Should I learn Flash/XML?

[stylus]

I've been working for an interactive media company for almost a year now and we're starting to develop a flair for animation. I still want to someday be an artist working for the game industry and there's a lot of discussion and learning at my workplace about what skillsets are required. My boss thinks the industry is ridiculously competitive and that the average artist (even concept artists) nowadays has 3D modelling skills, design skills (graphic design, web design, etc), and it would help to have Flash/XML skills.

I tend to think Flash is more suited to a multimedia designer type and would, less likely than not, distract from other skills. But then, looking at my online portfolio.... I can't help but think MAYBE, just MAYBE, it would help if it was Flash to show that I know it. What do you all think? Would Flash make an artist more employable in the industry?

[Xeon_OND]

Of course Flash will make your portfolio more impressive.

In fact, I've seen some folks (although few) whose portfolio says they know : Graphic design, illustration (2D and 3D), HTML, Java, CSS, PHP, XML....

Anyway, if you never had a programming background and wanna learn Flash, then you gotta take it slow and easy and set aside tons of time for it (just make sure your drawing skills don't get neglected).

You can do basic stuff without needing to learn Flash's ActionScript, but to make even functional Flash stuff, like those simple Flash games you see online, then prepare to code like a software developer. :D

On the other hand, I don't really think it's common to find artists who can program expertly and draw excellently. Of course, there are some, but...

[Baron Impossible]

XML is just a formatting protocol for data exchange which can be used to organise your source data for Flash, in a similar way to a database, but if you get into all that I'd think you're tending more towards development than concept work. And Xeon_OND says, if you've never developed then it will take you significant time to become proficient. My own background, pre going freelance, was as a s/w developer - 20+ years - and certainly from my perspective I can see no liklihood of overlap.

[stylus]

I have had programming experience and can pick up OOP languages pretty easily. But my question is: Is learning Flash really relevant to this line of work? Because, as Xeon_OND said, I also see that on resumes for some artists working in the industry. But, from Xeon's list, and from what Baron Impossible said, I'd have to agree. It sounds more like a software dev than an artist and I don't see any overlap either. Yet I take a look at, as an example, Dermot Power's website (http://www.dermotpower.com/), and it's all Flash. It's impressive, but at the same time, I don't think someone's going to hire him for his Flash skills.

But, my boss seems to think Flash is a should-have on an artist's skillset. So is it really that relevant for the industry?

[Sebastard]

Agree with the consensus here. I think they are two different things, and pretty much two different careers unless you want to be a real all-around kind of person.

Me, i'll keep to the concept art. The things i could consider getting into is 3d-modeling because it overlaps a bit. Perhaps Maya or Zbrush, both of which seem to be popular alternatives. But that is way down the road.

[Qitsune]

It depends what he wants you to do in Flash, for exemple, I can animate in Flash at a professional level, but the most advanced actionscript I ever did was a Pong clone with the help of a For Dummy book. On the other hand, the reason why I wanted to learn AC2, was so I could do casual games/interactive portfolio without having to wait for a programmer. I say, if your employer pays for your training, go for it and try to find a way to make that knowledge pay off. With basic AC and good animation/ art skills in flash you can make decent websites and animated banners, no need to be an AC wiz for that. Add to that that AC3 is much more advanced and complicated than AC2, and it might tell you that it's not worth pursuing that avenue if you want to be an artist.

I can understand how html and a bit of xml might be useful to you or your employer (website/portfolio building) but it's starting to veer away from the regular artist skillset.

[Xeon_OND]

Like Qitsune says, if your company is gonna send you for Flash courses, then take it up. You don't even need to be good at it, because as long as you've some basic Flash knowledge, you can put that down onto your resume to make it look better.

Anyway, I might get flamed for this, but I still am gonna say it: Instead of using the time and enduring the learning curve to learn Flash, it might be better to invest that time in fields that will let you expand and further your skills in concept art (more advanced levels of drawing and that kinda stuff).

It seems like your boss is trying to cut costs and trying to get artists to become programmers + animators as well (the "Do it all").
I can't imagine an artist doing drawings and art on paper, then suddenly switch on the computer to code Flash scripts and debug them.

The economy is still bad and I don't have the guts to suggest finding another job, but meantime, just suck it up and learn some basic Flash if your boss pressures you. Read "Flash for Dummies" and you might be able to come up with some Flash jargon to hold off your boss for a while. :^^: