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Courses you take in college for MMORPG
akjohn31
Member Posts: 33
hey if you want to get involved in computers or the making of mmorpgs what do you take in college?
Andrew Kody Johnston
Comments
A technical school that specifically teaches gaming design could be something to look at.
Currently Playing: Toying around with AoC and bored with Darkfall
Thinking of Playing: Fallen Earth or Darkfall after this months update.
Have Played: EQ1, EQ2, WoW, WAR, Vanguard, EvE, Requiem, PW, Lotro, Lineage2, AoC, SWG...
First of all, a general Bachelors in Computer Sciences is what most companies want for many positions.
Then, you specialize in what you REALLY want to do, such as Animations, programming, character models etc. You will most likely start in some small company untill you get a few years/titles under your belt before you can join one of the big boys.
Currently restarting World of Warcraft
Id advise you to look into companies like Blizzard and Sony, NCsoft and see where they accept interns from and get an idea from that.
Check this FAQ on Blizzards internship program. You may be able to get ideas on what a developer of this caliber looks for.
"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a robot foot stomping on a human face -- forever."
Computer science.
I would look for companies that are hiring, and check out the qualifications for those positions first. That will tell you what kind of degree they are looking for. However, I know you really can't go wrong with Savannah College of Art and Design, or with Full Sail, down in Orlando.
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Tried- L2, Ryzom, WAR, DDO, PWI, Tab Rasa, Requiem, Champs, AA, JD, PWI, SUN, Dawntide
Played- SWG (pre-cu), AoC, VG, WoW, LoTRO,CoX, EQ2, DAOC, GW, PotBS, Aion, MO,APB, NASA, Fallen Earth, DCUO, Rift
Playing- EVE, Black Prophecy, TOR
Waiting for- Tera, Jumpgate Evo, WH40K, WWE, WOD, TSW
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"Hey, if Activision liked it, then they should have put a ring on it," Double Fine President Tim Schafer said. "Oh great, now Beyonce is going to sue me too."
I would love to look into some intership things but guys i know NOTHING about computers. But i want to learn. I love to try to create things with realmcrafter. So maybe something up that ally?
Andrew Kody Johnston
ya, about Full Sail. Its a joke down here. That school claims to be a lot of things and its not. Its extremely expensive to boot.
Go to a real university. Get a real degree and focus around your gaming internship needs. *edit* Also, dont limit yourself to MMO's. That would be a very vilotile career move.
"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a robot foot stomping on a human face -- forever."
Well to start off if you want to program: http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/
For other things, Id suggest looking for the programs the real devs use, and playing around with them to get the hang of it, and start making things for a portfollio.
Currently restarting World of Warcraft
In which country do you live in ?
Options in game industry are plenty to mention a few:
- game design courses. The hardest to get work in if you want to be leading designer, most of those people are people who actually have money to make games. You can start work as level/map designer.
- concept artist
- animation courses
- game development coruses. One of the most demanding courses in IT espacially if you want to be a game programmer, you need strong mathematical skills.
And many others, check it out www.blizzard.com/us/jobopp/ that's Blizzard website which shows different job opportunities in game industry.
I know one really helpful website about planing your gaming career
www.skillset.org/careers/
Any questions ?
You don't see to have a specific thing in mind. Do you want to run the business? Do you want to write software? Are you the type who wants to play with graphics? Do you want to manage a team of some kind?
what are some of the programs real devs use?
Andrew Kody Johnston
http://lmgtfy.com/
Currently restarting World of Warcraft
I would just like to come up with a game or work on other peoples ideas. I want to be a manager though. In head of everything. just like making stuff. and i live in the US..Texas baby
Andrew Kody Johnston
then you should major in Biz Management or Technology Management...
Personally?
I've been apart of 3 game companies now, and anybody hired from the "Game Design Colleges" have proven completely useless. The best programmers I've seen often haven't even gone to college, or haven't yet graduated. They were self taught and motivated, learned themselves. You have to have a passion to make games...
If you absolutely do not have an incredible desire to make games, beyond "It sounds like a fun career!", you should not chose this as a career. The hours are long, the pay is pretty bad, and there will always be somebody talking down to you about your work.
If you have illussions of grandeur of creating the greatest game ever, you'll likely be sorely disappointed.
If you think that the game industry is steady work, you're in for a surprise. You can read about layoffs and closures regularly, especially in the MMO field. Most MMOs never make it to fruitation before they are canceled or run out of money... in a few extreme cases, workers show up and the doors are locked after finally having a day off after several 70+ hour workweeks.
Really sit down and research the Industry... don't just read about games, read about the INDUSTRY of gaming. Gamasutra is a great place to start... read a few "Post Mortems" on MMOs, most of them mention the weeks of crunch time and other not so positive game realities.
If you read all that and are still interested, I suggest you do the following:
Learn a little programming (even scripting)
Learn abit about 3D Art
Learn about the costs of timelines, how long it takes to do certain tasks.
Take some management classes at a regular University... do NOT attend a "Game College", go to a real university.
Managers need to know a little about everything... if you want to manage a MMO company, you need to know ALOT... especially if you plan on managing without coming up through the ranks.
- CaesarsGhost
Lead Gameplay and Gameworld Designer for a yet unnamed MMO Title.
"When people tell me designing a game is easy, I try to get them to design a board game. Most people don't last 5 minutes, the rest rarely last more then a day. The final few realize it's neither fun nor easy."
I think we had more people representing Full Sail at my last company than any other school (with the possible exception of the local art school where a lot of our artists hailed from.)
"What is truly revealing is his implication that believing something to be true is the same as it being true. [continue]" -John Oliver
What i should have said was i want to manage my game being made. I wanna learn how to create worlds and areas on a computer. also learn how to make 3d characters and stuff. After i get those skills maybe in the future i could start to make my own game
Andrew Kody Johnston
I think we had more people representing Full Sail at my last company than any other school (with the possible exception of the local art school where a lot of our artists hailed from.)
what company is that? Mcdonalds?
seriously.. you guys pull full sail graduates? Im in the area, im curiuos what company you worked for that pulled these guys.
"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a robot foot stomping on a human face -- forever."
I see what everyone here is saying and I'd say it mostly makers sense.
I just want to add though that if you're familiar with G4tv.com there is a web show called Sessler's Soap Box. If you're familiar with G4 you're familiar with him. He gets a lot of flak about his show and stuff, but I find him to be pretty knowledgeable about stuff. Anyway, he talked about this in one of his more recent Soap box episodes. He said what he tells people when they ask him this is "Anything". He said that the ability to program is always good, that people with all types of degrees work on games.
I mean if you really think about it you could get an English degree and still get a job working on story boards and be creating the story line to a game.
Get a BS or BA from an accredited college in just about anything. You can always learn to program on your own after a few computer science courses, and take some Economics classes as well.
The best credentials you can have is a working game. The best education is making that game.
Buy a book and start making a game. Then when you're done making your first game, make another one. Your first game is pretty much guaranteed to be sloppy.
DeVry do this Bachelors Degree, not sure if you have a local Devry school in Crawford (say Hi to George for me).
The one other thing I want to push your way is if MMOs and Video games are your only hobby, are you sure you want to work with them as your hobby becomes your job and you'll need to find a new hobby...
Advices given by Sid Meier himself
www.firaxis.com/jobs/career.php
Worth reading with many links.
i think College in the US is the same as Uni down here so for me its
Software Engineering Degree at local Uni (as a backup and to enhance my programming skills) and a Degree in Video games programming at the local Acadamy of Interactive Entertainment (this is 100% focussed on games development).
Computer science is an option but to be perfectly honest i'd rather go down the software Engi path as its more hands on and less theory (its also much easier to get into).
MMO wish list:
-Changeable worlds
-Solid non level based game
-Sharks with lasers attached to their heads
Just about any degree will help you land a job at one of the game companies. It all really depends if you fit what they are looking for. However, you should try to become very knowledgeable in one of the important areas, and have an understanding how the other 2 will effect you ( business, art, programming ).
Art tools:
- Be proficient with a 3d modeling program ( 3dsmax, maya ) , and a photo/art program ( adobe photoshop / illustrator )
- It helps to know other programs that can fill in the gaps that your main 2 don't fill.
- Keep a portfolio of your artwork. Its the best resume you got.
Programming:
- Whatever environment / debug tool you like to use.
- Languages C++ is a must, and anything else you thing would be beneficial.
- Program a game/software on your own time. Employers like to see that you can stick with it too the end.
Business:
- Hmmmmm sorry I don't know much here, but if there is anything IT related it would definitely be a plus.