensible explanation for them. Basically, If you got em down roughly on what a triangle/polygon and a texture is, then telling them that a normal map is an image, where each pixel pretends to be a triangle/polygon, it usually comes through quite well.

That or they don't care *shrugs*

Blip

[HitmonInfinity]

For some reason, people always tend to believe that I'm some sort of programmer... no offense to you programmers out there.


I've gotten this before. People don't realize that there's more than one job in the game industry.

"You should totally make an iphone game. You could make sooo much money!"

Yeah... I'll get right on that.

Also, people automatically assume I make t-shirts, websites, and flyers for free. Very annoying.

[Kwramm]

I just say I make computer games. 3D artist is way too confusing for many people. I tell them I program some and do some art like creating the "people" in the game. Most people are satisfied with this. ...the answer is a bit of a stretch but at least I don't have to explain too much.

I "like" that everyone assumes we have some easy fuck around with games all day kind of job. I've often heard... "You're lucky you got yourself such a good job" or any variant there of.

actually I'd agree with them. I'm lucky I can do what I enjoy rather than dicking around with filling out forms in let's say excel, word or whatever and follow some weird "business" etiquette and weird office conventions and dress code in some "regular" office job. Even with all the stress I still feel that I'm part of creating a much more tangible product than many other people do in their daily office jobs. Now this might not be necessary true but at least this what I feel about my job.

[expressmart]

It's a lot easier to answer now that I animate, like you said they have some kind of frame of reference even if it's way off the mark they don't stare at me blankly.

Outside of the industry:
What do you do?
I'm a lead character animator.
So what does a lead character animator do?
I lead the character animation team, make schedules, assign, oversee and check everyone's work. Work out technical problems and do a mountain of dialog and cinematics myself.
I bet that's fun?
It's pretty technical and repetitive at times [grit teeth] thanks to our engine[/grid teeth], I'm not sure I'd call it fun but it has high job satisfaction for me.
But you play games all day right?
I help test sometimes... Oh hold that thought I've got to go get another one of these...
(if not holding a drink pick up some random item and wonder off looking for another one).

Inside:
What do you do?
Lead character animator.
Oh yea where?
Her Interactive, we do Nancy Drew Mystery adventure games.
<Snickers> or oh...
5th year of full time stable work. Where do you work?
I'm taking some time off to work on personal projects, freelancing you know living the ronin lifestyle.
Cool. Hey have you checked out bla bla bla I hear its pretty fun?
Yea its sweet!
Tell me about it I haven't looked into it much, just heard good things.
yes i agree

[Doyen]

If I have time and feel like actually trying to make the person understand what I do then I'll compare it all to building a marionette. One person has to design the marionette, another builds it, someone else runs all the wires or gears and controls, another paints it, and finally someone makes it move to seem alive. But all that in the computer.

[rasmus]

JacqueChoi owns this thread :)

Mine usually goes:
Q: What do you do?
A: I make videogames. I'm an artist, drawing and building things, sort of like making those plastic models as a kid, you know, but on the computer?

This usually works, atleast at dispelling assumptions that you aren't a programmer. It doesn't quite guarantee that you won't be asked to fix someone's computer though :P

[Kwramm]

This usually works, atleast at dispelling assumptions that you aren't a programmer. It doesn't quite guarantee that you won't be asked to fix someone's computer though :P

Just tell them it's programmers who're responsible for the mess of non working programs on their computer. Then ask them again if they want you to "fix" it.

[Nate Broach]

Girl: So what do you do?

Jacque: I make video games.

Girl: SO you just go in and play video games all day?

Jacque: Yup that's what I do. I go in for 8 hours, play video games, and 18 months later the game is done. It's similar to how movies are made, where the directors actors, sound guys, and everyone at the movie studio, just goes to the set, watches movies all day, and 6 months later their movie is just done.

Girl: Shut up.

ahhaahaha I can't wait to use this, I've had people assume that many a time.

[Geezus]

Q. What do you do?
A. I'm a video game developer.
Q. Did you make halo?
A. Sure.


...or, if you're my mom (which you probably are), I "draw the video games on the computer, so people can play them on the nintendo system." :D

Most of the people that are honestly curious as to what I do already know enough to decipher the specifics. The others? I'll go into detail, if I think they care.

[danr]

ah, mum's are great, aren't they? Mine's being increasingly exposed to games by her young granddaughter, and has decided she doesn't like them.

Had a wonderful conversation at the weekend where she came out with :

"i'm glad you're not making those nasty games where you jump around landing on animal's heads" - referring to the ones years back like Alfred Chicken, as well as whatever she'd just been looking at on the DS, Mario i guess - "it's much better that you're making those nice ones where you drive a moped around palm trees in the sun" ... referring the the last one of ours I showed her, GTA vice city stories.

yes, mum

[TheMadArtist]

It's always nice when the owner of the company (or any one in sales for that matter) walks by and says "These guys are the programmers, they make the video games."

I kid you not, we had an HR person come by giving someone a tour and said "These guys are the programmers and graphic artists, I really have no idea what they do."

[Stinger88]

Annoying thing I find...

Trying to explain or find my job description for car insurance quotes and such.

Closest I could find was something like, Web Designer or Motion Graphics.

Also, When I was made redundant a while ago. The Job Centre just laughed at me when I said I wanted to look for Game Art jobs. They don't allow it. Closest I could chose then was Web Designer.

[Dylan Brady]

What a rascal.

Also your signature link to your portfolio doesn't work. It should just be dylan-brady.com without all of the polycount shit before it.

thanks man, I put the link into my homepage place like everybody else.

[Synthesizer]

Ugh, it's so difficult, especially when the person you're talking to thinks they understand it, but are still sooo off. I usually just go with "Yes, you're right, drawing the light and shadows every frame does take a long time." or "It's like sculpting, but on the computer. I also colour it."

[Prophecies]

Also, When I was made redundant a while ago. The Job Centre just laughed at me when I said I wanted to look for Game Art jobs. They don't allow it. Closest I could chose then was Web Designer.

The hell? You serious man? That's ridiculous.

[Oniram]

haha. i get this question all the time from people when i tell them im in college. they say "what are you studying?" natural response would be game art.. but typically i get the "WTF?!?!??! look.. even from some people WHO GO TO THE SAME SCHOOL!. if its a matter of just me not wanting to explain it, ill just say im in animation (regarding in school convos). otherwise i just say.. i make video games. and then they usually just say oh thats cool.. and thats it. most interesting response i heard was from my doctor, whos reply to what i do was "oh wow videogames...id imagine thats just as hard as being in the medical field."

[Stinger88]

The hell? You serious man? That's ridiculous.

Lol. Yeah. Seriously.

You have to state 3 jobs you will mainly be looking for. And when you go to the job centre they do a job search in these categories and you have to apply to a set amount every 2 weeks. I chose;

Web Designer
Warehouse Staff
Delivery Driver

needless to say. I wasn't going to take any of the jobs they found for me.

So if you are a games artist (or any kind of artist for that matter) about to go on the dole. Don't expect too much help from them. They don't care where you are working next.

EDIT: oddly enough though. I found my current game art job at the job centre. Which is a very rare find. But I found it myself without there help. In fact I would have missed it completely if I wasn't looking at the man's computer scene while he did the search for the other job types above.

[Millenia]

TBH it's a really underrated field by anybody who's not in the industry, especially in smaller countries like Finland where the industry is still taking baby steps.

I personally just freelance every now and then and mainly work as a postal worker, lol.

[Justin Meisse]

how's this Job Centre thing work? Do you have to look for work through them in order to qualify for unemployment checks?

[Docm30]

Doesn't anyone just describe themself as being like Flynn from Tron?

[Stinger88]

how's this Job Centre thing work? Do you have to look for work through them in order to qualify for unemployment checks?

Yep. Thats right.

The Job Centre is the Benefits agency here. I think the American version is the Employment office or dept. of labor?

I was on "Jobseekers allowance". So in order to receive it I had to be actively seeking work and I had to prove it as well. After a set amount of time you have to take whatever job they throw at you or go into a training program.

I would never go that far though. I'd just go freelance. I only really went on the dole (jobseekers) to keep my Taxes going.

How silly is that?

Working people pay taxes which contribute toward unemployed peoples benefits. But the benefits are also taxed as well.

taxed taxes....

[CheeseOnToast]

Was this recently? Because last time I signed on they were pretty helpful. Well, when I say helpful, I mean they gave me 6 months to find a job in my field before I would have to start looking for work in other areas.

[Stinger88]

Was this recently? Because last time I signed on they were pretty helpful. Well, when I say helpful, I mean they gave me 6 months to find a job in my field before I would have to start looking for work in other areas.

It was about 1 year ago. Were you allowed to say you were seeking "art" jobs though. I wasn't. And I had to send off applications to places I was never going to work at and if any were successful I'd probably have to take it.

Luckily for me putting a BA Hons in "Art" on a CV/application is a job replant in regular industries and retail.

[fearian]

Stinger88 - been there! Will probably go there again once I graduate.

The first time I was on job seekers there was no burden on me to prove I was doing anything to look for work, but they seemed to pay attention to where I was applying and asked questions. The second time, in another city, I was told that things had become more strict and that I needed to keep a log of applications, applying for a certain number of jobcentre 'found' jobs a week - but In actuality they couldn't care less and didn't even ask what I was up to. Just stamped me through blindly.

I guess it depends how bothered the staff are at your local centre!

[/derail]

[Mathew O]

How does this work? At this rate I'm going to spend atleast the first year out of uni just being rejected from companies I apply to so Job seekers would be really useful whilst filling out portfolio but I thought you had to have worked so much to wualify for it?

[Maph]

For you UK'ers, there's a bunch of Game related job seeking agencies, have you tried those? Amiqus, Datascope, Aardvark Swift (coolest name evah!), etc... I occasionally get an interesting lead from them, too bad my portfolio is never good enough. :)

[Mathew O]

For you UK'ers, there's a bunch of Game related job seeking agencies, have you tried those? Amiqus, Datascope, Aardvark Swift (coolest name evah!), etc... I occasionally get an interesting lead from them, too bad my portfolio is never good enough. :)

Please say you're not gunning for Junior positions? If so I'm screwed lol

[Maph]

Nah, I've been a lead for a few years now, but a lead for a small 10 people company doesn't really scale equally if you want to work for AAA imho.
Although, I'd gladly give up the lead title for a character art position; but every character related lead I got with these job agencies were with companies that require realistic human models, which I do not have in my portfolio. :)
Oh well, massively working on it. I need a new jerb this year or I'll go insane. :D

[Mathew O]

Well good luck dude, I hope you get one. You're work is great :D

[rolfness]

totally the wrong thread .. sorry lol

[glynnsmith]

Your Earth words cannot describe what I do (Although, I class myself as a graphic designer, as that's what most of my work is)!

In year 3 of my Game Design uni course, I caught my mum telling neighbours I was an animator.

[thomasp]

if i'd rather just skip the topic i'll usually just say that i work in software. that tends to conclude the matter rather swiftly.

"oh, ok"

[Adam L. Gray]

Your Earth words cannot describe what I do

Dicking around. Nuff said!

[Gannon]

~ True Story


Girl: "So what is your job exactly?"

Me: "I'm a 3d character artist for videogames"

Girl: "Oh so you draw up people and then they go into a game?"

Me: "No. That's a concept artist. A 3d character artist uses polygons
and other--"

Girl: "WHAT THE HELL IS A POLYGON?"

Me: "... I use digital 'cards' to make a person. Imagine someone making
a house of cards.
Now imagine a person making a sculpture of a person out of cards he
can stretch, but is allowed to use glue to stick em together. Then
after person is made I would have to paint it to look like a person"

Girl: "HO-LY SHIT. That sounds so impossible. You're amazing"

Me: "Yes. Yes I am"


Lol, that's awesome. I had a similar situation when I was still in school, only it had almost the exact opposite effect of yours.

Her: So what do you go to school for?

Me: I want to be a 3d Modeler.

Her: awe, that's so cute.

Me: ?_?

Her: I love runway shows.

Me: T_T

[sltrOlsson]

Your Earth words cannot describe what I do (Although, I class myself as a graphic designer, as that's what most of my work is)!

In year 3 of my Game Design uni course, I caught my mum telling neighbours I was an animator.

Haha, had the same thing. My father was so proud.

My dad: I've finally got a decent explanation when people ask me what you study
Me: Yeah? What do you tell them?
Dad: That you animate in 3D for games.
Me: *face palm*

I say that i make/want to make video games, and that what i do is pretty much like a regular sculptor. Just that i then paint on it to.

My mother seams to get pretty much exactly what i do though. But, then she's an artist her self. It's just a matter of technique..

[tda]

I had the hardest time figuring out what to tell people when they asked what i do, i always used to waffle on about sculpting and stuff like that, but i've changed my tact recently. Now when i get asked i try and dumb it down as much as possible, avoiding all technical talk.

It usually goes something like... "Imagine that you're playing a game and there are things on the screen, like guns, people, cars, buildings, a waterfall or whatever. All those things had to be made by someone, that's my job. I make the stuff that's in games". People generally seem to get this, haven't had any of the usual confused faces since using this kind of approach.

[Dylan Brady]

Same as Tda, except I just say "I make the stuff you see when you play a video game"
and if they ask something like
"how do you does that work"
then I roll my eyes and condescend as much as possible until they go away

[glynnsmith]

Ok. So...

When a "game engine" comes up in conversation, and you get asked what a game engine is, what do you say?

[Super Happy Cow]

The massive amount of invisible code that define how the game's physics, gameplay, and graphics work.

[Two Listen]

Ok. So...

When a "game engine" comes up in conversation, and you get asked what a game engine is, what do you say?

"That green stuff in the Matrix."

[scrawld]

I usually just describe it as the thing that powers the game (hence the name engine). It's what makes everything work as it should. That usually covers it.

[Ged]

I told some girl on the train yesterday that "I make art for video games" she seemed happy enough with that answer.

[McGreed]

Yaeh, its a pain to explain with words that isn't related to game and art, because saying something like "I make models for games", for someone who knows nothing about games, models means something else. Oh the joy.
Usually I just say I make 'visual stuff for games', and if they me to go into more details its "In the game, I build and paint the buildings and objects you can run into or pick up". If they still don't get it by then, I usually try to change subject. And 90% of the times they have the look on their face saying "Nerd". Ah well.

[arrangemonk]

i dont get asked what i work

usually someone is comming telling everyone

uhh look at anton, hes an engineer, he could be doctor soon , blah blah blah

and then i try to get away ... i hate too much attention

[Muzz]

I just tell people that i draw zombies for a living. Which is generally true.

[crazyfool]

I went to brighton with my lady yesterday to pick up some bunnies :) the kids there asked what I do? did I make mario? haha, I thought for a second not this again, do I have enough time to explain it, best thing would be to lie, in short I said....yes, yes I do. I couldnt face making their massive smiles turn upside down :(

[sneakymcfox]

I just say I'm a student to anyone who isn't a close friend and all of those have seen me working so that one pretty much sorts itself.

I never found UVs a hard concept to explain really as long as people know what a world map is and know what a globe is, however I can't say I've ever tried explaining what a normal map is.

[slipsius]

i usually just say I animate for games, and they usually have some stupid response like what do you mean, animate. and i say, I make shrek move..... pretty simple. lol

or, I make the art visuals for games. i find that one is pretty widely accepted.

[Malus]

"What do you do for a living?"

"I corrupt the youth of today whilst simultaneously acting as a baby sitter for shit parents."

"x_______x"

[Rwolf]

I say I'm a 3d modeler, and explain it's like making a kit model, but on the computer. I still get ???

[Geezus]

I just say I'm a student to anyone who isn't a close friend and all of those have seen me working so that one pretty much sorts itself.

I used to love telling people I was a student, and that I studied Game Art and Design.
I often got "Gay Art and Design?" It's interesting that people are more willing to accept that there's a major that studies the art and design of homosexuality, than they are to accept that there's a major that studies the art and design of games. :D

Side note, I once had a 4 hour conversation with a Neurosurgeon, straight from India, about Video Games and Neurology. It was probably one of my favorite Greyhound experiences. He was as interested in my life as I was in his.

[scotthomer]

I used to love telling people I was a student, and that I studied Game Art and Design.
I often got "Gay Art and Design?" It's interesting that people are more willing to accept that there's a major that studies the art and design of homosexuality, than they are to accept that there's a major that studies the art and design of games. :D

Side note, I once had a 4 hour conversation with a Neurosurgeon, straight from India, about Video Games and Neurology. It was probably one of my favorite Greyhound experiences. He was as interested in my life as I was in his.

As wierd as this sounds, its so rare that anyone genuinely gives a damn about someone else's life, I had a similar conversation once with a guy who invented a particular type of tank. He genuinely cared about my life, was bizarre. I remember a quote that went something like "People never really listen, they are just waiting for their turn to speak"

[Bigjohn]

You could also go with the classic, "None of your damn business, that's what". If you're in a jerk mood that day, which I often am.

[Zipfinator]

I remember a quote that went something like "People never really listen, they are just waiting for their turn to speak"

From Fight Club:

NARRATOR: When people think you're dying, they really, really listen to you, instead of just...
MARLA SINGER: Instead of just waiting for their turn to speak?

[monster]

I just typically say I'm an Artist. I don't get any deeper than that unless they show sincere interest.