TheGreatGodPan on 7/12/2006 at 03:59
By all accounts I've heard, the games industry is the shittiest you can go into if you've got a CS degree. There are hordes of dumb kids who think to themselves "I wanna make VIDEOGAMES!", so high-turn-over companies like EA chuck lots of them into the meat grinder with well-below average (for the degree) pay and lousy hours. Consider getting a normal job but making non-commercial games in your spare time. Most people find pursuing their own ideas more satisfactory than implementing someone else's plan, and it will likely be quite a while before you rise high up enough that you get to provide real input.
On the other hand, I'm not an authority on anything. Go crazy.
aguywhoplaysthief on 7/12/2006 at 04:20
Get the broader degree, because then you can go a number of ways with it later.
Pyrian on 7/12/2006 at 06:02
Get the broader degree so that once the game industry has chewed you up and spat you out, you can get a real job instead of earning jack while working blatantly illegal amounts of unpaid overtime.
Kalit on 7/12/2006 at 14:12
All right, thanks for everyone's input, definately going to go with CS. And yea.. I would never get a job at EA, Eidos, Vivendi, etc.
Thief13x on 8/12/2006 at 23:54
Definatly go with game design and development. If you get a BS in Computer Science you will HAVE to get a masters to become more focused.
BTW I'm Aviation Computer Science, while we're gloating:p
edit - uh oh...maybe I should've read the other posts before posting
*runs*
Aristed on 9/12/2006 at 00:21
Many of you seem to think working in games is terrible. What’s the pay and hours like for a level designer, anyone know? I would have thought they have the most fun, even if they are implementing someone else’s plan. Seems I was under an illusion that its well paid.
Thief13x on 9/12/2006 at 01:22
I don't think it's the pay as much as the job security. Companies are constantly going out of business and I think the pressure to meet deadlines for games is pretty bad. I personally think the game industry desperatly needs somone with some damn originality too.
Mr.Duck on 9/12/2006 at 02:18
Quote Posted by ignatios
Our own Stronts here has a PhD in BS. :cool:
Shit, igs.
Having one is almost obligatory around TTLG.
:cool:
Pyrian on 9/12/2006 at 21:30
Quote Posted by Aristed
Many of you seem to think working in games is terrible. What's the pay and hours like for a level designer, anyone know?
Every level designer I know personally works morning to midnight six days a week. I hardly see them at all, and they can never come to any social events. My understanding is the pay is in the lower 30k range - salaried, so no overtime. And vacations? Don't make me laugh.
Fuck that shit.
Mind you, programmers have it a lot better than level designers, but it's still not even close to what you can get in other sectors.
Aerothorn on 10/12/2006 at 08:44
Mordia (one of Bungie's level designers) told me his paycheck doubled after Microsoft bought Bungie - so he, at least, is making some decent cash:)
