About a 3D Career

[viKING3000]

Greetings 3D-Palace!

I've enjoyed working in 3D for quite some time now, had a few slumps where i just couldn't take it no more, but those quickly passed. I am in a bit of a dilema right now and i'm looking for a few experienced opinions in this area.

Background: I'm still a high-school student right now, however i have to choose which way i am about to go (career wise).
I've always liked computers, they've been in my life since when i was 6 years old. At first I started with programing, then a bit of webdesign, however my schools classes reaaly sucked. Didn't really learn much.
Last year i managed to get to the nationals olimpiad of informatics in my country <this is for programming>. Basically i know programming. I have enjoyed programming for a while however sometimes i came to realise that I don't quite have the nerves for spending hours and hours looking for a slight error in the code.

A few years back my dad brought me an evaluation copy of max and i used it for 30 days. It really hooked me so i kept on doing it as a hobby. Only lately i've thought about turning my hobby into a profession.

I've talked to my parents about this a few hours back and here comes the bad part. They do not find a career in 3D animation/design suitable to my talents. True, i am good at math, physics, chemistry. Was never naturally good at art, however i always liked it. I wanted to be able to do it, i just couldn't. Right now i just feel like i've actually gotten somewhere with moddeling, got a few quite realistical looking models <attached>.

What i need is an unbiased opinion on what are the career prospects for a 3D animator/designer. If anyone could explain exactly <or generally> how a career in 3D works, from where it starts to where it progresses, how i can measure my succes, i would greatly apreciate it.

Basically right now i'm trying to make a decision between programming and designing.
+ for programming
I seem to easily get it, didn't really put much effort into it and by just using logic i managed to solve a few difficult problems
- for programming
When something does not compile, it drives me nuts.

+for designing
I like doing it, i like the feeling when something is completed and it was all my work. I get the satisfaction of the final render. I seemed to get better and better as i practiced.

- for designing
was never good at art, naturally. I never actually made something nice with a pen and paper. What i got good was computer graphics.

I need an honest opinion if art skills such as pen drawing when it comes to 3D design are actually needed and how jobs like theese actually work.

Any help would be apreciated.
Cheers!

[Zerflag]

there's plenty of room in the 3d business for people who are more technically than artistically inclined. plenty of places needs tools developers, r&d programmers, etc. these may be directly linked to a 3d project or more long term. to me, that seems like a fit for you (at least in this business). you'd get to apply your technical abilities, but have it related to something visual.

[texasbob]

I'm not in the business and I'm probably near your parents age (51) and I too would be concerned about my son following a 3D career. allow me to explain. As I see it, most everyone that has access to a 3D program is going after 3D work so the market would be saturated and finding a job harder.

ask your self this, is this something I really want to do for the rest of my life? if it is 3D, then follow your dream and give your best shot. even if it doesn't work out at least you gave it a try.

the non-parent reaction would be, have a backup plan in case 3D didn't pan out and have this something you truely LOVE, something you really inspire to be and can see a future for the long tem.

good luck

[Zerflag]

texasbob brings up a valid point. the market is very saturated. there will always be work for truly talented people with the drive to succeed, though. if you're one of those people, then give it a shot. if you're not, then you're better off using your time somewhere else.
either way, it's good to have a backup plan. while you like this 3d thing now, you may not after say... 5 years in the industry. you never know.

[TwiiK]

And there's nothing wrong with having 3d as a hobby.

I just made that exact same choice myself recently. I like what I work with now very much and while I'm working I'm also finishing my bachelors in mathematics so I that I will have something to fall back on. I'm considering 3d later in life, but not before I have a degree in something else as a backup.

I'm also agreeing with your parents and Texasbob. Almost anyone I speak to, 3d designer or not, tell me to have a backup plan before going into 3d.

I've been learning programming over the last year and I'm beginning to like it a lot. I never find it as stressful as 3d can be sometimes, and writing logic is just awesome.

My plan is that with programming, mathematics and 3d I can make some seriously cool stuff later in life.

[giant551]

i would say go down the programming route. There is always a shortage of programmers and they normally get paid a good wage unlike 3d artists here in the UK at the moment.

It could be a very good way of going into the games industry doing programming. And also if you keep up your graphics as a hobby you will have a very good blend of skills which will make you highly employable, you never know once you get the foot in the door you might be able to switch later?

I have a 2 programmers who work with me doing c++, dot net and actionscript and trust me they're never short on offers of work.

sorry to sound like you parents also LOL.

[tadpole3159]

YouTube - IAMfourzerotwo EP4

part two will be on after this video if you select it
this guy works at activision (makes cod4) and like he said, if you have the drive and the skills you will do fine. but he also says that lots of people at activision do lots of different jobs.
example his coder also made some of the trailers
cant you do both? you sound more advanced in programming, use that to get into a studio. perfect your 3d skills, then show the people you work for and ask for a job change when your ready

[openstheway]

I work for a small(ish) development company in the north east, I came into the industry with no formal universtiy degree, I'm a self taught 3ds max user , i got into the industry by working hard, making a demo reel and offering my services for free for two weeks to get my foot in the door. And the rest as they say is history , I've been working here now for nearly 2 years. I've done a string of different jobs before I got to where I am now, and I've enjoyed the journey to get here. Honestly I would say do as many tutorials as you can post lots here and in other forums get your work pulled to bits and helpped to put it right again. If your still passionate about what your doing try and take your studies and career path in a 3d direction being able to Maxscript/program and do art is a great way to move forward.

Only time will tell if it's the right choice. Good luck what ever you choose.