What should you study if you wanted to work in the games industry?

[Nikita89]

Awfully long title, but it pretty much sums up my question!

I'm going to finish school this year and I'm constantly thinking about which college to go to... My plan is to work in the games industry some day after finishing ^^!

The problem is, that there are soooo many different subjects and degrees to choose from... Of course there are the classics like informatics and design, but what else??

I figured that this would be a good place to ask, given that so many "competent" people are posting around here My local work agency (50 year old lady was supposed to advise me) didn't have a clue what I was talking about ^^

Btw, I'm from Germany, so go easy on the typos

 

[gigastrike]

I think you want programming.

 

[Kaertserif]

Yeah programming is your best bet.
also it works in you favour for finding jobs in general as usually theres always someone who wants something programmed, be it games or not

 

[Hawgh]

a datalogy degree is a decent place to start, it contains a good deal of programming & the sort.
You can also supplement it with a dedicated two-year candidate in game programming.

At least, that's how you could do it in Denmark, dunno whether it's the same in neighbouring countries.
But seeing as you're German, it shouldn't be too great a hurdle to skip the border, if it proves impossible to find something good a bit closer to home.

 

[Chekov]

Depends what you want to do in the games industry. Dialogue/story writer, graphics design, programmer and the like. Decide.. then pursue!

Good luck!

 

[blarggles]

If you want to be programming etc. Computer science is usually high up there on the list of degrees most would recommend you with.

Some of the actual gaming degrees aren't worth the paper they are printed on. Some of them though are, basically they are more specialised computer science degrees. As a result, you have a lot of the same classes.

Also I hope you are strong in maths, otherwise you may struggle a bit.

 

[sneakypenguin]

A small word of advice don't do it! Unless you like horrible job security ie working on a project then getting laid off. The market is flooded with people that have programming skills etc so it's gonna be hard to get a job. I personally would get a marketing degree and work that side of the industry. But that's just my opinion and i'm biased towards the business end of things

 

[Nikita89]

Right guys, thanks for your answers!

Depends what you want to do in the games industry. Dialogue/story writer, graphics design, programmer and the like. Decide.. then pursue!

Good luck!

So say... I want to be a story writer... What degree should one get to become that??

Here in Germany there's this thing called "Medieninformatik", obviously a mix betwenn media and informatics ^^! You finish college with a science degree... Do you think it's of any good??

 

[Hawgh]

Right guys, thanks for your answers!

Depends what you want to do in the games industry. Dialogue/story writer, graphics design, programmer and the like. Decide.. then pursue!

Good luck!

So say... I want to be a story writer... What degree should one get to become that??

Here in Germany there's this thing called "Medieninformatik", obviously a mix betwenn media and informatics ^^! You finish college with a science degree... Do you think it's of any good??

dunno what's to do with becoming a writer, a bachelor in a language perhaps? but I think your safest bet there would be to do some actual writing, both to get practice, and to make a bit of a name for yourself.

I think you should be very wary of anything that has media, or information, in it's title. It may be dependent on the individual school. But from what I've experienced, it's not so much about learning to code, as it's about learning to construct effective propaganda(I kid, it's also about learning to speak the tongues of whoever you're addressing, generally because you want to convince them of something, or sell them something).

 

[ffxfriek]

programming and computer science

 

[Nikita89]

dunno what's to do with becoming a writer, a bachelor in a language perhaps? but I think your safest bet there would be to do some actual writing, both to get practice, and to make a bit of a name for yourself.

I think you should be very wary of anything that has media, or information, in it's title. It may be dependent on the individual school. But from what I've experienced, it's not so much about learning to code, as it's about learning to construct effective propaganda(I kid, it's also about learning to speak the tongues of whoever you're addressing, generally because you want to convince them of something, or sell them something).

Sooooo, in a way we're back at marketing, like "sneakypenguin" posted up there

 

[Gxas]

Computer science or software engineering. If you get the right college, game design and development. Its an actual major here at RIT. You can get a masters too.

 

[Syntax Error]

Familiarize yourself with the three major aspects of game creation: Programming, design and narratives (that last one is especially important if you want your games to be viewed as "art" someday).

You need to be good at design to make your game interesting and you'll need the programming chops to make it happen.

But since game development is pretty much a collaborative process, pick one area and excel in that. Being knowledgeable at all three is just a bonus.

****Most info taken from the January 2003 issue of EGM****

 

[Chekov]

So say... I want to be a story writer... What degree should one get to become that??

Here in Germany there's this thing called "Medieninformatik", obviously a mix betwenn media and informatics ^^! You finish college with a science degree... Do you think it's of any good??

Well, something that not really 'teaches' creative writing, but more develops it. Kinda like, literature.

 

[axia777]

It all depends on what you want to do.

- If you want to be a programmer study all the versions of C and get a Computer Science degree, preferably a Bachelors or the equivalent.

- If you are want to be a Game Designer go to one of the top schools for Game Art and Design, like Full Sail, DigiPen, or GNOMON. I personally did not go to any of those and had a good experience at the Portland Art Institute getting a degree in Game Art and Design. Getting hired as a Game Designer right out of college is almost impossible to tell you the truth though.

- If you want to be an artist go get an art degree. You can go two ways with this one. You can go to schools like Full Sail/DigiPen or you can get a fine arts degree. The problem with most fine arts degrees is that you have to study the 3d modeling, texturing, and the like on your own time. So if you do go this route, get a student version of 3D MAX or Maya, ZBrush and Photoshop. To get a job as an artist you still have to have solid foundation art skills as well as the 3d stuff.

Good luck, I wont lie to you, it is a very tough road to travel. But it can be very rewarding. Oh, and get used to the idea of 80 hour work weeks.

 

[NewClassic_v1legacy]

Depends on how you plan on approaching it.

I know BioWare of Texas had a job opening for story-writers (sometime last year), and they required some flavor of English degree (or an equivalent language-arts degree for whatever area you're job-hunting in, I'm sure). So, a literature and/or creative writing centric program would be good for you if writing is your main plan.

An MMO studio locally is looking for Concept Artists, and their criteria are an art degree and a portfolio, just about anything in graphic design would be dead-on for that sort of thing. Depends on what you need, I guess.

Otherwise, there are a lot of facets to gaming. If you're trying to have a hand in the industry, journalism could get you into the sort of testing/review area, and land you a job not too unlike the Escapist's writers.

Or, Comp Sci or programming to have a major hand in gaming, as you'd be in charge of the 1s and 0s involved.

Marketing and Business Math could land you in and amongst the red tape, getting you in the production side of things that aren't in-game centric, but still very much the gaming industry.

Or just Business degree to start up a company or get in the management of an existing one. This one's kinda sketchy, but it's still a possibility. Probably not a lot of in-game work with this option though.

There's a lot you can do, but for writing. Literature or creative writing language-arts classes are your best bet. Get some experience under your belt too, as that always looks good.

 

[HSIAMetalKing]

I frequently read that the gaming industry is the hardest industry to "break in" to. With this in mind, I would recommend a Computer Science degree rather than one of the more specialized "gaming degrees".

 

[axia777]

Networking > Education

Get to know people who are in development houses, go to conventions to schmooze, try to talk to people in person. Along with that:

- Be friendly, not creepy
- Have a GOOD portfolio of whatever you specialize in
- Business / Contact cards
- Formal education is a bonus

This is a good point. Go to the Game Developers Conference in the Bay Area in California and the Game Developers Conference in Austin, Texas. I know I am. I have not made them yet for personal reasons, but I know that I will be at next years Conferences. I heard that France is getting a GDC in Paris. Canada is also got one in Vancouver.

E3 sucks for meeting people just to let you know. All of the people there do not want to think about hiring, because they are having a party and are most likely drunk. That and playing all the newest games. So forget E3, the GDC events are the place to meet people.

 

[Starnerf]

Computer science or software engineering. If you get the right college, game design and development. Its an actual major here at RIT. You can get a masters too.

You're at RIT? I'm at RIT! I'm a 4th year SE.