[gameprogrammer] Very.. VERY strange question.....

Hey guys,
    I'm a Medical Software programmer... I've really wanted to get into game 
programming, but I've found it rather difficult to get my foot in the door. 
Short of creating my own game, I've sort of wanted to simply just "get a job" 
with a game company. Now, I know how next to impossible that is, plus I know 
ALLLL about the corporate structure of game companies cutting eachothers 
throats.. and people getting canned before a project is even finished.. blah 
blah...

But I was just curious how many of you actually work for a company such as EA, 
or Origin, or whatever?

Also, I've been in contact with a couple of programmers from "back in the day". 
I've had a small discourse back and forth with the makers of Starflight (from 
back in the day), Karl Buiter from Sentinel Worlds, and one of the guys from 
the Ultima 8 team. (game kinda sucked though.. no offense).

One thing I found really really odd... is that the first suggestion that every 
single one of them has given me is is that I read some old old ass books. Most 
of them all seem to unanimously recommend that I read "Aristotle's Poetics" or 
Plato's "Republic"... or something like that. Co-incidentally... when my 
grandfather died, I got a bunch of old books, and I just so happened to read 
them. Sure, I know that Socrate's had this nack of anoying people by constantly 
asking questions in an argument... but what exactly is the point? I have a 
pretty down to earth foundation of Ethics. 

I've played Ultima IV just like all you other geeks... so I'm pretty virtuous.. 
(hahah). 

I'm just curious if any of you guys would consider that a pre-requesit. Sure, I 
know they don't teach this kind of stuff in today's public schools... or even 
most private schools. But what should I achieve out of reading these? I 
understand the book is supposed to make you think, and be more empathetic, but 
if I can so humbly say... I feel that I'm at least decent in that area... 

Are these old programmers from the 80s just totally off their rockers?  


Todd


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