TEC: The Eastgate Chronicles Researchin'

I've finally learned the meanings behind the following abbreviations:

• AD&D
• QTE
• IGF
• GDC
• PvP

And while we're on abbreviations, I've also discovered the existence of a crowdsourced game called FTL. From there, in its usual lovely and serendipitous way, the internet led me to another, called Torment: Tides of Numenera. I read about all the work they've done to get to where they are and how long it took. Me, I'm still learning Java. I'm now thinking 3 levels in 2 years might have been a little too ambitious.

In order to gain a better grasp of the various disciplines required in creating a game, I compiled a partial list of those involved in Mass Effect 3:

• Project director (1)
• Lead designer (1)
• Lead writer (1)
• Art director (1)
• Lead programmer (1)
• Producer (1)
• Development director (1)
• Character artists (7)
• Cinematic animators (16)
• In-game animators (5)
• Technical animators (3)
• Concept artists (4)
• Environment artists (22)
• GUI artists (2)
• Technical artists (not to be confused with technical animators) (3)
• Visual effects artists (2)
• Audio designers (13)
• Voice-over producer/Director and Assistant (2)
• Cinematic designers (14)
• Gameplay designers (8)
• Level designers (19)
• Writers (8)
• Editors (5)
• Producers (5)
• Programmers (41)
• Voice actors (118)
• Original score composers (5)

That's 309 people, each of whom has devoted years to their craft. And then there's me:

• Design: Need to learn about level and combat design
• Writing: Need an editor
• Programming: Need to learn Java
• Concept art: Need to learn how to draw
• Animation: Ditto for animating
• Visual effects: Need to figure out how to use Blender
• Audio: I don't even know where to begin...
• Voice Acting: Yeah, no. I'm thinking subtitles.
• Original score: Not a trained composer, either

Oy.