Originally posted by ScottElwood 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.
I see myself as a Game Developer, the guy with programming skills, basic computer art skills, creativity and well put together to be a/the leader among team that is working on a game.
To achieve this I am thinking on an hybrid deep course that can cover everything from the basics to the more technical issues of the process of developing a proyet(game).
Thank you for the options, I will be checking every one of them.
Originally posted by JonathJCen What an odd topic, I am looking into this myself. I've questions for others, and perhaps a suggestion for you.
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.
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
UAT is one of the best options I found myself Google-ing around, they offer quite a variety of courses specializing in the subject you want to go for, all involving the computer and technology areas.
Worth a check for everybody looking into this, thank you.
If you're looking for a school that will get you a degree in "I wanna make an MMo", you might want to step away from the computer and take a few deep breaths.
Now.
I'm a graduate of Full Sail's Computer Animation course, with an A.S.
I'm gonna make something perfectly clear, here: Full Sail is no worse than any other school, in that, you get out of it what you put into it. The only gripe I had will them was their general lack of focus on the artistic side of things. However, a science degree is what it is, and it's my fault for not researching the school enough.
I have many friends who, with varying amounts of prior experience, graduated from the same program as I and have landed positions in the gaming industry. A couple are even working on MMos (Tabula Rasa is one. The other hasn't been announced yet.) Some are working on special effects, in Hollywood.
Those guys that were successful were the ones that worked the hardest. Some of them had previous work experience, or design experience/education, but they all busted their asses, produced stellar demo reels and portfolios, and worked hard to gain the attention of potential employers. Many of them went to E3 and GDC and met people, all of them were active on community boards ( not boards like this, more like www.cgtalk.com ).
As for myself, well, I didn't work as hard as I should have, didn't take things as seriously as I should have, and ended up with a mediocre demo reel.
If I could do it over, I would have taken a tradition art degree before going to a school like Full Sail.
So basically, if you want to program games, get a 2 or 4 year degree in Computer Science. Then take a specialized Game Design course. Same with art, get your traditional skills up to snuff, then learn 3D and animation.
----------------------------- Listen Asmodeeus, seven years ago, Ultima Online didn't even have those pathetic "quests" that you refer to or those "professions" of ninja, samurai, necromancer, and paladin. Nor did it have any of the neon crap, or bug mounts. It didn't even have any "combat moves." You turned on attack and jousted with simplistic swings. It was a better game then. if you can't guess why then just uninstall the thing and move along. - Crabby
Originally posted by -Jaguar- 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 know a guy who works for Gearbox that, as far as I know, doesn't have any degrees at all - he's just a kickass level designer.
----------------------------- Listen Asmodeeus, seven years ago, Ultima Online didn't even have those pathetic "quests" that you refer to or those "professions" of ninja, samurai, necromancer, and paladin. Nor did it have any of the neon crap, or bug mounts. It didn't even have any "combat moves." You turned on attack and jousted with simplistic swings. It was a better game then. if you can't guess why then just uninstall the thing and move along. - Crabby
ya you really don't need a degree, you just need to kick alot of ass. If you take the 4 years you would be going to a university and concentrate on nothing but one aspect of the gaming industry you can probably land a good position.
Comments
I see myself as a Game Developer, the guy with programming skills, basic computer art skills, creativity and well put together to be a/the leader among team that is working on a game.
To achieve this I am thinking on an hybrid deep course that can cover everything from the basics to the more technical issues of the process of developing a proyet(game).
Thank you for the options, I will be checking every one of them.
-
UAT is one of the best options I found myself Google-ing around, they offer quite a variety of courses specializing in the subject you want to go for, all involving the computer and technology areas.
Worth a check for everybody looking into this, thank you.
-
Alright.
Pay attention.
If you're looking for a school that will get you a degree in "I wanna make an MMo", you might want to step away from the computer and take a few deep breaths.
Now.
I'm a graduate of Full Sail's Computer Animation course, with an A.S.
I'm gonna make something perfectly clear, here: Full Sail is no worse than any other school, in that, you get out of it what you put into it. The only gripe I had will them was their general lack of focus on the artistic side of things. However, a science degree is what it is, and it's my fault for not researching the school enough.
I have many friends who, with varying amounts of prior experience, graduated from the same program as I and have landed positions in the gaming industry. A couple are even working on MMos (Tabula Rasa is one. The other hasn't been announced yet.) Some are working on special effects, in Hollywood.
Those guys that were successful were the ones that worked the hardest. Some of them had previous work experience, or design experience/education, but they all busted their asses, produced stellar demo reels and portfolios, and worked hard to gain the attention of potential employers. Many of them went to E3 and GDC and met people, all of them were active on community boards ( not boards like this, more like www.cgtalk.com ).
As for myself, well, I didn't work as hard as I should have, didn't take things as seriously as I should have, and ended up with a mediocre demo reel.
If I could do it over, I would have taken a tradition art degree before going to a school like Full Sail.
So basically, if you want to program games, get a 2 or 4 year degree in Computer Science. Then take a specialized Game Design course. Same with art, get your traditional skills up to snuff, then learn 3D and animation.
-----------------------------
Listen Asmodeeus, seven years ago, Ultima Online didn't even have those pathetic "quests" that you refer to or those "professions" of ninja, samurai, necromancer, and paladin. Nor did it have any of the neon crap, or bug mounts. It didn't even have any "combat moves." You turned on attack and jousted with simplistic swings. It was a better game then. if you can't guess why then just uninstall the thing and move along. - Crabby
I know a guy who works for Gearbox that, as far as I know, doesn't have any degrees at all - he's just a kickass level designer.
-----------------------------
Listen Asmodeeus, seven years ago, Ultima Online didn't even have those pathetic "quests" that you refer to or those "professions" of ninja, samurai, necromancer, and paladin. Nor did it have any of the neon crap, or bug mounts. It didn't even have any "combat moves." You turned on attack and jousted with simplistic swings. It was a better game then. if you can't guess why then just uninstall the thing and move along. - Crabby
ya you really don't need a degree, you just need to kick alot of ass. If you take the 4 years you would be going to a university and concentrate on nothing but one aspect of the gaming industry you can probably land a good position.