Kalit on 6/12/2006 at 16:22
So.. right now I'm going to school for an AAS in computer programming, and I decide afterwards I'm going to go to more school. Question is, should I go for a BS in Computer Science, or BS in Game Design and Development? I want to be a game programmer in the future.
SD on 6/12/2006 at 16:56
If you're going to make video games, might I suggest a BS in BS?
ignatios on 6/12/2006 at 17:19
Our own Stronts here has a PhD in BS. :cool:
Definitely go for the general degree. Game programming is shitty, shitty work and you shouldn't pigeonhole yourself anyway.
Agent Monkeysee on 6/12/2006 at 19:42
BS in computer science would be emminently more useful. Any degree in "game design and programming" is essentially going to be a vo-tech degree of some sort, regardless of whatever letters come before it. Unless you plan on being an artist or a QA tester for a big publisher you're not getting anywhere with a video game degree. CS actually teaches you the fundamentals that would make you valuable in any software domain.
Standard warning: Computer Science isn't "programming", it's a lot of applied mathematics and logic.
Additional caveat: the game industry is like any creative media industry and, depending on what it is you want to do, you'll need a healthy portfolio of "independent work" if you want anyone to let you in the door.
Chimpy Chompy on 6/12/2006 at 19:45
A friend of mine did Maths for his BSc, then some computer-science degree for a Masters. Then got a job with Sony games! I don't think his "portfolio" can have consisted of much more than his MSc project, but then his job prolly was a specific graduate-recruitment thing.
Agent Monkeysee on 6/12/2006 at 19:55
Like I said it depends on what you're doing and who you apply to. But from everything I've read a "games degree" is worth basically nothing unless you're going into something very specific that there is a need for like texture art or mesh modeling.
If he wants to "program" then he needs to get a damn CS or CE degree.
Renegen on 6/12/2006 at 20:30
Why don't you read websites like Gamasutra, they have an amazing amount of information. Damn I had a great website from a guy working as a video game recruiter who knows what it takes to get in. I also followed the career of this young guy, he should be 20 now that has a degree in like History but is becoming a game designer, he's working on a commercial game already. Basically you'll need to read a lot, make theories, understand games in and out and make connections. Being an artist or part of the entertainment biz is not easy. Yeah I heard knowing coding helps even as a game designer but a full on degree might be painful. I don't think the game design colleges are that bad as they have connections, but like Warren Spector has a degree in Communications, the degree is not everything.
Here's some links I managed to find:
(
http://www.igda.org/breakingin/resource_links.htm)
IDGA has their own forums.
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http://www.gamesindustry.biz/index.php)
(
http://www.gamasutra.com/)
BEAR on 6/12/2006 at 20:47
What you're talking about sounds alot like me. I've got a AAS in programming and Im going on for a BS in CS in the fall of next year (hopefully). I figure, games might be interesting but you never know where you'll end up. If you pick games programming you're going to loose alot of options. A BS in CS will look good to alot of companies and give you some other career options.
SD on 6/12/2006 at 21:05
Quote Posted by BEAR
A BS in CS will look good to alot of companies and give you some other career options.
A BS in CS... will you be qualified to write games for the DS?
BEAR on 6/12/2006 at 22:45
No actually.
