I think you'll have a harder time breaking into the film industry than you will getting into the games industry. I think a background in film can compliment game design quite a lot, but the skills are not directly transferrable. You will more than likely not be able to 'skip' the entry level parts of the games business by becoming a film maker.

I knew I wanted to be a game designer when I went to college, but I also knew that being a good designer is as much about your non-game related passions as your game related ones. I love film, and for the first two years in college, took film courses. At the same time, I was learning to make games. Having the film background when I started looking for game dev jobs gave me an edge, but it was even more important that I was able to program well, had the requisite math skills, and had made a few games already.

Quote: Original post by Roan_04
..... I plan on doing it in a way that I can't find threads already for.

Hopefully this thread goes better than the one 8 days ago asking the same question...

Quote: So basically what i'm asking is do you think it's possible to do this or will I have to start out fresh when I enter the gaming field even if I have a name in film..

You will have to start fresh. Making films isn't a short cut to making games - unless you become the next multi-millionaire James Cameron, in which case you will be able to afford to do whatever you want. Of course doing that will take 10+ years and the odd against it are very high. If on the other hand you make a few indie movies then your still going to have to start at the bottom in games and work your way up before anyone will trust you to make a big budget game.

Quote: Maybe it's easier if I list my skills to help with your answers...
-I'm good at art,can get most of my visual thoughts on paper to communicate them. Working on my photoshop abilities to help with this.

Good doesn't cut it you need to be great to get into the games industry based on your art ability. Do you have a portfolio? If not you will need one

Quote: -Decent at storyboarding/script writing, which I'm also going to be developing as a film director hopefully.

Decent also wont cut it either. Have you got any published work yet or won any prizes for your writing - anything that shows that others (who aren't you friends or family) think your writing is good?

Quote: -Creative. It's hard to say that about yourself but in the least 'up myself' way I believe i'm a very creative person and can always come up with the things people overlook. I believe this will help in being innovative.

Everyone thinks they are creative but what have you actually created? Being creative isn't about ideas it is about taking those ideas and making them real.

Quote: -Musically I could write the pieces for a game, i've never had this skill tested but through my own playing around on instruments I believe I have what it takes.

Sorry but what you think you could do is meaningless. You need to actually do it and do it well.

Quote: Also just remember I find film to be another great passion of mine so although it's ultimatly easier to start in game if you want to be in game, I want to do both (i'm greedy haha) and will start in film because I find it easier and easier to break into (we have very respectable film schools near where I live and absolutely no game focused courses,....

I'm sorry if this comes across as at all negative but you seem to have an unrealistic view of how difficult it is to break into the film industry. Getting into film school doesn't mean you will even work in the film industry, let alone become a Director. If you graduate you will still have to spend years working as a runner in some production studio while scrabbling around for grants and funding to make shorts. Only once you have proven yourself doing that will anyone let you near anything actually approaching a movie.

Conclusion
Is it possible to have a career that spans both film and games. Sure, if you work really hard and you turn out to be as good as you think you are. However, for that to happen all those unproven skills you believe you have will need to be proven. It takes a lot of time and effort to become a great writer, musician or artist.

Quote: Original post by Roan_04
You've shown me I need to know ability and skill through solid evidence and right now I don't have a lot of that. I have made up a few card games and board games, some of them actually playable but that doesn't really count towards video game development I suppose.

Games are games and every bit of experience helps. A few card and board games won't get you a job in the industry but they are the first step in the right direction. Now you need to...
1. make an effort to work out why the good ones are good and the bad ones are bad, so that you can improve your hit rate.
2. Keep at it, make more.
3. Write stuff - short stories, poems, articles, whatever - then send them to the local/global papers/magazines in an attempt to get published. Don't expect immediate success. It takes practice to develop the necessary skills - keep at it, write more.
4. Don't assume that even a good college course will be enough (and don't believe the hype either). Out of the 80% of graduates who do get a "industry" job the vast majority will be working in corporate video and low level TV/film. Only a tiny % will excel (and be lucky enough) to get noticed and get a chance to rise above that and make a name. It is the same in the games industry. Out of all the graduates, from even respected courses, who get to work in the (game) "industry" only a small % actually end up doing games. Many more end up doing graphics related work in business software or entertainment related multi-media products. In addition to doing well at school you will need to work on developing your skills outside of school if you want a portfolio that will impress and get you noticed.

It's hard work getting into either films or games. It takes real passion to keep working at it and build your skills to the necessary level. If you have the passion and the skill then you will succeed.

Good luck in your quest. If you succeed remember to buy me a beer. If you don't succeed then "no, I don't want fries with that" ;)

Quote: Original post by KorJax
I've been "offered a job" at Crytek (read: they were interested in me submitting my portfolio to them for review)

Don't go throwing around phrases so willy-nilly.
Being offered a job is much more than what you described. What they offered you is an invitation to apply for a job.
When they say, "we want you to come work for us, the pay will be this much, you can start April Umpteenth," then you've gotten a job offer.