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  • Subject: Game Development College Suggestion And Research
Subject: Game Development College Suggestion And Research

- FSC Nightmare

I have been actively pursuing the game development industry since my 5th grade year. I have been passionate and determined to create and design worlds that someone wants to loose themselves in, someplace where they don't just play the game, they are in the game.

Now, the fatal college decision has crept upon me like an invisible sword elite from Halo CE. I have highly been considering attending a college called "DigiPen Institute of Technology". I have pretty much made my decision to attend this college, however it is very far away and very expensive. I have been reading information about this particular college, and I've found some good and bad things about it.

I have an alternative college choice, a college called "Full Sail". I haven't read too much about this one, however everything that I have read and seen has been great.

If you have any information that you could contribute to these two colleges , or if you have any college suggestion, then please contribute because this is a big decision.

Edit: Planned Majors In Order

Environment Art
Level Design
Concept Art
Programming

Any helpful information is appreciated.

[Edited on 07.29.2011 1:28 AM PDT]

  • 07.29.2011 1:23 AM PDT
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my gt is Godzillla....i just didnt link it properly

if you want to get into the industry its prob best to study something general and then apply it like computer science or fine art

  • 07.29.2011 1:26 AM PDT

- FSC Nightmare


Posted by: ExquisiteDragon
Digipen


Thank you for the input, and you are the second person to say DigiPen, but why DigiPen?

  • 07.29.2011 1:31 AM PDT
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OK, I have some experience in this area, so let me be of service to you.

I worked and travelled for four years after high school before deciding to study Animation at a private college (in Australia). I wanted to be doing something I enjoyed. The cost wasn't an issue for me at the time.

The course was quite average, especially when compared to the price. The tutors were mostly pretty good, but the facilities were lacking and the accelerated nature of the course meant that there was very little time to work on personal projects to improve your skills. The teaching material was behind industry level. Half the subjects were also pretty much unrelated to the degree and only there to fulfill the criteria for a degree.
A lot of people dropped out. Probably 80% of the programmers, 70% of the designers and 60% of the animators had dropped out before graduating.
Upon graduating there was little to no chance of getting a job in the games industry. Most of the jobs people got were as a result of their internship while at uni.
I got a job throught the internship at an architectural visualisation place. Good place but terrible money.
Most of the other graduates did not and still do not have work.

I quit the arch vis place and am now working in television, which is great (but was more of a 'who you know' situation). I'm also working on my own indie game projects.

So, should you study at a private college?

If you've got the self motivation needed to study and work at home, then you can use the internet and books/textbooks to learn everything you would learn at uni and more.
I'm actually teaching myself programming at the moment using online resources and textbooks.
This is cheap and less stressful, but if you're not motivated and good at teaching yourself then you will get nowhere. (me on most days ;)
Uni is good because you have a good support base, deadlines and group projects.

Back before I started I had played with 3D software a little, but really had no idea what I was doing and what to do next, so I feel like I learned a lot from the college that I would have never learned myself, despite the negatives. I also have a good foundation now to continue study in related fields (such as programming and design). There's also the piece of paper, but as for its value I'm still not sure.

I know someone who studied at Full Sail and the last time I spoke to him he was still looking for work.
DigiPen might be great, but all the best things I have heard are about Vancouver Film School.

If you want to get into 3D and want to know what the benchmark is, visit 3D community sites, such as http://www.polycount.com. You will get great feedback, encouragement and inspiration from these communities.

[Edited on 07.29.2011 4:52 AM PDT]

  • 07.29.2011 4:44 AM PDT

- FSC Nightmare


Posted by: ExquisiteDragon
Posted by: FSC Nightmare

Posted by: ExquisiteDragon
Digipen


Thank you for the input, and you are the second person to say DigiPen, but why DigiPen?
They're the DELTA Force of the game design industry...education sector.


That's good, im leaning a little further towards DigiPen now.

  • 07.30.2011 12:48 AM PDT
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I’m drawing circles don’t you know, protect the seed that wants to grow
To a garden, pardon my territory

FullSailUniversity
Bachelor's Degrees
Computer Animation
Creative Writing for Entertainment
Digital Arts & Design
Entertainment Business
Film
Game Art
Game Development
Music Business
Recording Arts
Show Production
Sports Marketing & Media
Web Design & Development

Master's Degrees

Entertainment Business
Game Design

More information on the (INFO PAGE)
Request FREE
Information





[Edited on 07.30.2011 3:40 AM PDT]

  • 07.30.2011 3:28 AM PDT
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I’m drawing circles don’t you know, protect the seed that wants to grow
To a garden, pardon my territory

You're not contributing to the subject and what he is asking for.

  • 07.30.2011 3:41 AM PDT

if(!now){when();}
Bungie Favorite Author : Iris::1
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I attended Digipen back in the late 90's. If you can get accepted, "GO". When I was there, they had the best professors anywhere.

While it may be fun and exciting living in a big new city like Seattle, just remember your there to learn. It won't be easy, but you'll be one of the best when you graduate. (That is if the game industry dosen't head hunt you first...)

  • 07.30.2011 9:50 AM PDT

@JosephBiwald
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Per Audacia Ad Astra

I'm working on applying their soon.
Posted by: FSC Nightmare

Posted by: ExquisiteDragon
Digipen


Thank you for the input, and you are the second person to say DigiPen, but why DigiPen?

  • 07.30.2011 10:04 AM PDT

Go to a state college and get a degree in graphic design, art, or CSE.

  • 07.30.2011 10:28 AM PDT

Digipen is quite literally right next to a Nintendo Building as well (I haven't quite been near that part of town recently but I'm pretty sure it's still there). I bet they open up secret passages in the walls and abduct up and coming game designers in the middle of the night.

  • 07.30.2011 10:31 AM PDT

'Home is behind, The world ahead, And there are many paths to tread, Through shadow, to the edge of night, Until the stars are all alight, Mist and shadow, Cloud and shade, All shall fade, All shall...Fade'
Reiginko

I went to DeVry for Game and Simulation Programming. Honestly it was pretty good, but was still bad. I didn't feel I got much of the help I needed. I know the teachers and stuff were good, but everything was so fast paced I felt like I didn't learn much or wasn't able to learn much.

Aside from that fact, I couldn't totally understand programming. I could watch people do it and find their mistakes, but I couldn't sit down and do it myself.. =/

Either way, sounds like you know what you are doing more likely and sound pretty adamant about doing programming and level design. I wish I knew about the colleges you mentioned though, but I haven't heard of either of them. I might have heard the Name "Full Sail" in passing, but I know nothing of the place.

Best thing I can do is wish you luck and hope you do better then me. The only thing I did like in that college was the level design because I could make my own places and stuff. Really would let my imagination fly.

-Diz

  • 07.30.2011 10:39 AM PDT
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Whoo.

Between Digipen and Full Sail?

Pick Digipen.

I've read a few things online, a few being that the guys that made portal one and the guys who incoporated the goo in portal two were abducted from Digipen and that Valve and other game companies go in there regularly to kidnap designers and such to work on their new games.

The other thing I've read is that Full Sail University doesn't prepare you at all to begin work within the gaming industry as well as many game design programs and that game companies usually don't see them as qualifications, usually getting a degree in computer science or art and such is a much better ... addition, to your resume.

I'm not sure how accurate all those things are, except for some of the Portal guys being taken from Digipen because of their projects, it's just what I've heard.

Also, focus on one field, don't learn everything, specialise.
(Well, you could learn all those things, but if you get a job where only one of them is necessary your other skills will ... "detiriorate", so you'll either have to constantly keep up your skills in your downtime or relearn everything when going for a new position.)


You could also try learning all this stuff at home, buying books, looking up tutorials, etc. But of course that depends on the kind of person you are, if you have trouble making yourself focus on something, if you need to bounce ideas and such off other people to keep working or if you simply need a strict deadline to keep working then you're probably better within a program.

[Edited on 07.30.2011 2:00 PM PDT]

  • 07.30.2011 1:54 PM PDT

Halo3Planet, the place for all things Halo 3..

Need help finding skulls, make sure to go here.

Full Sail is a rip off. Get a degree, not a certificate.

  • 07.30.2011 1:57 PM PDT

I heard full sail professors leave the class room whenever and expect you to teach yourself and do 18 hours a work per day.

Look it up on google.

  • 07.30.2011 2:59 PM PDT
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I’m drawing circles don’t you know, protect the seed that wants to grow
To a garden, pardon my territory


Posted by: roman arrow12
Full Sail is a rip off. Get a degree, not a certificate.

And what makes you think a Bachelor's Degrees is'int a Degree not to mention the Great master degree courses they have there. Not to mention Josh Hamrick was a Grad from FullSail look where he is at working for Bungie.

  • 07.30.2011 3:03 PM PDT

- FSC Nightmare

Hey everyone, I just want to say thank you all very much for all of the support and helpful comments. Most of them are very helpful and will actually be a big impact on what college I make my decision on.

I am swaying towards DigiPen because of many reasons that many of you said. I just want to say thank you for the input and keep contributing information. Everything helps in making a decision, even if it's reinforcing a decision that's already been made.

It's like adding another layer of rock to a rock wall, the wall will just get stronger.

  • 07.30.2011 10:53 PM PDT