So as I'm gusseing we have some game developers over here at the mapster. Students as well as worker I have a question for you. Which of these to gives the best profit in manners of education? I know this depends _alot_ on what school you study but we're talking in general here.
The question in short: Which, in general, is the best when it comes to Gamedevelopment Education, University vs Advance Vocational Education?
I know as well this might differ depending on what program. Please motivate for all three Programming, Design, Graphics (or just one of them, w/e you care to post! :> )
I would recommend joining a mod team and just hang around communities such as these and find a project you can work on passionately at some level of your choosing. Grow at your own pace without worrying about getting a bad teacher, or having to take courses that don't interest you and save a TON of money.
The vast majority of people who work in the gaming industry are self taught and a degree continues to be worth less by the day (many would argue that the cost of a modern education will actually lower the quality of your life and make you a slave to loans for years without adding much to your job finding power).
Unity is a great engine to pick up and learn on, lots of game companies are using it. Same with UDK but it's a bit harder to jump into on a game design level. Flash is also a great starting tool for someone without a huge team or funds just starting out.
There are many options out there, free, that you can use to build a portfolio that you can use to start applying to game companies with. Just keep your ears open as you figure out what it is exactly you want to do (work for a giant studio, work on a small indie team, what genera of game?) and steer your learning in that direction.
There's a lot of competition out there, unless you know someone or know how to shmooze it's a long hard road and you're likely going to have to put together something pretty special to turn heads. But then again you just never know, maybe you just apply to the right place at the right time.
Whatever happens just know there are no gaurantees but there are worse career paths to persue than this. It's gaming after all!
Thanks for the answer crazy! :D Oh well, that sounds good according to my plans. I'm chosing between this uni programme and this advanced vocational. And I think I'm actually going for the advanced vocational. I heard that some say that a masters degree would be seen like better than an advanced vocational. However, this other statment I heard is that "Portfolio > Degree" so by that I would chose this vocational course since its more practical stuff AND I wouldn't be bookworming as much as I would if I went to the unit - by that I would have more time for modding.
Furtheremore, do you think that when I've finished with my current project in SC2 I should go on to a more "hardcoding"-environment? Was it that, that you meant?
What he means is that you should look around to find something to help with.
Starcraft II Editor is just a toy in comparison to normal programming, but creating something (useful) all by yourself takes a lot of time.
There are a lot of open-source things in the interweb. You can just get some of them and work with them or on them.
If you (majorly) contributed to open-source programs that also is a good indication for future employers. It shows that you already know your share in teamwork and practical programming.
But that doesn't really have much to do with what form of education to go through.. ^.^
So as I'm gusseing we have some game developers over here at the mapster. Students as well as worker I have a question for you. Which of these to gives the best profit in manners of education? I know this depends _alot_ on what school you study but we're talking in general here.
The question in short: Which, in general, is the best when it comes to Gamedevelopment Education, University vs Advance Vocational Education?
I know as well this might differ depending on what program. Please motivate for all three Programming, Design, Graphics (or just one of them, w/e you care to post! :> )
Happy for response!
Ice_bane @ B.net EU
I would recommend joining a mod team and just hang around communities such as these and find a project you can work on passionately at some level of your choosing. Grow at your own pace without worrying about getting a bad teacher, or having to take courses that don't interest you and save a TON of money.
The vast majority of people who work in the gaming industry are self taught and a degree continues to be worth less by the day (many would argue that the cost of a modern education will actually lower the quality of your life and make you a slave to loans for years without adding much to your job finding power).
Unity is a great engine to pick up and learn on, lots of game companies are using it. Same with UDK but it's a bit harder to jump into on a game design level. Flash is also a great starting tool for someone without a huge team or funds just starting out.
There are many options out there, free, that you can use to build a portfolio that you can use to start applying to game companies with. Just keep your ears open as you figure out what it is exactly you want to do (work for a giant studio, work on a small indie team, what genera of game?) and steer your learning in that direction.
There's a lot of competition out there, unless you know someone or know how to shmooze it's a long hard road and you're likely going to have to put together something pretty special to turn heads. But then again you just never know, maybe you just apply to the right place at the right time.
Whatever happens just know there are no gaurantees but there are worse career paths to persue than this. It's gaming after all!
Thanks for the answer crazy! :D Oh well, that sounds good according to my plans. I'm chosing between this uni programme and this advanced vocational. And I think I'm actually going for the advanced vocational. I heard that some say that a masters degree would be seen like better than an advanced vocational. However, this other statment I heard is that "Portfolio > Degree" so by that I would chose this vocational course since its more practical stuff AND I wouldn't be bookworming as much as I would if I went to the unit - by that I would have more time for modding.
Furtheremore, do you think that when I've finished with my current project in SC2 I should go on to a more "hardcoding"-environment? Was it that, that you meant?
Yours sincerely, Ice_bane
@Ice_bane: Go
Hardcoding is an undesirable thing.
What he means is that you should look around to find something to help with.
Starcraft II Editor is just a toy in comparison to normal programming, but creating something (useful) all by yourself takes a lot of time.
There are a lot of open-source things in the interweb. You can just get some of them and work with them or on them.
If you (majorly) contributed to open-source programs that also is a good indication for future employers. It shows that you already know your share in teamwork and practical programming.
But that doesn't really have much to do with what form of education to go through.. ^.^
@Ice_bane: Go
Teach yourself, imo. I've learned more teaching myself how to program then what a professor could teach you in a semester. :)
@s3rius: Go
Oh right, I understand now! :) So in terms of "getting attractive" I should do projects in other engines rather than Galaxy Editor? :)
@StatusQ3: Go
Alright, yes I've heard many say before that you can learn programming on yourself good as well.