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9/03/08 12:10:53 AM#21
The only Game design degree I would go for would be Digipen's degree. They have a good job placement rate compared to other game schools. However they are expensive and I think you could do just as well if not better by getting a computer science degree for a quarter of the cost. If you do decide to go for a computer science degree start making games in your free time right from the start. It is tough to get into the game industry right out of college without some nice work to show off. If you have never done any programming before I would try it out on your own in order to make sure that is what you really want to do. You can also go the artist route as well. |
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Stellos
 Novice Member
Joined: 9/15/06
If you're going to stick it out there, don't be afraid if you get it cut off. |
9/03/08 1:35:08 AM#22
Originally posted by crmznoutlw16
You will look like a much better employee with a 4 year degree from a real university more so than one of those crap colleges seen on late night telivision. I'd recommend computer science with a minor in business if possible. While you are there try like hell to intern at a well known game design company and you should be a great future employee. Good luck. |
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9/03/08 1:43:45 AM#23
Savannah College of Art and design is a regular 4 year college that has a game design course. Vancouver might also have a game design side. 
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9/03/08 4:19:19 AM#24
Originally posted by Blodpls
This article talks mostly about Designers. DO NOT FALL INTO THE TRAP OF TRYING TO SOLELY BECOME A DESIGNER. A person without art skill will have an extremely hard time trying to find a job as just a designer. Get some art skill. Game modelers are in high demand in all companies. If you find end up being good in modeling, you are set. There are always opening for game modelers, texturers, UV layout.
Everyone here is suggesting Computer Science. But do any of you realize that computer science ONLY coveres programming and scripting? The largest opening in any game company are artist. Modelers, UI Designers, Graphic Designers, Lighting and Special effects, Texture artist. Computer science won't help you worth crap if you plan to make 3D models in Maya. I tried to go the computer science route, and found out the hard way that I was not going to even touch a modeling program. If you want to do more artistic work, you must take an art degree of some sort and minor in computers (or AA). I would suggest you find a degree in Multimedia and Design. This degree (if listed under that name) covers all technical art at a general level. You will learn to Image manipulate, texture, animate flash, maybe 3d model, special effects for film, and graphic design. |
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9/03/08 4:40:13 AM#25
OP. Please specify what game design you mean. By coding and making virtual content or by game design as in designing the games world? Because the later is what these so called game design colleges teach. You never get the info and training you really need for making a game from ground up from these colleges. What happens is they throw you into a course and show you how to make a game with designing aspect only in mind, not to mention they are doing it on a editor that nobody is using in the game creation process. Most companies will make or buy a proper game editor (engine) to create the games world and adding those object to the world the coders and graphical artists make. You need to get a computer sciences degree if you want to persue game design as in making a game from scratch. Learn as much as you can about C++ and C# which is the new generation which will be used more in future game creation. It never hurts to also learn older code for problem solving. Unless you want to do game design which by that definition means sitting at a computer with a editor in front of you that you place object in the game world from a list and make the terrain with tools and adding vegetation then you are still better off doing computer science degree. The main reason is game design is really simple and comes quickly, anyone can learn that if they take a quick tutorial on whatever editor they are using. Most game companies will give game designers the tutorial on any new engine they build from the ground up, on tools within that editor and whatnot. The coders are the real game developers, and are responsible for all the hard stuff. Scripting and coding to get object and animations to work within the game and more.
WARNING Game development and creation aka the coders is a hard thing to learn, if your not young and your not good with memorization then you will have a hard time with this. The industry is also hard to get in and game designers are a dime a dozen. But good coders always get hired.
edit: I left out graphical design because for the most part you would just go to a regular art school in graphical design, any will work. Also the industry is flooded with graphical artists and the coders make so much more and are harder to find. |
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9/03/08 7:11:28 AM#26
If your a good 3D artist why would you want to join the game industry. The pay is crap, better off joining a law firm or getting into movies. Another good degree to take in the Art area is Architecture. Many of the concepts translate into environment design. Also alot easier to get a job with an architecture degree. Edit- I went to one of these Diploma Factories and they really aren't a substitute for a real education. Most of the students don't have the dedication to progress far, and you really have to teach yourself. This leads to the thought why even go when you are going to teach yourself most of it anyway? The main problem being the professors don't offer a university level challenge to acadamia. They actually fire instructors who are too hard or fail too many students. As long as you pay your tuition you pretty much pass. It would be different if the teachers were all harsh and made you work hard; where there is a pass fail and people are expected to have a certain knowledge when progressing to the next class; when you aren't held back because half the students are still stuck on rudimentary stuff covered in the first quarter; while you take a B.A. instead of a B.S. to reduce the amount of crap gen eds that usually clog this curriculum. In the last 2 years I learned eons more about working with 3D in a mod-group creating its own engine then at this type of school. I am working with technology and techniques only in the experimental stages for games. Which makes it difficult because I have to come up with the techniques to work with them. Still it beats the instructors stealing the techniques you developed as thier student.
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9/03/08 7:19:50 AM#27
Go to college and get a degree in Economics or Engineering. That is where the money is at. If you can withstand the toture that is Biomedical Engineering you'll make big bucks from that. But on topic, get a computer science degree. Or if you are really smart go for a combined Computer Science and Engineering degree. I know a lot of colleges do that and it doesn't take that much more work (believe me it is still a ton of work). The gaming industry is not something that special. Making your own games sounds grand, but the amount of time, money and piss poor job security while in it doesn't really make it worth it. ------------------- Brothers, we must rise. |
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9/03/08 7:29:59 AM#28
One of the things I find with people wanted to become a game designer is that they mistakingly think that they will be the ones coming up with the ideas for the games. Thats usually not the case. What you really need as a game designer is an idea of structuring and how to build system. You will not be the one putting your ideas forward. Thats why the computer science or a bachelor in IT is the best way to go. If you want to design your own games, there is one way. Build your own company with the billion $ you inherited from uncle joe... |
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9/03/08 7:32:36 AM#29
Originally posted by Mitara
The people who are worthy at becoming game designers/programmers/whatever are litterally skilled enough to start up their own company without that billion $. |
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--------------------------------------------- Updated first post, check it for more info. --------------------
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9/03/08 2:44:10 PM#31
The Original poster does need to clarify what he is specifically looking to do. Because, like most fields of works, there are different degrees needed for different jobs. Everyone is saying ocmputer science, but a computer science degree won't do much if you are a 3D modeler. Choose your class and talent tree: Producer / Lead Developer: Business, English, Economics - You need good leadership, organization to do this role. Usually the people qualified for this role could easily start their own business. You will most likely have to work up the chain of a copany to reach this point by doing level designs, game testing, or an art posistion for a long period of times. You need friends to reach this position also. Artistic / UI Design / 3D Modeler / 2D Illustration / Animation: Multimedia, Graphic Design, 2D 3D Animation - being extremely skilled in art is the key. You will have to specialize to get really god. Then after you get good you must make an insanely awesome demo reel of your work to compete agaisnt the 1000s of other artist out there. Academy of Art and Art Institute will actually do a good job at teaching you these things, and only these things. Game Designer: English, Modding, Computer Science - You will be either working with game engine mods to create levels with specific goals and brainstorming game levels. (Like the Unreal Engine) OR You will be writing tech documents to explain in disgustingly high detail on every aspect of a game under development. You can also obtain jobs as a tech writer in other fields if your english skills are great, such as writing instructional documents on how to use the newest iPod mini. If you are a great creative writer you "might" get hired to make stories or lore for games. The Computer science will help in scripting for game engines like Unreal where you will most likely change the very aspect of the engine to fit your game. Coder / Tech artist / Rigger: Computer Science - The hardest fields. you can easily get high paying jobs by coding a game from the ground up. the coders make the game engines which the game designers use. Even riggers do alot of scripting and coding to make unique plugins for programs like Adobe Photoshaop and Maya. Example: Cryptic AR. Check it out. It is a plugin for 3DSMax that allows you to use the Champions Online rig for free. Its a great tool to practice your animation skills. |
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9/03/08 2:55:30 PM#32
The easiest jobs to get are Technical Artists, and Riggers since its a freaking hard job to be good at. It requires a ton of skills that most will have trouble possessing. To be a Game Designer you probably would want to look into a Writing Major since thats what you will be doing. You will also probably benefit from an Associates in Computer Science since you need Coding knowledge, then joining a modding group to get your feet wet in the software. If you want to be lead designer... you need money or alot of commitence. No one will hire you to make a game unless you were the lead designer of one before. Also when you are starting out as a lead designer, don't make an mmo. They are astronomically harder to make. Make an innovative FPS or adventure game.
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Originally posted by Urrelles Hey man, I liked your post. You know at all what Artistic / UI Design / 3D Modeler / 2D Illustration / Animation: Multimedia, Graphic Design, 2D 3D Animation - make? Another thing, since you seem like you know a lot, not sure if you copy and pasted, however is Level Design fun and interesting?
Thanks ahead of time. --------------------
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9/03/08 6:50:44 PM#34
I'll answer a few unlikely ones. 3D modeler, you should know this. 2D Illustrator, are cartoons and concept art. Graphic design, everything you see right here on the internet is created through graphic design, and web design including the little smilies. Multimedia, are jacks of all trades. You know a little of everything. UI design, the person that makes buttons, life bars, interface for a game or websight, theres more to interface just placing buttons. You have to know how to make the human's eye flow across a screen to see certain things and how to make other things not as noticable. There is a logical progression when setting up menues. A good example of bad interface was Age of Conan. A good interface is in Warhammer: Online.
I've never truly seen level design in a studio, but from what I've seen it can be fun. but if you have a game like WoW, or Bard's Tale, or worst yet, Kid Chameleon, it could be hell due to the hundreds of levels, quest, missions you would have to quickly brain storm and pump out. When you design a level, you have to -make icons that are used throught the design proccess so that coders and layout artist know what is exactly in each level. -If it's quest based, it needs a story of some sort, plus you have to make sure it matches the lore of the game. -make an objective for the map -layout a map -lastly placement of rewards and powers
It might be fun to you. It is not the funnest thing to me, but it was enjoyable when you think of that one damn good level. |
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Originally posted by Urrelles hah, i think you thought i meant like what do they do for occupation, i meant salary. However do not worry, i just looked it up myself and got a average. You say it was not the funnest thing to you, what do you think is the most enjoyable occupation to have in the game industry? --------------------
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9/03/08 7:52:15 PM#36
I honestly don't know. Just like these MMO games, it depends on each person what they think is good and bad. In the end, everyone wants to be a game designer. I'm guess that is the most fun. Any of these jobs can be fun if you work for a company that treats you like you are worth something. small companies seem to be the most fun to work for. |
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9/04/08 2:42:57 AM#37
My uncle went to Devry and he makes six figures now... Experience + Dedication > freshly graduated 26 year old with a fancy college degree he payed almost half a million dollars for...
Edit: He doesn't work in the gaming industry but it just means that if you work hard you can do it. Edit2: Though if you have the chance, I recommend that you attend a proper 4-year university because if you ever decide that the gaming industry is not for you...well your fucked. On the other hand, at a 4-year university you can just switch majors. The only reason my uncle didn't attend a 4-year university was because he didn't have the opportunity as he had just immigrated to America during the 80's and knew ZERO english. Had he been given an opportunity to attend a proper university, I'm sure he would have gone there, even with the hefty price tag. Did I mention that the computer programming/engineering field is EXTREMELY stressful? (He lost almost all his hair and hes only in his 30's, although he went through a lot during his life.) |
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9/04/08 4:46:06 PM#38
Nope. Just thought it was a cool name for a wizard. |
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9/05/08 12:11:56 AM#39
any game design school that's worth it's salt is equivalent to a four year college. my friend goes to UAT in Tempe AZ, and i went for 2 semesters (considering going back when i have some money). that college can get you a Bachelors in 2-3 years if you do a trimester, which means you go to school all year round with a 2 week break between semesters. if you drag it out and do 2 semesters a year (like at most 4 year schools), it's on par as far as credit hours with a "real" university. the classes taught at UAT are at least equivalent to those taught at 4 year schools; you aren't limited to design-centric ones, you can do stuff from the Game Programming school, which is industry standard application of programming languages, programming theory, data analysis etc- my friend who goes there is dual majoring in Game Design and Game Programming, which is probably the smartest thing to do. UAT has an internship program as a 500 level course, which will get you a foot in the door of a studio. i don't know what you guys are using to measure "success" as far as a job in the industry, but if you have any creative ideas of your own at all, you probably don't want to be a codemonkey on a team of hundreds for the next EA/Blizzard zerg AAA project. a smaller studio, to me, seems better because the connections you make there will be primarily creative, and that's worth more than just making cash quickly. the only reason degrees from game schools aren't worth as much is because of the fucked up standards of accreditation, which have been inflated by the ability of more people to go to college, along with the newness of game design as a legitimate field of study, and 'artform' (for that, you mostly have to blame heavily biased and arbitrary definitions of art, bolstered by a skewed system of federal subsidization of established art- it's funny, you'd rarely see anyone saying that a degree from an established traditional art school is a "waste", but 3D design or games are shit on constantly). for those of you saying go indie, i can't really argue too much, but not everyone has the experience to do that, and they can get it at a college. one thing i can argue with though is the indie community's desire to so thoroughly miscegenate games with other entertainment (and that's the word i prefer using for things like literature, movies, theatre, whatever- since "art" is so arbitrary), such that they depreciate the elements that make them games and give credence to the cesspool of the art establishment that raises hell every time someone asks for games to get the same recognition as their naysayers' once-outcast crafts. that's just personal griping though. btw, my personal recommendation is University of Advancing Technology- it's pretty highly rated. it's not in CT, but if you're willing to travel you won't be sorry. small school, but a good community, and highly qualified people who've all had experience in the industry |
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