Seeking advice

syrous137 · 02-01-2009, 07:26 PM

Hey everyone,

I am currently a Full Sail student getting a degree in the entertainment business bachelor of science. My overall goal is to become a video game producer but I lack the knowledge on how to get there. I wad debating wether or not I should get my masters in the game design program at Full Sail that helps me manage a group of people making a video game. Also, I was wondering if there is any thing I could do on the side to get my reputation up and get my foot in the door to the video game industry. I know that I can try to get an internship at EA but I don't have the confidence. I personally think that the economy has a major impact on the industry and wouldn't help me at all right now. If you have any advice on what I should do, I would be very thankful for your input.

Thank you,
Marc A. Vitti

yaustar · 02-02-2009, 12:04 AM

Finish the degree.
Try and get an Internship or a job as a programmer regardless of the economic status of the world.
Move sideways/upwards to a producer position.

syrous137 · 02-02-2009, 03:42 AM

If anything I would rather try to avoid becoming a programmer.

Gshonk · 02-02-2009, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syrous137

I wad debating wether or not I should get my masters in the game design program at Full Sail that helps me manage a group of people making a video game.

I am still kind of iffy about this degree, as a FS grad myself I know it will be good at some point but I have a feeling they are still working out the kinks. And "that helps me manage a group of people making a video game." won't really do anything on your resume. I managed 5 different teams while at FS and while this helped when I was looking for a low level position I did apply for an Associate Producers job at a company where I knew the HR person. She said that most places won't accept school leadership for AP jobs. They only want people with experience, be it in QA or any other field.

Quote:

Originally Posted by syrous137

Also, I was wondering if there is any thing I could do on the side to get my reputation up and get my foot in the door to the video game industry.

Website, blog, manage a mod team. There are a ton of things like that you can do to help your reputation.

yaustar · 02-02-2009, 06:44 AM

Oops, I forgo that FS do more then programming degrees nowadays. Not really sure what you can get from an Entertainment Business degree.

You might be lucky and be able to get an Associate Producer's role.

syrous137 · 02-02-2009, 09:08 AM

Well Grant, at time of my graduation I believe the game design master program will be developed. So, I was keeping that as an option.

yaustar · 02-02-2009, 05:58 PM

Why do you think the Game Design masters will help you?

Zooch · 02-02-2009, 06:09 PM

You should start doing more footwork around the internet before you invest another 100k or more in a master's program. Read the main sites that are posted all over this place.

Sloperama, Gamasutra, etc etc etc

Full Sail should have showed you all of this by now but I guess you can't fault an institution for not educating you

/sarcasm

syrous137 · 02-02-2009, 08:12 PM

Well regardless I still need to have business management under my belt and the game design master program gives me experience being a producer.

yaustar · 02-03-2009, 05:37 AM

Interesting. Just took a quick look at the Masters on the FS and the course title is more mis-leading then anything. http://www.fullsail.com/game-design-.../overview.html

It seems to be more about Production then Design. I still have some doubts whether it will help as it doesn't give professional experience but honestly, it doesn't *that* bad.

I do recommend reading Peopleware and Rapid Development as it will cover a fair chunk of what the course teaches you from the course description.