gistfile1.txt

Resources For Getting Into the Game Industry (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
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Game Jams
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- learn by doing
- where you make a small simple game over a few days, either alone, or with a group
- these should be free (be suspicious if they want to charge you money)

List of Game (making) Jams on Itch.io
https://itch.io/jams

Toronto Game Jam <-- GREAT!!
http://www.tojam.ca/

Dames Making Games, Toronto
https://dmg.to/

Clubs and Student Groups
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University of Toronto Game Design and Development Club
http://www.utgddc.com/

Ryerson Student Group - The Game Maker's Union
https://studentlife.ryerson.ca/the-game-makers-union-unity/

Game Making Software:
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Roblox: How to Go From Payer To Creator
https://blog.roblox.com/2020/03/go-player-creator-roblox/

Construct 3 Game Making Software
https://www.construct.net/en
- make 2d games without programming

Unity Game Engine
https://unity.com
- can download code and models from the Unity Asset Store

Unreal Game Engine
https://www.unrealengine.com/
- can use "Blueprints" to make game without programming

Education:
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- Employers are more interested in what you can do, than what degrees or diplomas you have. Build up a portfolio, showing your best work.
  - for instance, see DeviantArt or Artstation

- There are many game-development-specific private programs. Be cautious. Often they are not transparent about how much you will actually pay, in total. For example some programs may come to $30k for 18 months. These are generally not that highly regarded by employers, but can be one way to develop your portfolio. There are great students in every graduating batch, but also a lot of people drop out when they realize that game development is hard (but fun) work.

- You will always be most employable if you have both traditional education, as well as a portfolio of game projects.
- Consider studying e.g. computer science, computer engineering, well-regarded art school even if it doesn't have a game development class or program. You can join or start a game development club.

Free videos from the Game Developer's Conference (GDC), on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0JB7TSe49lg56u6qH8y_MQ

Programming Schools
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University of Toronto
Waterloo
York University
Carleton
Ryerson
Humber College

Art Schools
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Sheridan College
OCAD
???

Meetups
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- Hand-Eye Society: https://www.handeyesociety.com/
- IGDA (International Game Developer's Association) meetups
- Check for Unity, Unreal Engine, VR, or programming meetups
  - Unity: https://www.meetup.com/Toronto-Unity-Developers/?_cookie-check=6fDmqRovttrJ-JkQ
  - Unreal: https://www.meetup.com/Toronto-Unreal-Engine-Meetup/
  - VR: https://www.meetup.com/TorontoVRC/#:~:text=Game%20Designers%20%2F%20Developers%2C%20Artists%2C,the%20potential%20of%20Virtual%20Reality!