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Bests Game Development Universities
Akribos
Member Posts: 16
Hello,
Im very interested in obtaining a Degree on Game Development, with some sort of focus on MMOs.
Please if you can share the names and/or websites of the bests institutions dedicated to this areas it would be very nice.
Thank you in advance
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Comments
Seeing as how you live in Panama, I can't exactly give you any advice...
I recently applied for http://www.dmu.ac.uk/Subjects/Db/?course=2461, and received an offer. You could always move to the UK.
No longer visiting MMORPG.com.
I dunno about Panama, but in the USA you might check out fullsail.com
I'm attending in April, I've visted and they have a majorly kick ass program. I dunno how much is done with MMORPGs but they have a good section on Online gaming. Send em a letter or give admissions a call, they are exremely helpfull
The Millenium Lee
these degrees are a joke, seriously
you kids have no idea the amount of people who actually work in a field which they got their degree in. I just hope for anyones sake who is going after a degree in "gaming" you dont need to quickly find a job after graduation or during attending other than game development/design because a specialized degree in gaming doesnt carry any weight. I cant wait to laugh at the first kid who I interview with a "computer gaming" degree
you'd be further ahead getting an MIS or a CIS bachelors, and probably save a huge chunk of change as well. Maybe even drafting with a focus on 3d design and illustration (which is what I have) would be a more rounded and less focused degree.
im not saying this to be a smart ass either, be very careful when studying in a specialized field or youll find yourself back in college at the age of 35 (like me..see above paragraph why) to learn about things more directly related to the field you FELL into (like the majority of us)
"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a robot foot stomping on a human face -- forever."
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I get your point. I was doing some research around and noticed this degrees are more like a brief course about the specified subject(20-25 months) which is not totally what Im looking for.
Currently, I have a degree on System's Engineering focused on Networks(a.k.a Telematic). Probably the best thing to do would be to go for a more general specializatioin in 3D developing and whatnot and then, later on for a Game Development degree to fortify even more in the field.
Thank you for the advice
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How about: http://www.westwoodonline.edu/degrees/design/game-art.asp
Not sure how good it is but will be startting this summer
Westwood seems serious and pretty good if Game Design art is what you are looking for(models, landscapes, pics, etc).
Saw they have alot of courses other than pure Game Desing, wich is good for the career overall.
Good luck in your career.
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Westwood seems serious and pretty good if Game Design art is what you are looking for(models, landscapes, pics, etc).
Saw they have alot of courses other than pure Game Desing, wich is good for the career overall.
Good luck in your career.
Thanks! Im fist going to learn how to spell starting
Well, I go to DeVry University they are kind of prestigious and have a game development program which I am enrolled in now. I haven't actually started it as of yet I just enrolled September 1st of last year out of high school.
The college is fantastic but very demanding of math, I not good in math but I have took a couple classes and don't see me giving up because I have to do more work.
I'm rambling a little the point is if this is what you really what you want to do don't stop keep going it will pay off in the end I know it will.
________________________________
I must not fear, fear is the mind killer.
Fear is the little death that leads to obliteration, I must permit fear to pass over me and through me.
________________________________
You really have to consider where in the game development you want to work.
Like the few past posts, a degree in "Game Design" could get you a laugh or two. I suggest to find what most interests you (Programming, Animation/Model design, Story/Quest writing, etc.), then move to a field that would help you with that.
If you want to Model and Animate in games, a degree in computer arts will get you a lot more help. This degree will also get you jobs at places such as Pixar and Dreamworks, and maybe freelance work (like commercials). If you would like to write the story, or design quests, then an English major would be of more help, or even a journalist major. That way you gain the necessary skills for writing, and if you can't find a job in the gaming industry then you can always work at a newspaper or magazine.
I know a couple of schools that you might want to look into. USC (University of Southern California) is getting a donation of money (sometime in the early future) from EA Games to set up a game development course at their college. This will help in getting an internship and later a job with EA Games, or other companies.
Another is Michigan State University and Purdue University. They both have smaller game development courses, which offer a good amount of training, while both offering a good education in other departments.
Some other schools to look up are DeVry (Where Ken'Shiero is going to attend) and Academy of Arts in San Francisco.
Hope that helps.
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| www.40ksource.net - 40k MMO fansite
Scott man great advice. I read about fullsail in this thread. Please bare with me on this. Steer clear from that school. The orientation and tour of the school may be "cool" with all the fancy lights and rooms, but I have heard and read way to much bad news about the school itself.
I went to the orientation and was oo and awed by everything but when I left I decided to do more research. The school is looked down apon in general. This was a while ago, but I remember looking at a website called Fullsailsucks.com. I couldnt believe how many people were dissapointed in this school and how they were treated. The website was made very well and the people who made it were very dedicated to their purpose. Dont get me wrong this is not the only resource I looked at, I'm sorry i dont have any links. Just make sure you really do you research. One word of advice I got from an experienced person in game development, is to always be skeptical about a "college" that sells itself through a commercial. Although I didnt fallow that advice and ended up at IADT for Animation (which I really like btw. Not very many regrets), I now completely understand what he meant.
I dont mean to be discouraging in any way. Just a heads up from what I learned when I was thinking about that school.
Scott gave some great advice. You should listen to it.
I myself am planning to attend http://uat.edu. While I can understand while degrees in "Game Design" may be laughable at some other schools, UAT shows to have a well rounded program with focus on everything from storyboarding to 2d/3d animation/modeling to programming, and while you can specialize in one of these fields specifically every student is required to take some courses in all of these fields to allow for a more diverse degree, as well as some core courses such as Math and English.
I am pretty confident in this school, however I havent heard much from students yet. I did tour the school but it was on a weekend so I didnt get a chance to talk to any students. If anyone has any opinion about this school let me know, but to the OP I'd recommend this school cause everything Ive seen so far seems promising.
Just on the border of your waking mind
There lies another time
Where darkness and light are one,
And as you tread the halls of sanity,
You feel so glad to be unable to go beyond.
I have a message from another time...
Axis Eleven
There is PenTech in Washington, I know Square-Enix and Microsoft hire them directly. They have a degree for Game Arts and another for programming specifically for game engines; but the school is very expensive. If you really want to know which school to go to ask your favorite game companies.
I completely agree with Ray, a degree in gaming alone is a joke. Spend 4 years and get a real degree in CS or Art from a real college. Then if you are still completely into gaming, get spend another year or two goto one of the cheesy 'game design' schools. You'll be a lot better off in the long run and have some actual transferable skills other than 'I can design a level.'
I am really curious why people disregard game programming degrees?
It is a degree specializing heavily into the making of games, but game companies would rather take a college degree in programming having nothing to do with games? CIS is mainly business oriented, why would a game designer prefer a degree in that over a degree in actual game design?
A game design class is basically what it sounds like, a class focused on the design of a game. While this sounds like a good idea, the class really only briefly covers every topic of the design, with usually a final being groups creating and then testing a game they made on their own.
But, in the same amount of time that you spent covering all of those topics, you could have taken a major in, for example, Computer Arts, and mastered all of the techniques of that subject.
I don't know much specifically about programming, though, but I believe it is generally a universal system (correct me if I am wrong please). I assume there are probably special programming languages ( Like PhP is to HTML ), that make the design to fit to games more, but that general "HTML" is still the backbone to the system.
So, basically, Game Design classes are (usually) just a brief overview of all the general topics, while a degree is an advanced look at a specific topic.
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| www.40ksource.net - 40k MMO fansite
Basically its like this, who do you want to get a degree from, a guy that works at a college talking about game design or a guy that is actually designing games? And those that are actually designing games work at gaming companies.
My recommendation is go into a formalized program at a university that focuses on Computers(programming) and Multimedia.
Pretty much all of the Game Design or Game Programming programs out there are going to be bunk and a waste of money.
I wouldn't recommend DeVry either, reminds me of those commercials on tv about getting a degree from home.
I've been looking into UAT, it's a technology school in Temple, Arazona. They DO offer a FOUR year corse in Game design, game Programming, AND game development. The courses you chose from include C++ courses but also you can opt to take classes like Game theory or level theory, etc. This place also offers networking degrees and computer security degrees. They've a program for their gammers where you actualy get to work on games being developed, and be a part of their production to get the feel of the industry. As for their security degrees and such, they've had many students go on to work for the government, the military, and various private industries.
Here's my question to you all. I am putting HIGH thought into atending this school. it IS a four year degree plan, and from what I've seen they are pretty well known. Now, if you take the time to visit the link I'll provide below and see their corse list in both game design and game programming, I'd like to know your professional input as to "if it's worth it." factor. I do intend to work for a gaming company or sometime down the road even own one. I do not want to do anything else regarding programming. I figured designing would be best for me because it would allow me to use my ideas, whilst understanding the programming needed for it so I can achieve my goals. I do not want to be a codder that does what someone else tells me, I want to be the one creating my ideas, writing programs that will let me do just that, and work with other programmers to reach my goal.
http://www.gamedegree.com/?gclid=CILb2Y6pjIMCFRpkSgodlz3WjA
What do you guys think? Would this seem like a fesible idea for what I want to achieve, or should I go for a Computer Science degree? I'd really love to hear from a real game designer, but it's not exacly easy to reach one:-P
Top Ten Most Misused Words/Phrases in MMO Industry...
To me it seems the devry classes for Game programing is actually rather in depth.
THE FOLLOWING IS VERY LONG, IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO READ IT ALL, SKIP TO NEXT POST.
GSP-110 Introduction to Game and Simulation Development
This course provides a broad overview of the game industry, and the game development and design process. Topics include game terminology, history of games, genre analysis, platform comparisons, psychological concepts of interactivity, content creation, and game playing and exploration.
GSP-130 System Architecture and Assembler with Lab
This course introduces fundamental elements on which computers are based, such as logic circuits, algebra, data representations, computer architecture, microprocessors and low-level programming using Assembler.
GSP-220 Math for Game Programming I
This course introduces linear algebra for calculating slopes and parallel lines; and graphing 3D points and line intersections for collision detection programs. Also covered is planar geometry, used to maintain straight lines when mapping an image onto a viewing surface, including, orthogonal, multi-view, axonometric and oblique projections.
GSP-240 Practical Game Design with Lab
This course focuses on basic elements used to systematically transform a designers vision into a working game or simulation. Topics include spatial and task design; design integration; control schemes; game balancing; game play mechanics and player interaction; tuning; and types and methods of testing and analysis.
GSP-260 Visual and Audio Design Fundamentals with Lab
Students in this course examine the perspective of the game artist and game score composer in order to develop an appreciation and understanding of the artistic and auditory aspects of game play. Lab activities focus on applying fundamental concepts using a library of digital assets.
GSP-280 Simulation Design with Lab
This course introduces learning theories, instructional design principles and modeling fundamentals for developing interactive applications used for educational and training purposes. Students explore the design of serious games and simulations by applying game design elements combined with learning theory and instructional design.
GSP-290 Data Structures and Artificial Intelligence with Lab
This course examines abstract data structures and robotic artificial intelligence methods. Topics include the classical abstract data types and algorithms for the list, stack, queue, binary tree and B-tree; the hierarchical control paradigm; expert systems based on scripting languages; and reactive agents using subsumption architecture or potential fields. The hybrid paradigm and navigation are also explored.
GSP-320 Math for Game Programming II
This course covers analytic geometry techniques used in graphing and manipulating two- and three-dimensional objects. Coursework addresses derivatives for motion in one dimension as well as parametric equations for two dimensions, and introduces velocity in 3D.
GSP-340 Modification and Level Design with Lab
This course introduces tools and concepts used to create levels for games, including level design, architecture theory, critical path and flow, game balancing, play-testing and storytelling. Working as a team, students create an original modification (MOD) based on a current game engine, creating original levels, characters and content for a real-time multi-player game.
GSP-360 Applied Development Project
Students in this course work individually and as team members to apply knowledge and mastered skills to develop a small game or simulation, or modification to a game or simulation.
GSP-380 Multimedia Programming with Lab
This course introduces programming principles and techniques used to integrate graphics, animation and sound assets into reactive environments that encourage interactivity and engage the end-user or player. Principles of asset management and asset conversion are also covered.
GSP-410 Software Engineering for Game Programming with Lab
This course introduces principles and methodologies of software engineering for game and simulation software development. Processes and tools covered ensure that software products are developed to meet requirements, are tested for reliability, can be effectively maintained, and are delivered on time and within budget. An iterative and incremental development process is introduced as a team approach across the software development life cycle.
GSP-420 Game Engine Design and Integration with Lab
This course introduces the logic and function of game engines, as well as the software core of computer games. Addressed are systems (graphics, input, sound and clock); virtual consoles; 3D graphics renderers; game engine function interfaces; and tools and data as aspects of game engines that facilitate reuse of assets such as graphics, characters, animated machines and levels.
GSP-460 Programming for MMOG with Lab
This course introduces programming issues unique to Internet-based games for large numbers of players. Topics include latency, security and database models for structuring a games world. Also covered are aspects of distance learning using massively multi-player online games (MMOGs) technology
GSP-490 Senior Project
Students in this course apply knowledge and mastered skills to develop at least one complete level of a 3D game or simulation.
MATH-181 College Algebra and Trigonometry
Topics in this course include polynomials; rational, radical, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions; solutions to polynomial, rational and transcendental equations and inequalities; and applications to problems in physics and electronics. Complex solutions to problems in rectangular, trigonometric and Eüler form are considered, as are Vector sums, and products and matrix solutions to linear systems.
MATH-233 Discrete Mathematics
This course introduces discrete mathematics as applied to computer engineering problems. Topics include continuous versus discrete difference equations, data structures, graph theory and numerical methods for discrete systems. Computer software is used in problem modeling and solutions.
PHYS-216 Physics with Lab
This course examines fundamental principles of mechanics, thermodynamics, optics, and electricity and magnetism, as well as aspects of modern physics. Lab activities complement classroom discussion and include experiments that concisely illustrate main theoretical topics presented.
MGMT-404 Project Management
This course enhances students ability to function in a project leadership role. While exploring the project life cycle, they gain experience in budget and timeline management. Project management software is used to design project schedules using methods such as bar charts, program evaluation review technique (PERT) and critical path method (CPM) to produce project plans to apply to the solution of case studies.
CIS-115 Logic and Design
This course introduces basics of programming logic, as well as algorithm design and development, including constants, variables, expressions, arrays, files and control structures for sequential, iterative and decision processing. Students learn to design and document program specifications using tools such as flowcharts, structure charts and psuedocode. Program specification validation through desk-checking and walk-throughs is also covered.
CIS-170A* Programming with Lab
This course introduces basics of coding programs from program specifications including use of an integrated development environment (IDE), language syntax, as well as debugger tools and techniques. Students also learn to develop programs that manipulate simple data structures such as arrays, as well as different types of files. Visual Basic.Net is the primary programming language used
CIS-246 Connectivity with Lab
This course covers fundamentals of data communication and computer networking, including the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model. Network architecture and configurations such as local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs) are addressed.
CIS-247A* Object-Oriented Programming with Lab
This course introduces object-oriented programming concepts including objects, classes, encapsulation, polymorphism and inheritance. Using an object-oriented programming language, students design, code, test and document business-oriented programs. C#.Net is the primary programming language used.
I believe that these courses give a very good range of knowledge, and can reallyprepare one for game design. Granted I am biased as I am taking this course.
Ah a fellow UAT "goer" (for lack of a better term). What drew me to UAT was the aspect of it being a technical school, yet also having four year university elements (although you can get your bachelors in three). Like I said in my earlier post UAT covers all three areas very well and allows you to specialize and, like you I want to go into development where I can storyboard and oversee projects.. but UAT will also offer me artistic and programming classes so I can represent my ideas easier to both the art and programming teams (of course this isnt a position that I'm expecting to jump into right away, but rather later on when I have some coding and modeling samples from other games Ive worked on). Reading the Intranet and student blogs it seems most of the student body is close and satisfied with the classes. Also another big draw was the time spent on the programs and classes... a big complaint I saw at Full Sail and what these other people are saying is their very broad on all aspects of design, but it seems UAT goes more in depth to all the aspects, especially due to the fact that they go year around school (Roughly 3 months of school then 2 1/2 weeks or so off, then another 3 months on).
I'm attending in the Summer or Fall, maybe we'll meet.
-Shojin
Just on the border of your waking mind
There lies another time
Where darkness and light are one,
And as you tread the halls of sanity,
You feel so glad to be unable to go beyond.
I have a message from another time...
Axis Eleven
Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy
It's a Master's Program in the University of Central Florida.
you can follow this Link to find out more but i'll give you the history...
"History
FIEA was formed when an industry in need of skilled workers met a school with a track record of creating exceptionally talented graduates. In 2004, Electronic Arts came to the University of Central Florida with a unique challenge. It needed to hire hundreds of first-rate programmers, artists and video-game producers to keep pace with the growing demands of the industry. Other game studios and companies around the country were experiencing similar shortages. Could UCF help? The timing couldn't have been better. While already offering strong degrees in areas like computer science, UCF began to offer bachelor's degrees in Digital Media in July 2000. In August 2003, the School of Film and Digital Media (SFDM) was formed, and currently serves over 1,200 students. FIEA seemed like a logical fit under the SFDM. In April 2004, Electronic Arts, the Economic Development Commission and other industrial partners helped UCF secure funding from the State of Florida to develop and implement an immersive, real-world video game program, and FIEA was born. In October 2004, the City of Orlando formed a partnership with the university to provide a home for FIEA and the School of Film and Digital Media in downtown Orlando. And in August of 2005, the school opened its doors to a select group of future game developers and creators."
Again I say.. this is a MASTER's Program... So it's not the easiest piece of pie.
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"Some people call me the walking plank, 'cuz any where you go... Death is right behind you.."
<i>ME<i>
http://www.charliecleveland.com/archives/2005/11/getting_started_1.html
This has some pretty neat stuff to look at. Charlie Cleveland is the lead developer behind Natural Selection which last I knew was the most popular 3rd party Half-Life 1 mod. Its main competition is Team Fortress Classic.
I would be wary of UAT if your going thier for an art degree, 90% of the student work in the gallery looked like it blows. It doesn't take into thought the use of shadows, and alot of whats in there is prefabed stuff where the machine can do most of it for you.
DeVry University is definitively worth a shot, they have an 8 semester Games, Simulation and Programming(GSP) career that prepares you for everything, from basic programming to specialized simulation used by military and so.
Its a prestigious University, famous, friends have heard about it. So far one of the best options I have seen.
Their website is http://www.devry.edu/ if anyone else is interested.
Thank you very much for the information.
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