I graduated this year and have always wanted to get a degree in video game design. My father is an electric engineer and told me he would pay for any degree I want as long as it's a science major. but now he's saying that video game design isn't a real major and is refusing to help me unless I change my goals to something more useful.
I'm considering just taking out loans and doing it myself since video games are my passion and I've always wanted to make them... has anyone on /v/ gotten their bachelor's in this? What are your thoughts on it?
It's a degree with an intensely narrow focus. Better to take up a programming course and learn the extras on the side.
>>338370435
Your father seems like a level-headed person who is trying to goad you into taking a worthwhile career path. If you really want to show him up, become and electrician. I make fun of electrical engineers all the time because of how completely useless they are on the job.
>>338370525
I agree with this.
Besides, the video game industry has one of the harshest working environment. Keep you options open.
get a fucking engineering degree, retard
anybody can make video games
>>338370435
Your father is right. Get a degree in CS or engineering.
Can't you just get a computer science degree and apply what you learn to making games? I imagine lf you learn how to program other shit you can program games. Plus you can do other stuff like app development if you can't find a game dev job
I majored in computer science-When someone says they want to major in vidya games it's a lot like trying to talk them off a ledge. Few things: video game degrees are a complete scam. Extremely expensive, low wage with lots of turn over, and you get such a shallow field of knowledge rendering you completely useless. You will be depressed that you wasted your life on such a poor decision.
If you want to make video games, you're going to need to learn how to code and love it. It can be difficult, although it's much more of an art which you'll learn over time. Go go a computer science degree, make something of yourself that you'll actually be proud of.
>>338370525
Fucking this
Learn a practical skill OP. I'm INA. Bullshit program right now which was originally aimed at game design and it's retarded. Every day I wish I was in comp sci or something of the like. I've started learning web development though so at least I have something to fall back on.
>>338371998
>>338372761 here,
This is basically what I do. I have a job at 'mega-corp', and after work I come home and work on my vidya game. I'm shooting for a steam release within a year, and playing on that, I'm gonna try to get into a good English speaking game dev studio (I'm thinking Retro, or possibly Playtonic). It's the way to go, imo.
>>338370435
Your father has nailed it, most Japanese developers never did anything called Video Game design, they de constructed what they needed and had to create the code, having the skill set to be able to learn video game related language later in life is a better pay off, while you currently just focus on expanding your skill set and finding better higher tier employment opportunities.
But what do I know, I'm a NEET. You could always go all in or nothing, sounds like your parents won't kick you out from failed attempt / risk.
After all most young entrepreneurs fuck it up the 1st time, yet reap the big rewards from that experience and 2nd attempt.
learn computer science and then laugh at your dad for wasting his money and make video games
>>338370845
Electricians and electrical engineering are two very different things you stupid retard.
>>338373572
That's because game design courses didn't exist back then.
>>338374915
That's why he's saying he laughs at electrical engineers as an electrician.
Fucking hell is english your second language?
>>338375215
My father designs aircraft and makes at least twice as much as any redneck electrician who thinks he's hot shit for going to trade school because he's too dumb to read a textbook.
>>338370435
If you're really interested and game design and not just programming go for it, but it also depends on the school, most game design programs are scams but there are few out there, like DigiPen in the USA that are totally worth it.
Most advice that you get here is from people who think programming is all you need to make a game (tecnically correct), which is a compeltely narrow view.
My advice? Take some online courses on programming and if you dig it, then its probably better to just take a regular degree like CS, if you dont like it go for game design.
OP you are young you probably will grow out of video games
>>338370435
I find really stupid how people who have not designed a well-known videogame teach how to design videogames
>>338375074
Which shows that they were never needed in the first place.
>>338375336
>Getting this mad
Do a Computer Science degree, you retard.
You can always enter the games industry with a computer science degree.
>>338375336
And how did someone so smart spawn a retard like you?
I have just finished my BSc in Computer Games Technology
>>338370435
Want to be a good game designer?
Go for CompSci.
Make your own videogames in your sparetime.
But you want to be an actual GOOD developer?
Do CompSci.
>>338375565
Game design is a lot different today than it was in 1980s Japan, you fucking idiot.
>>338375920
it really isn't
>>338375336
My daddy is an electrician and he'd beat up your daddy.
>>338375920
Yeah, for example it's a lot fucking worse. Have fun learning about microtransactions, you hook nosed kike.
Making games is only pain. Go and look at AGDG on /vg/ if you don't believe me. It's a collective of the most fucked up people on 4chan.
>>338375963
You're an idiot.
>>338375470
If you were making a living doing nothing while people continuously download a game you made in the past, would you bother trudging to a classroom everyday to teach a bunch of neckbearded failures how to make a computer say "Hello world"?
>>338376074
You sure showed him, kid.
>>338375851
This to be quite honest with you. Your father's trying to help you from making a pants-on-head retarded decision.
Your father is right. Get a fucking clue, faggot
people saying they want to be video gamers are equilvelent to people who say they want to be rappers.
Do you really want to be one of those people?
Stop fucking around and study computer science and then from there you can move into game design. Specialise later you stupid idiot.
Get CS degree and learn the rest by yourself
>>338370435
>Getting a degree in video-game design.
Universities must love naive idiots like you.
>>338370435
If video games are really your passion you would have already started learning programming and started working on your own mini games.
Look at amateur game design general threads on /v/, just about all of them aren't in video game design and yet they pump out fun games while some of them are making games that actually sell a lot.
Having a video game design degree does jack shit, all it is a piece of paper saying OH LOOK AT ME IM THE IDEAS GUY. Get a real degree and focus on games on the side. By the time you finish your real degree, you would have at least have the skills to pump out a few games by then.
Btw look at shit like undertale where the guy has no clue about programming or game design, or notch with his shitty programming and other successes, have you ever heard of a dev that succeeded because they have a video game design degree?
>>338370435
Jelly, You have a good dad. He sees right through your bullshit.
>>338370435
Have a game degree myself
My current boss said he hired me because I have "almost no useful skills" beyond very basic programming knowledge
up to you
>>338376130
I just did that exercise a few months ago, my pride :(
>>338370435
I have a friend studying videogame design and he can't find a goddamn job for his life. Get a programming degree and study videogame design on the side and work on personal projects to make your portfolio grow.
I am aiming towards biomechanics but it's a narrow field and I do not want to be unemployed for life, so I'm studying mechanichal engineering to later specialize on that.
And by the way, big companies hire specialized engineers from different fields to create workgroups. For example, a company will not search for a "videogame engineer", they usually go for a programmer, a 3D modeler and a sound engineer.
>>338370435
>waaah my daddy doesn't want to spend his money a certain way
>>338370435
Don't fucking do it. Jesus Christ man. If you want to learn game design, fine...just don't do it at a college or university. Do it on the side.
If you actually took some time to research the industry you claim to want to pursue, you'll see how shitty the games industry is...Game developers are disposable trash. They're all contract workers. Game publishers are no different from any other consumer packaged goods business. They don't give a shit if the game is good or not, it just needs to be on time and under budget.
Also, you're a fucking retard. You won't become a name brand developer with a decent quality of life.
Assuming that isn't some fishing post
Both you and your father are retarded.
Today uni courses are basically useless. The entire point with them is pretty much to establish connections during your 2nd / 3rd years. It's much better do some quick courses, directly find work and then do additional studying 2-3 years later.
Video Games industry in the west is literally shit. Your choices are:
>Sucking up SJWs and working with indie cunts, because if you don't suck them up theyll lock you out of their circlejerk which is required since "indie publishers" also are involved here
>Wage Slaving at shitty conditions for some studio owned by a megajew corp like Actiblizz, EA or Ubisoft
>Wage Slaving for some other "game developer" that pumps out shovelware for smartphones. (don't even think of trying to start anything on your own, its oversaturated to shit)
It's shit no matter what you do. Better get a job thats passable and do development as a hobby if you want to be a game dev.
t. ex game dev
>>338376718
>ex game dev
damn that sure is encouraging
My opinion, make video games as a hobby. Don't use it as a career path. Computer engineering is close enough to electrical engineering your dad could help teach you while still giving you the option of taking on computer science oriented modules.
>>338376562
>a few months ago
You should be good enough now though to at least make something unique right?
>>338376718
>Today uni courses are basically useless.
t. worthless NEET
>>338376775
yep. At least I didn't fall into the STEM meme. Else you can be daddys boy and either
1.
>go same line of work hope dad can arrange some shit for you when you graduate
2.
>newsline_faggot_commits_suicide_couldn't_find_work_after_graduation_worked_half_year_earning_min_wage_at_work_he_was_overqualified_at.jpg
>>338375336
>designs aircraft
>only makes at least twice as much as any redneck electrician
lmao family, you might want to check up them facts first before you make a bigger joke of yourself
>one chance at life
>spend 4 years and thousands of dollars on a linguistics major
Kill me
You idiot. Listen to your dad, he knows more than you.
Do computer science and use that to make video games. Game design as a degree isn't fit to wipe your ass with.
im about to go into my second semester of community college. is it too late to switch majors from game programming to comp sci?
>>338376978
No ones safe
>>338376718
>Today uni courses are basically useless.
>every decent job on the market requires at the very least a degree
>useless
at least be specific about what kind of degrees are useless
>>338370435
>tfw not american so university is cheap and there's nothing of this loan bullshit going on
>>338377114
>community college
yes, it's already too late for you
>>338377051
Kek, are you that guy who couldn't learn Japanese?
>>338377140
I think the key point in the article here is
>Reading University
come on fa m
I just want to take the chance here to point out that computer science is actually pretty difficult. Reading this thread you get the impression that it's something you can switch to from a full sail game design course but well, that's not quite the case. Computer science involves a fair bit of math and logic if you're taking a decent course where you study computational complexity etc.
It's also way outside the scope of just making games.
>>338370435
your father is a good man, you should listen his ideas
>>338377373
Never heard of it. Must be shit.
>>338377295
No but I did take one year of Japanese for fun.
I wish I either did engineering or just went straight into starting some kind of business or invention right after high school.
>>338376925
For reference, I live in an european shithole.
An engineer needs 4 years to get a title that allows him to get a job, which will probably be around 1500 bucks a month. A two year title (vocational studies? I dunno how you call it) on a specific workplace will net you an equal or higher pay.
>>338370435
OP, just get a real job and do indie dev on the side.
In the current industry there's no way you're going to professionally design games you want to make. You'll be bottom of the ladder until they fire you. It's not the 90's anymore.
With Unity, Unreal and Cry Engine all easily accessible to individuals and art assets able to be acquired all over the internet there's no reason to try go corporate.
I'm a first year bio major at a community college, planning to transfer to uni after next semester, and already found a lab job for the government making decent money. Honestly, as long as you are confident and have social skills and know how to make a good resume, you're set. I know people with absolutely useless majors that got good jobs because they know how to sell themselves.
>>338375679
Pretty much this.
If you're interested in the coding aspect, CS will serve you much better.
You would be able to apply for unrelated jobs and get work experience.
A BS will look much better to many more people than what would likely be considered a BA.
Web development, custom networking solutions, scripting for various applications, etc. would all be accessible.
The only field a game-specific degree is useful or requested by employers is 3D since it has a very specific workflow that those in broadcast media or film wouldn't be used to.
Similar to CS, game-specific 3D is also occasionally requested by marketing and architectural companies for real-time simulation work.
Even then, it comes down to portfolio primarily. The degree just gives you an edge above similarly skilled applicants.
For pure design work, you really need to be in on the ground floor with a new company to get started.
Only once you've shipped a title can you go around looking for design jobs in existing companies, but basically a game design job is nepotism incarnate.
Everyone has "cool ideas." Executing them properly is an entirely different matter.
>>338377140
>He said that he would plod on and keep going
>>338376567
>I am aiming towards biomechanics but it's a narrow field and I do not want to be unemployed for life, so I'm studying mechanichal engineering to later specialize on that.
Smart. My father's in the health industry and I've heard numerous times that companies will hire mechanical engineers and teach them the bio they need to know. It doesn't work the other way around.
>>338377194
You don't seem to understand that these "degrees" nowadays merely means "this person can sort of get their shit together for long enough to get a degree". Past that networking and connections are much more important. Most of the people I know with degrees who's gotten instant employment after graduation did so via their parents connections or by getting scouted by the people which got involved in their graduation work/thesis. I work in superintendent for overseas communication for a pretty big company. I get to hear all sorts of gossip.
One of our recent hires was a guy with doctorate in Chemistry who couldn't find a job related to chemistry at all. Our company fucking deals with electric power supply and transmissions like the HVDC links you pull over the seas when you export power. How much do you think that has to do with fucking chemistry? nada.
>/v/ actually giving good advice
what the fug
This thread is spot on: your father is correct. Don't waste your time in school for something with very little, if any at all, practical skill or demand.
>>338376074
found the dumbass going to game design "school"
>>338370435
>degree in video game design
even getting one in gender studies is less retarded
>>338377960
>You don't seem to understand that these "degrees" nowadays merely means "this person can sort of get their shit together for long enough to get a degree".
I don't dispute this tho, I have been and still am incompetent all my life and still somehow manage to get the minimum prerequisite of a solicitor practicing license here in britbongistan.
Obviously situations will depend on your local employment climate, but the main point is you ain't gonna get hired if you don't even have the minimum of what the employer's listing in their websites.
>One of our recent hires was a guy with doctorate in Chemistry who couldn't find a job related to chemistry at all.
tbqh I have heard this story too many times, historical majors went in to journalism etc. It's not like you are guaranteed to get into a job that you studied a few long hard years for anyways.
>>338377051
At least you finished it
>mfw drop out beginning of senior year because I finally accepted how useless my English major was
>>338377960
In same respect, if you're able to show that you've been working as say, IT, Mechanic, or even Carpenter for over 2 year on your CV then you've proven that you can keep your shit together pretty much as well as the guy getting a uni diploma. The difference is that you can start these after graduating from high school and you'll also EARN MONEY doing this rather than being left with a shitty student load debt. It's also more credible as people in HR know that this is the more sensible choice.
If you want more specialized job with better pay all you need to do is to do some basic courses later, won't take more than 1 year. You can even be doing this while working. Most companies have their own tools and shit which they'll teach their employees.
>>338370435
It's worth it fi yo're willing to work your ass off for 3 years even if your classmates and teachers are shit. No playing games, only making it.
Make sure to pick an uni where teachers are in the industry, that way if they see you working your ass off, they'll pretty much find you a place to be, I did game art and my teachers took care of me with internships and opportunities and interviews at AAA.
>>338370525
no, game design degrees in my uni consist of 2d art, 3d art, engine knowledge, board game design, game design and basic programming, 3rd year you get to choose what you do, many branch out to just do 3d or 2d, others just like make game. Be the best. It won't even be that hard seeing as most likely your classmates will be lazy antisocial retards from /v/ and reddit who expect the degree consists of discussing garbage like zelda and shit.
read books, watch movies, do what your teacher reccomends or mentions in addition of what is required to get a degree and you'll do well.
>>338370435
your father is not wrong
also you don't need a degree in "video game design"
if you want to make video games, take up something that will be useful in game development: programming, 3D modeling, whatever, but something with actual appliction
degree in video game design is liberal arts-tier
Happy to see people at 4chan helping someone with an important problem. Now i know there is still hope in this world.
>>338370435
Art degrees in general are pretty much a waste of time and money. A degree is barely going to make a difference in whatever field you're qualifying for.
>>338378730
Unlike you I'm in the field and I know plenty of designers and 3d and concept artists who are working inna industry with game design degree.
3d artist of routine had a game design degree. Concept artist of nomanssky had game design degree, lots of gamedesigners at naughtdog had a game design degree, most 3d artists at star citizen had game design degrees.
Maybe it's cultural differences in US where everything is becoming more degenerate, but here in UK a game design degree from even a mediocre uni is quite useful. It is only getting a bad rep because approx 90% people think game design consists of discussing their favorite meme game and those 90% drop out quickly when they find out they actually have to work. of the 10% that remains, 5% will coast and never do anything with their degree with their shit portfolios and the final 5% will end up living the dream
>>338378383
>tbqh I have heard this story too many times
You don't seem to understand. We deal with electroengineering here. It's also a very technical job, if someone fucks up here it could results in HUGE expenses when people have to waste working time looking for error caused by the oversight and fuck up the estimated times for milestones in the project. YET we will go ahead and hire someone with a doctorate in chemistry and it still works out (that was 2 years ago, the guy still works with us right now)
It can't even be compared with going from histroy to journalism (both lmao fluff occupations that you could literally bullshit yourself into as long as you suck up to the right person)
>>338370435
Alright you, listen up.
I'm just about to finish my 3rd year in the industry, having landed a job straight out of University, so hopefully you'll take my advice.
Do ---->NOT<---- take a course in Games "Design". These are in all likelyhood a waste of time that will not teach you any tangible skill that can actually be applied in the workplace. There are a few exceptions to this, but on the whole a "Design" degree is going to get your Job-Applications fast tracked to the trash can.
I know a lot of people who did design, and very few of them actually managed to land jobs within the industry, and most of them were after years of searching, whereas most of my programmer friends got jobs within a couple of months.
So on that note, focus on Programming or Art, whichever appeals to you more. These are both assets that studios actively want to recruit (IMO, Programmers more than Artists) and also to some degree have transferable skills that could take you into other industries, should you be unable to get a Job doing games.
So, look at Computer Science, Animation, Digital art etc. Depending on where you live there may be some Colleges/Universities that do tailored "Games Art" and "Games Programming" courses (I did the latter), but always do your research on them before signing up to find out exactly what you're getting in for. (In other words, if the course has a high focus on working with Engines, avoid it. Engines are incredibly easy to pick up if you know how to program properly anyway)
Good luck!
>>338376978
>>newsline_faggot_commits_suicide_couldn't_find_work_after_graduation_worked_half_year_earning_min_wage_at_work_he_was_overqualified_at.jpg
You know, this is why I don't think I'd ever get a job at some place like Disney, because a fuck ton of people try to get in there after they graduate college and Disney doesn't give a fuck. They'll put you in some shitty stock or register job, you'd never be able to do what you want.
Honestly it's a real waste of talent, after my friend got her degree she applied at Disney and did all the training and whatnot and put her at one of the registers at Pirates of the Caribbean. She had French roommates that had been doing the exact same thing for 3 years at Disney and she said fuck it and quit.
>>338370435
Major in computer science or something else that you are slightly interested in/interested in and will earn you 40k+ a year, minor in video game design as you do your major.
>>338370435
>degree in video game design
Holy shit, americlaps are way ahead of the world with creative scams.
>>338370435
Do computer sciene for better jobs and/or use it for video game jobs.
>Used to want nothing more than to work in video games
>The childish gleam from my eyes has all but disappeared and I'm faced with the bitter and cold reality that most people in the game industry are self-entitled fucks who think they're all hot shit, even the lowliest of indie game developers, not to mention it'd riddled with SJW shit everywhere so you'd basically have to put on a mask and pretend you're okay with everything
>Thinking about getting a Marine Biology degree with maybe some photography on the side
>>338378586
I was in a game course and it's nothing like what you said. At my uni there were three course that worked alongside each other for big projects, an art course, a programming course and a design course and there wasn't much overlap.
>>338379219
I do admit I do not have much understanding outside of my own profession but like >>338378515 said, a big company would have the own in-house programs to bring their would-be employees up to speed.
Hell, my father was about to force me into KPMG's accounting conversion program himself because he's tired of me being a NEET 2-3 years back.
Anyone else majoring in criminal justice?
tfw making my dream game and also a porn game
Do something you are reasonably passionate but make sure you've got a couple options for a career path with that skillset.
The paycheck isn't worth it if you are going to hate every second of it. You'll be lucky if you become decent enough to get a job and if you do manage it you've just doomed yourself to a job that you hate for the rest of your days.
I went into animation and have been working in advertising for 3 years solid, my girlfriend did the same and ended up working in video games.
If you do something like video game design remember you aren't just competing with the students you are studying with, only 10% of the class are going to move on to something close to a job.
>>338375992
>>338375336
My daddy would beat the shit out of your dads
>>338380021
Also maybe some horticulture.
>>338375336
Your dad's a pussy, my dad actually built aircrafts and repaired them for the Military.
>>338370435
>degree in video game design
Your dad's right, that's a waste of money.
>>338380021
>>338380785
>>>>/blogshit/
>>338370435
If you really wanna make games go with computer science and then make them in your spare time with the skills you learn in class.
>>338380890
>2016
>Not blogging on /v/
>>338370435
You're better off getting a degree in engineering or computer science. You don't need a degree to design video games. You need programming knowledge. Any faggot idea guy can "design" a game. Its all the real work that takes knowledge and skill. Just learn some code, get a CS degree, get a job in the IT field, and keep your eyes open for game industry jobs. On top of that, you need to build a portfolio of shit you made. If you don't have one of those they won't even look at your application. Get started kiddo.
>>338370525
I agree you should major in something like computer science or software development
I do software development and we do a lot of projects and you are defiantly allowed to do games for the projects.
Also learning more about programming rather than just focusing on games will increase your chances of getting a job.
fuck a science major.
go for a business degree, accounting management or finance.
get a minor in comp sci and buy some programming books
if it's really your passion you'll be able to learn it out of a book just as effectively as going to a class with a tenured professor who doesn't give a shit about you.
get a soulless job in one of those business fields while you refine your skills in programming. Develop an indie game with some of your soulless business pals.
>>338370435
Engineers = make lots of money
Video game designer = struggle to make money
It's like a professional painter vs wanting to be a manga artist.
2 of my friends went to school for video game design. One of them works as a general labourer, the other works for CN rail in the yard.
>>338381667
If you are going to be running your own business and not working for a firm as a CPA, majoring in business or accounting is a waste of time, just take some courses.
>>338382140
what the fuck?
it's not like a professional painter vs wanting to be a manga artist at all.
first of all, that implies a similar skill set between engineering and video game design, and second of all, 'art' is highly subjective and skill doesn't necessarily deem where you will end up.
a better example would be
fuck off back to >>>/reddit/
>>338370435
Is it your passion? Did you ever build your own game in html, flash or unity? Get a proper degree and do the video game thing on the side.
are videogames fun to make
