Gamedevelopment/Design job advice

[Mercesa]

Dear escapist, I almost never post in this forum but I am struck between two sides.


I am accepted on a school for gamedevelopment education.
The education teaches* me programming, making idea's etc. Implenting them.

But my biggest fear is. Even though I am learning programming etc. Could I still become a game designer even though i'm not choosing gamedesign on that school? Because that involves painting, drawing etc. But i'd rather be a more technical designer. I rather be a crossover between developer and designer. Would that be a plausible thing in this industry?


* Made a bit of grammar/word error.

 

[burningdragoon]

Okay, tip #1 (and I apologize if English isn't your main language) but if you want to be a "designer" of anything, you need to be able to speak and write very well and clearly. Which means at least proof-read your post. And don't say things like

The education learns me programming, making idea's etc. Implenting them.

I get(/assume) that this is supposed to be you being fun and silly, but still, this goes with the whole speaking/expressing yourself clearly.

Tip #2: Generally speaking, I wouldn't worry too much about what you are specifically studying since at the very least, you can only learn so much from school and the rest (assuming you actually get into the industry, or any industry really) than you'll learn a lot along the way from actual experience.

Tip #3 go watch the two Extra Credits episodes on this. >.>

 

[Proteus214]

You most certainly can do something like that. It's not entirely easy, but it is possible. Go for a degree in something technical like Software Engineering or Computer Science and at some point see if you can do a minor or concentration (or something equivalent) in Game Design. This way you have a solid background in the tech world which is what is required to be a technical designer.

I'm kind of operating under the assumption that by "technical designer" you are shooting for working as a software engineer that mostly works with games, which is why you're going to want as good of a tech education as you can get. Over the next few years as you take classes, do everything you can on the side to learn about graphical programming and game engine architecture. This way you can learn to apply those technical concepts to actual game ideas. You can even start up your own independent project to just see what it is you can do. Make a tech demo or level editor of some sort. Something that you can use to showcase your skill as a software architect with a mind for games and game development.

Best case scenario: you get the job you've always wanted.
Worst case scenario: you don't get a games job, but you still have a set of skills that are very desirable in other industries. Plus, you can still work on game projects independently if you want to.

 

[Chemical Alia]

No one in the game industry cares what you majored in, or if you have a degree. If you can build a portfolio that shows off the skills you need to compete with other professionals and some creativity that sets you apart, that is all you really need.

 

[ThriKreen]

But my biggest fear is. Even though I am learning programming etc. Could I still become a game designer even though i'm not choosing gamedesign on that school? Because that involves painting, drawing etc. But i'd rather be a more technical designer. I rather be a crossover between developer and designer. Would that be a plausible thing in this industry?

Game development is a collaborative effort, and even if you want to be the one that calls the shots (how the combat system works, how the levels and missions are, what the game is about), you still have to start off in an entry level position of some sort and work your way up, to gain experience in the game dev process itself, how the studio works, how to flesh out your design doc and keep good ideas and trash bad ones.

But the most important of all is the third step from this post:

The education teaches* me programming, making idea's etc. Implenting them.

Don't stop ever doing that step. Ideas are a dime a dozen, anyone can get ideas. Implementing them is a whole other ballgame, and experience gained from that is invaluable - like sometimes you'd discover that two good features are mutually exclusive upon implementation and you have to then decide which one to keep. Or a great idea just isn't possible with the engine you're using, or doesn't fit in the theme of the game's concept.

As stated, your portfolio, what you've done prior to applying at a studio, means more than any degree or school. It shows not only can you get ideas, but also work and see the idea to it's end and finish the job.