Game Design Career

[nikobellick]

My question is simple and clear.----
I want to start my career as a level designer because direct game designer post is not possible. I have just completed my high school .

I don't think there is a need to cry and show my passion for games and write a whole page essay, because this is a place for people like me.

I want to ask that should i go for a Traditional CS Bachelor Degree or should i go for specific game design degree such as Digipen institute of technology ( BS in Game design).



Please Advice me.

[kbaxter]

If you don't enjoy programming, I can pretty much guarantee you will be unhappy and do poorly in a CS degree. On the other hand, "game design" degrees have very limited scope and little applicability in other fields, so it can be a risky choice.

Make sure you stay open to other options. You can wind up as a game designer after studying pretty much any major, so if there's anything else you think you would enjoy, you may want to consider majoring in that. Creative writing? Architecture? Mythology? These are all directly applicable to game design and level design, but pretty much any subject is applicable in some way.

You should study whatever you are passionate and excited about studying.

[tsloper]

Originally Posted by nikobellick

1. should i go for a Traditional CS Bachelor Degree or should i go for specific game design degree
2. I want to make it clear that i didn't liked C++
3. I want to start my career as a level designer

1. Neither. Read http://www.sloperama.com/advice/lesson52.htm and http://www.sloperama.com/advice/designprep.htm and http://www.sloperama.com/advice/lesson34.htm and http://www.sloperama.com/advice/m69.htm
2. Then Computer Science is probably not for you.
3. Then make sure your education includes classes in 3D art software, and architecture, and geography (earth science).

[tsloper]

Also read:
http://www.sloperama.com/advice/lesson44.htm
http://www.igda.org/games-game-june-2009

[ryan.george]

Jumping off what Tom said in Lesson #69, UDK is an extremely powerful tool that is considered the 'industry standard' game engine for students to learn. While many development studios use custom game engines UDK is a great place to start.

However, I'm guessing since you've looked into Level Design as a career, you already knew all that though.

Regardless, if you don't have or know what any of this is, here's the link to download the newest iteration of UDK (lucky for us, it's free!):

www.udk.com

When that's all installed and you're wondering what to do thank your lucky stars 3dBuzz put together these wonderful tutorials that cover almost everything a beginner should need

The one's you're looking for are at the bottom of the page in the 3dBuzz Video Tutorial section of the page:

http://udn.epicgames.com/Three/Video...%20Using%20UDK


Hope that helps!

---
ryan.george

[le_nam_16]

You should study whatever you are passionate and excited about studying