Hello, friendly folks out there on the internet! I am trying to get into an audio-related role in game dev and have had little luck thus far via online applications. I was hoping some of you would be willing to impart some advice on the matter and point me in the right direction. At the moment I am 25 years of age and as far as I can tell I'm suited for a sound design/music and ambient composition role. Unfortunately, I have a limited amount of experience with programming beyond the environment of DAWs and software like Max MSP. I have dabbled and taken an introductory class in C#. My educational background is in audio production and design and until recently was planning to work with linear media. I've done internships in broadcast radio/tv and classical music recording. Out of college, I worked as an entry-level technician at a music technology repair shop fixing tube amps, digital keyboards, turntables, and other audio related hardware. Long story short, I have approached the audio world with a fairly wide net, seeking my niche, and am ready to devote myself to more in-depth learning and work. 

Until now, I have been applying to virtually every possible opening via portals like indeed and gameaudiojobs with no luck. I'm trying to self-educate and learn whatever it is I am missing to land a role with a company.

Here are some of the things I've done in this vein: 

- Picked up Wwise and am in the process of going through the 201 level course material. 

- Picked up an introductory book for C#

- Gone to GameSoundCon to mingle and learn a thing or two from the speakers

I guess this is the part where I spill out some questions.

How would you recommend getting involved in the process and learn what is needed and marketable in the game industry? I am having trouble in that I need to start from an entry-level yet there are few entry-level positions open. Ideally, I would prefer not to have to learn the whole process of creating a game to then be able to implement sound and show my capabilities. I would much prefer to focus on audio implementation, music composition, and sound design and leave other categories of expertise to those more apt and interested in those topics. But then again I'd do whatever it takes or weight my options if the undertaking is beyond my scope.

How much programming would you recommend I learn and which languages should I approach first?

Am I missing anything else?

Feel free to check my portfolio found below in my signature.

Thanks for your time,

Julian 

http://www.panoptessound.com/

6 minutes ago, Tom Sloper said:

I don't think you need to learn a lot of programming. Going to GameSoundCon was a very good start. Did any of the pros give you networking tips, did any of them say to get your feet wet by making audio for some indie games? These articles are old but they may have some useful ideas for you:

http://sloperama.com/advice/lesson53.htm

http://sloperama.com/advice/lesson54.htm

Good luck!

Thanks for the swift response Tom. I'll be reading through these topics now.

and to answer your question, Yes. I was recommended A) not to wait for big companies to pick me up and B) learn the whole process myself (ouch). As for networking not too much beyond demo reel tips. Honestly, I'd say networking isn't my forte

Regards

~

J

2 hours ago, Tom Sloper said:

I don't think you need to learn a lot of programming. Going to GameSoundCon was a very good start. Did any of the pros give you networking tips, did any of them say to get your feet wet by making audio for some indie games? These articles are old but they may have some useful ideas for you:

http://sloperama.com/advice/lesson53.htm

http://sloperama.com/advice/lesson54.htm

Good luck!

Phew, I just fell into a little "wiki-hole" on your site there. Very insightful resource. 

Thanks Tom Sloper