Choosing your path
We often get questions from candidates about career path and the job market. Recently, a candidate with a background in programming and art asked Ali which of those two paths, programming or graphic arts for games, would be a better choice in terms of salary and growth. The candidate also wanted to know if there is a way to combine the two disciplines. We thought we would share Ali’s response with you.
It is quick and easy to do some salary comparison research online. However, I will say that you can't be in the game industry, either as a programmer or an artist, if that's not your passion. The game industry takes dedication, time (sometimes a lot of it!), and a true love for what you are creating.
There are good reasons to enter either discipline. As an artist, you can be creative. You can also branch out into other fields like films, commercials, architecture, etc. As a programmer, yes, you'll be paid more. You can also move into other industries with those skills as well. You can do some research online to see what other industries support your skill set (based on the languages you know), as areas of growth are something you need to take into consideration. Both disciplines have good career paths that will let you learn and grow.
What it comes down to is passion. Which discipline excites you? I always knew that I was destined to be an artist because I would look at an oily spot on the ground or an interesting material on a building and think about what a cool texture it would make...I STILL have those thoughts!
There are options that combine the skills of programmers and talents of artists. The really great thing about someone like yourself, who seems to be both right and left brained, is that you could potentially work on both sides of the fence as a technical artist. This type of artist creates assets as well as some scripting and coding and really acts as a liaison between programmers and artists. Listening and communicating are especially vital skills for a technical artist. This type of person is a valuable asset to the industry.
I hope this helps! Only you can say one way or the other which discipline is better for you to enter into. That answer has to come from your heart.
Sincerely,
Ali Harmatuk
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