Freelance Game Programmers

[Eager Beaver]

Freelance Game Programmers are presently making:
a) Lots of money.
b) Decent amount of money.
c) Meager amount of money.
d) Zero money-they are doing it as a hobby.
Note: You can post your comments also!

[tomsamson]

totally depends (on many things)
also working freelance automatically excludes purely doing it as hobby in a way

[Squize]

Weird thread. Why ask ? If you want to freelance then surely you should just do it, whereas if you want to work for a design agency then approach them and work full time.

Not really sure what sort of replies you want to see here.

Squize.

[tomsamson]

yeah,i felt the thread was way unspecific,too,that´s why my reply was so shorthanded.
As in any business there are some people who earn exceptionally welll and others who hardly earn anything and many many somewhere in between.

[Eager Beaver]

The fact is, I started this thread because I've no work and im getting bored.
Im 68 years old, and so nobody hires me, and only want me to spend a retired life.

[tomsamson]

Personally i was never asked how old i am
I think the age plays way less a role in our biz than in some non computer based work types.
If you don´t mention it, especially in jobs where its about working from home,maybe no one will even ask you
In any case, yup, if you want to work freelance there are well paid options around, doesn´t hurt to give it a try.
Before you do that i´d built up a nice representative portfolio site showcasing stuff you worked on,outlining your skills etc.

[webgeek]

When it comes to getting work online, no one is going care about your age as long as you can do the work and present an air of confidence. People just want to see the results.

It does take money to make money though. You need to put forth a successful image otherwise no one will take you seriously. I think this is one of the biggest failings of freelancers out there. I'd suggest your start an S-corp or LLC if you are in the US, get a domain name, create a good looking web site to host your portfolio, etc.

The reason for starting the company is that it gives you both protection from suits but more importantly makes you a real entity as far as the government and other companies are concered. I'd avoid a sole proprietership these days because LLCs are so dang easy to set up and provide a lot of benefits. I can tell you this, we prefer to deal with other companies over independent contractors any chance we can. It's dramatically simplifies our taxes at the end of the year and makes everyone feel a bit more secure.

Once that's all out of the way, you need to actually be able to provide a service others can't provide or do it cheaper then others. This is the problem that burns most people just starting out. They often seem to think their skill set is worth money when in reality it isn't. I leave it to you to judge your own competence in this regard. Good luck!

[renderhjs]

The fact is, I started this thread because I've no work and im getting bored.
Im 68 years old, and so nobody hires me, and only want me to spend a retired life.

and I guessed your age the first time around 14 big suprise then
I know some agencies that hire even older people but only (and that makes only sense) if they have big knowledge and expierence. If you can provide that in some fields I´m sure there has to be at least someone that is willing to hire you - otherwise work online because people dont care there

[didinko]

I am with you mate, I know what you mean. I've no work and im getting bored as well. I have asked myself one question repeatedly over the past few years; Am I bad game developer?
By the way I am 26...

[Eager Beaver]

I am with you mate, I know what you mean. I've no work and im getting bored as well. I have asked myself one question repeatedly over the past few years; Am I bad game developer?
By the way I am 26...

Thank you Didinko!
You are not at all bad.
I’m also not at all bad.
The market scene is like that.
There are more freelance FLASH programmers in the market when compared to the demand.

[tidenburg]

Eager beaver, i've just had a look at you site.
Here are some things that may put people off:
~Its geocities. Try buying some proper webspace, it looks more professional.
~The background and text are the same colour.
~Alot of your games are simple and present no real challenge, have you tried making a big game with multiple levels etc. It gives your game more playability and make it more attractive to buy.
~Don't use gradients.

As for the more than demand thing, i'll agree but if you make something fun and original, it will be lapped up before you can say kaching.
Also, don't just use FK's freelance, there are plenty of other sites (but don't leave this one!) you could put your games up on.

[Squize]

"There are more freelance FLASH programmers in the market when compared to the demand"

That should be "There are more crap freelance FLASH programmers..."

There's a lot of good paying work out there. I'd avoid the freelance forum here all together as tidenburg said, in fact I'd avoid all freelance forums. The only thing I've ever seen on any forum like that are just joke jobs where clients want the moon on a stick for $100.

Good quality work brings in quality client's, it's as simple as that.

Squize.

[tomsamson]

Good quality work brings in quality client's, it's as simple as that.

Squize.

yeah,that´s how i made it in the porn industry
(sorry, that one was too easy )

[chriserrorplain]

Eager Beaver, I would agree with what lots of people here are saying.

I actually spent some time going through the examples you've made, and you have built some good demos, but the presentation is all wrong. Why not register for a free blog somewhere, update it regulary with demos etc. Also maybe it's worth trying to find a graphic artist to work alongside you (they don't have to be in the city / country as you).

Also, for freelance work, the best thing is a good, up to date CV. List your skills, software you can use etc, links to examples of work.

I would also recommend learning (you might know how to do these things already..) XML, database integration etc.

I don't think age would be a problem when hiring someone, if they can show they are up to date with technology. In fact, being slightly older means you may actually get the job done on time....unlike that time I had to bail Squize out of jail so that he could finish that game for us

chris error x

[Squize]

I didn't force her!

You just won't let things lie will you.

Squize.

[tomsamson]

yeah blue, how often do i have to hear such sentences from you? heard this one almost as often as your other main excuse ("she told me she was 18!")

[tidenburg]

Try getting a sponsor from crazy monkey games. They pay quite well. A prime example of why not to use FK freelance has just popped up, a guy asked for a slot machine with highscores and when someone said the highscore will cost you more than you think he replied he'd found a highscore example in the FK movies section.

[scheletro]

As a multimedia freelancer i ll say "B"

As a game developer I do it for hobby "D", but... since I satrt doing games for me I found clients and Ill say "B" again

[everfornever]

why not just call a local headhunting firm and see if they got any place for you?

I'm sure someone could contract you out if you can do the work.

[Eager Beaver]

Thank you all, my sons/daughters, or even grandsons/granddaughters, (excuse me, this may apply to at least some of you), for your replies, and suggestions. I’m an electrical engineering postgraduate, and I was working in an electrical equipment manufacturing company, from 1962 onwards. I started my computer programming back in 1973, on an ICL 1900 mainframe computer having a fantastic 64 KB CPU. The input was through IBM punch cards, and the output was through a bulky B/W 80 column line printer. I was programming design calculations of turbo generators using FORTRAN 4. Later came C, C++, JAVA, and other languages. The Internet has happened along with HTML, XML, ASP, PHP and others. Developing, websites, and games for online playing have opened many new career opportunities. After retirement in 1997, I found it difficult to spend the whole day doing nothing. Seeing trends in IT, and Internet, I attended a course on multimedia. FLASH then attracted me, and I started programming engineering oriented programs in FLASH, such as, series resonance, Inclined planes, ball bouncing, etc. I'm not good at graphics where as, I like action scripting.
The FK forums attracted me and joined the same in FEB 2007. I have been posting replies to simple questions with my limited knowledge.
Cutting down the rant and coming to the subject, I think I'm in a catch 22,
situation. I've to invest, on a new website and build it professionally, learn XML, PHP, ASP etc, etc, to get clients, and then I can do it only if I get clients.
No problem, I enjoy working in FLASH, may be more as a hobby: option (d).