Another Level Design

[ChristmasGT]

Hello everyone, I recently graduated from ITT Technical with an Associates Computer Networking Systems degree. Unfortunately my heart has always been in gaming but I always feared my lack of freehand drawing was going to hold me back. After graduation I got I got in touch with a friend that works at a major game company and he gave me a ton of info about where to start and what to do. Initially I had a tough time trying to decide which part of the game industry I wanted to be in the most and about 6 months ago I came to the conclusion of a level design.

I'm a big Left4Dead player since it focuses so much on linear game play and the environment is constantly working against you. My friend suggested that I try learning some basic engines to see how I can get a feel for them, so I started learning hammer awhile ago and recently became unemployed which leads me to putting resume's in and learning as much as I can with the Hammer world editor. I've been getting pretty good with Triggers and Boolean operators trying to make complex elevators and such while also creating different types of objects with brushes and the such. After I get more comfortable with Hammer I plan to start working in UT3 and trying to see how much my experience with Hammer can help me out on that engine.

My main question is i'd love to go to school for this since it's where my heart has always been, there's so much more that I feel I should be learning as far as design placement, portfolio, and all sorts of various other undertakings. I'll have to end up relocating so a school with a dorm campus would be a pretty big plus if not I can find some other way, I'm curious to know as to anyone's helpful advice since I could definitely use it.

So far I've been using self learning, youtube, and going to worldofleveldesign.com for inspiration, thanks guys!

[tsloper]

Originally Posted by ChristmasGT

I'll have to end up relocating so a school with a dorm campus would be a pretty big plus if not I can find some other way, I'm curious to know as to anyone's helpful advice since I could definitely use it.

Is this your question? If it is, could you clarify it?

[ChristmasGT]

Sorry I should have clarified, I am really just looking for people's opinions on schools and if everything that i've been doing so far is heading me in the right direction =D

[tsloper]

Originally Posted by ChristmasGT

I am really just looking for people's opinions on schools

http://www.sloperama.com/advice/lesson25.htm -- How to choose a college/university
http://www.sloperama.com/advice/lesson34.htm -- How to choose a degree
http://www.sloperama.com/advice/lesson44.htm -- Regular college vs. game school
http://www.igda.org/columns/gamesgam...game_Jun09.php -- More about regular college vs. game school
http://www.igda.org/columns/gamesgam...game_Jul09.php -- And still more about regular college vs. game school

[yaustar]

For level design, I am thinking of a degree in 3D Game Art or even Architecture related.

[ndimucci]

Go and get your bachelor's and get it something totally unrelated to level design and/or the game industry, unless it's computer science. Most developers average 5-6 years in the industry before burning out and leaving so it's a good idea to have a degree in something you can fall back on.

In the meantime, build a portfolio in your spare time and make it spectacular. It's best to master one game editor before moving onto the next, so pick one and master it (Hammer and UnrealEd are the two big ones). If you want a more formal education in level design I suggest looking into The Guildhall at SMU for their Master's program.

As you learn a level editor, also think about what makes a game fun. This book ( http://community.hourences.com/bookabout.htm ) is a great way to start thinking about your choices as a designer when you build a map.

Best of luck!

[ChristmasGT]

Thank you guys so very much definitely a huge help!