What kind of college?

kapa89 · 01-11-2011, 11:27 PM

I know that in order to get a job in the game industry as a programmer the empoyer FIRST wants to see a good prtfolio and THEN what kind of school you attended. In fact, a good portfolio is being considered A LOT to get a job.

So my question is this: Should i attend a traditional 4-year university and THEN attend to a technical school like Devry or UAT or Westwood JUST to get the knowledge in game programming so i can start building my prtfolio?

OR should i just go straight ahead to a game-specific college?

yaustar · 01-12-2011, 12:49 AM

Or you can just do a traditional 4 year University course and build up your portfolio there.

http://scientificninja.com/advice/on-game-schools

kapa89 · 01-12-2011, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yaustar

Or you can just do a traditional 4 year University course and build up your portfolio there.

http://scientificninja.com/advice/on-game-schools

but i wont get the exprerience and knowledge in game programming in a traditional school right? I mean i do have some experience in C/C++ programming but NOT in game programming. Thats why i was thinking for a technical school afterward...(?)

kbaxter · 01-12-2011, 04:33 AM

You can do that, but it would be much cheaper to pick up the game programming bits on your own in your spare time. It will take some dedication, but it's definitely doable.

tsloper · 01-12-2011, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kapa89

but i wont get the exprerience and knowledge in game programming in a traditional school right?

It'll teach you programming much better than a game school will. Did you read the link Steven gave you? You need to read it. And these too:
http://www.igda.org/games-game-june-2009
http://www.sloperama.com/advice/lesson44.htm
http://www.sloperama.com/advice/lesson25.htm
http://www.gamecareerguide.com/schools/
http://archives.igda.org/breakingin/resources.htm

yaustar · 01-12-2011, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kapa89

but i wont get the exprerience and knowledge in game programming in a traditional school right? I mean i do have some experience in C/C++ programming but NOT in game programming. Thats why i was thinking for a technical school afterward...(?)

Game development IS software development. If you know how to develop software well, you are already in good stead for ANY programming job.

Game Development is just specialist area of software development, using different libraries and with different priorities. And these are things that you can learn in your own time if need be.

There really isn't wrong with your two options, you just need to consider this third one.

elvaldoerr · 01-28-2011, 08:03 PM

programming a special OS and networking several nanobots with suits with electrodes that sense brain waves and muscle contractions???

Musick · 03-07-2011, 09:17 AM

Also just to note there are several well known traditional schools that offer game degrees/concentrations. I'm a student in one such game dev program, the curriculum has a strong base in CS/SE principals as well as the traditional liberal arts/sciences you would get at a 4 year school.

TheeCakee · 03-27-2011, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musick

Also just to note there are several well known traditional schools that offer game degrees/concentrations. I'm a student in one such game dev program, the curriculum has a strong base in CS/SE principals as well as the traditional liberal arts/sciences you would get at a 4 year school.

Yeah that is what I was going to say, look at colleges like...

Drexel
RIT
SMU
Cornell
tons tons more
They have game programming concentration Computer Science degrees or just Game Design minors.