College for Video Game Design

[Emilin_Rose]

Well, i'm looking into a few. I'm really wanting to learn to do the art and models, but, I also want to learn the coding. The way i see it, if i learn how to do both the artistic and programming parts of it, even if i don't get on at a company, i can still practice and make a game on my own.

Game design has always been my dream, but i'm looking for a way to do college for it, and everytime i check one out, its like there a wall between the programming and art degrees that's made of battery acid.

So far the University of Pittsburgh looks promising, but i want to look for other options.

Does anyone here know of any schools that might be good for this, or have any advice?

I'd prefer to do my schooling online, so i don't have to leave home, but if i have to move into a dorm for college then so be it.

Thanks in advance, guys.

 

[Emilin_Rose]

No help here? (if i'm not allowed to bring this topic up i apologize, i just really need the information.)

 

[MassiveGeek]

Well, I cant help you with schools in your area, becuse I live in sweden.
However, here in sweden there is a school just outside the east coast on an island called Gotland, that has a college/university for game design.

Im just starting High School, but when Im done, in 3 years, Im applying for that school.

Thats all I know about game design colleges.

Sorry.

 

[Emilin_Rose]

Yeah, i'm in the northwestern united states, so i don't think i could manage that one. Thanks anyway though Moodles.

 

[The Salty Vulcan]

Pittsburg? Thats so far away

I dont even know if there any colleges for game design in Australia.

 

[Emilin_Rose]

I know, but its for my education.

Huh, I don't know either. Thanks though Quantum.

 

[errorfied]

My advice would be to just go to a really good place to study computer science, then take as many optional modules in the stuff you want to learn, i.e. artificial intelligence, graphical computing etc.

 

[scotth266]

I go to RPI in Troy, New York. It's a tech-based college, and it DOES have a degree in Game Design, with several concentrations. Two of them are Arts and Computer Science, however I'm pretty sure that you get two classes in CompSci regardless of which one you pick. There's also a Game Design club, which holds Game Jams that get everyone together for a quick game-making contest every once in a while. In it you can gain experience with the various fields.

*shameless pimping of my college of choice*

 

[Katana314]

I go to RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology in New York) for my Game Design program. I know they offer some online courses, but I'm not entirely sure if this course is included. I know if you're in the Northwest, Digipen would be close to you. For reference, it was Digipen grads that made Narbacular Drop, the spiritual prequel to Portal.

 

[rabidmidget]

i am also planning to do a degree in game design but i live in australia so i can't really help. Although the university im planning on attending is called qantm and i'm pretty sure it's worldwide

 

[Reep]

Pittsburg? Thats so far away

I dont even know if there any colleges for game design in Australia.

Academy of Interactive Entertainment, theres a branch in Sydney and i think theres one in Melbourne.

Hopefully that's where i'm going after high school

 

[Robert Yang]

Don't go to school for game design - study a related subject instead, like Biology or English or Art Practice or Architecture or Computer Science. Plus, that way, you'll have a fallback degree to use in case your dream career doesn't work out - which will probably happen.

And unless we're talking about USC / Digipen / Guildhall / the prestigious ones, the instructors' expertise simply won't be there. Schools hire based on credentials and degrees and published research; the industry hires based on portfolio and experience... your professor will likely be a burned out film industry guy, or someone who works with "New Media" and not really games.

 

[un533n]

University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. That's where I'll be.. this time next year.

 

[jasoncyrus]

If you can afford it, head over to Scotland and study at Abertay.

A) its one of the best computer games development/arts schools in the world.

B) A LOT of BIG name games companies have originated from there. Rockstar, Ruffian games and Real time worlds just off the top of my head.

 

[Emilin_Rose]

If you can afford it, head over to Scotland and study at Abertay.

A) its one of the best computer games development/arts schools in the world.

B) A LOT of BIG name games companies have originated from there. Rockstar, Ruffian games and Real time worlds just off the top of my head.

If i could i would, but no scholarships i've won for next year are valid outside the us.

I go to RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology in New York) for my Game Design program. I know they offer some online courses, but I'm not entirely sure if this course is included. I know if you're in the Northwest, Digipen would be close to you. For reference, it was Digipen grads that made Narbacular Drop, the spiritual prequel to Portal.

I've looked into digipen, but i'd have to take a bachelors in programming and an associate in art design, which would take 5 years. I want to see if i can get it done faster than that.

I go to RPI in Troy, New York. It's a tech-based college, and it DOES have a degree in Game Design, with several concentrations. Two of them are Arts and Computer Science, however I'm pretty sure that you get two classes in CompSci regardless of which one you pick. There's also a Game Design club, which holds Game Jams that get everyone together for a quick game-making contest every once in a while. In it you can gain experience with the various fields.

*shameless pimping of my college of choice*

Sounds like fun, i'll look into it.

Don't go to school for game design - study a related subject instead, like Biology or English or Art Practice or Architecture or Computer Science. Plus, that way, you'll have a fallback degree to use in case your dream career doesn't work out - which will probably happen.

And unless we're talking about USC / Digipen / Guildhall / the prestigious ones, the instructors' expertise simply won't be there. Schools hire based on credentials and degrees and published research; the industry hires based on portfolio and experience... your professor will likely be a burned out film industry guy, or someone who works with "New Media" and not really games.

Where does biology fit into video game design? And thanks for the advice, but i'd rather have the education for my dream career and end up a secretary, then to have the education to program microsoft's latest OS and then have a chance to design games only to come up short.

 

[Flying-Emu]

You're in the Northwest US? I hear that the University of Washington State has a halfway decent Video Game Design course.

 

[Finnboghi]

I'm currently an undergrad in computer science with a concentration in game design at the University of Calgary.

Trust me - the only possible way you can do programming and graphics is if you take a double major, which can take as many as 6 years.

Now, if you wanted to do programming for graphics (as in renderers and such), you can do that. It's actually really interesting.

However, for sheer hirability, I would say get a BSc (DO NOT get a BA) in Com Sci, and build your portfolio of both graphics and games yourself.

If you've got a degree and a (very) solid portfolio, you will literally get calls from companies offering you a job without applying.

The field loves people who have the skills and the experience.

 

[jasoncyrus]

If you can afford it, head over to Scotland and study at Abertay.

A) its one of the best computer games development/arts schools in the world.

B) A LOT of BIG name games companies have originated from there. Rockstar, Ruffian games and Real time worlds just off the top of my head.

If i could i would, but no scholarships i've won for next year are valid outside the us.

Ah thats harsh dude, sorry to hear that.

 

[Robert Yang]

Where does biology fit into video game design? And thanks for the advice, but i'd rather have the education for my dream career and end up a secretary, then to have the education to program microsoft's latest OS and then have a chance to design games only to come up short.

The purpose of college is to make you a well-rounded person who can function in society and teach you how to think for yourself, not to deposit some knowledge in your head that you can easily glean from a book.

How often does a dream work out? (Not often.) Are you going to change, as a person, within the next few years? (Yes.) Okay, so have a back-up plan and be flexible - that is, be an adult.

 

[Proteus214]

I go to RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology in New York) for my Game Design program. I know they offer some online courses, but I'm not entirely sure if this course is included. I know if you're in the Northwest, Digipen would be close to you. For reference, it was Digipen grads that made Narbacular Drop, the spiritual prequel to Portal.

I went through much of the game design sequence at RIT (I was a Computer Science major). It's actually pretty well done. Just a heads up though, more than half the last freshman class of Game Design and Development majors dropped out. It's hard as fuck, and they were not ready for the challenge. If you want I could point you to one of the professors that run the program who could fill you in on what it's all about.