Searching for Clarity

[sirerr]

Hi, I've come to this forum to get some clarity.

First I'll give you guys some history about myself.

At the end of high school I didn't know what I wanted to do. I kinda felt like I knew I wanted to go to a school for animation and game design but I didn't know where to go or start, so I decided to go to a community college in KY and with the help of my father, I got an associates degree in computer science. After I graduated from there, I went to EKU for about a year and a half. There I meet people that had decided to do what I should have done. Watching them work on their skills encouraged me to as well. They got me into animation and design using Blender. I continued my education in programming and we almost made a game together. When I was doing all that, I was happy. I knew that I had found something I liked, that I would love to have a career at.

I have some knowledge of programming. I have some self taught knowledge of 3D animation. My questions are....

What is more important, the piece of paper that says you have a degree in some part of Game Design or becoming a hobbyist? What are employers looking for? Also, what has greater pull, online or classroom degrees? Is the portfolio the key to getting in?

I am glad I joined this forum, I appreciate any help at all

[tsloper]

Originally Posted by sirerr

1. What is more important, the piece of paper that says you have a degree in some part of Game Design or becoming a hobbyist?
2. What are employers looking for?
3. Also, what has greater pull, online or classroom degrees?
4. Is the portfolio the key to getting in?

1. That depends on your goal.
2. Qualified people with talent that's related to the position being offered.
3. Classroom.
4. It's one of them.

Read these:
http://sloperama.com/advice/lesson52.htm
http://www.igda.org/games-game-september-2007
http://sloperama.com/advice/lesson34.htm
http://www.igda.org/games-game-march-2010
http://www.igda.org/games-game-november-2008
http://sloperama.com/advice/lesson24.htm
http://sloperama.com/advice/lesson27.htm
http://sloperama.com/advice/entry65.htm

[Destin Bales]

Hi Sirerr,

Here's some additional information about breaking into the industry that you may find useful:

www.ineedtomakegames.com

Best,

Destin

[sirerr]

Hey guys, I appreciate your response

@ Tsloper - I've started to look at your website. You have given me a lot to think about, gonna work through your articles, thank you sir.