<p>Hey, I've been reading about the hook and marketing yourself for admission, and I have a bit of a dilemma. Last summer I made a few, 5, games and short videos that were sponsored by the website <a href="http://www.armorgames.com%5B/url%5D">www.armorgames.com</a> won awards from <a href="http://www.newgrounds.com%5B/url%5D">www.newgrounds.com</a> and are displayed on a variety of websites. The only thing is that these videos are violent and may not be appropriate especially in the wake of VT massacre. I'm really not a particularly violent person, and these videos are mild compared to the average video game, but I don't know if I should mention this as an EC and if so, how do you suggest I "market" it. I do do other animation, but the most notable were these "FPS in Real life" videos. Thanks
Here are the videos:
<a href="http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/search.php?terms=aerdail&kind=a&x=12&y=17%5B/url%5D">http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/search.php?terms=aerdail&kind=a&x=12&y=17</a></p>
<p>I haven't seen your videos - I'm just taking you at your word that they are violent. </p>
<p>It is a shame, because it could have been a good EC. Keep this in mind when preparing for your future - if you want to get into gaming, perhaps your portfolio should include more mainstream work (or at least a variety). It won't matter that they are "tame" for some of the gaming world (soft porn is also tame for the pornography industry but I would imagine that videos of that nature would also have a negative impact on one's application.) </p>
<p>You are correct that it could hamper your application if viewed as an obsession with violence.</p>
<p>Good games are usually a bit violent. </p>
<p>I'd mention them, game programming is a good accomplishment. As a programmer hobbyist myself I have coded several games before, but Pearl it's damn near impossible to go mainstream without an entire company (and a well known one at that) working on a game and millions of dollars, hobbyist programmers are known as 'indie' and tend to self publish and add to their portfolio until they can get a CS degree and be hired by a company looking for game programmers. It's a tough market.</p>
<p>Well first, congrats on your awards. And second, if this is something you are passionate about then you should definately mention it on your resume. It's not like you are making snuff films or anything. Don't be ashamed to admit to adcoms what you like to do because of political correctness. They should understand.</p>
<p>Definitely mention you games and videos, especially if you won awards for them. People who have made games, much less won awards for them aren't common, so you can really set yourself apart. </p>
<p>As far as the violence goes, No one ever said the Martin Scorcese shouldn't have won the best director Oscar simply because "The Departed' was violent. If your movies and games are not over the top with violence, as Prankityclankity said, they will understand</p>