studing physics

Well physics is becoming the newest thing in video games...

I'm tempted to say somthing about HTML. Sorry. Rate me up.

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Original post by aftermath I'm tempted to say somthing about HTML. Sorry. Rate me up.

Aftermath, you totally deserve a rating of 1000+ but I've already rated you up :(

Anyway lovepc... why do you want a degree in physics?

"Anyway lovepc... why do you want a degree in physics?"
Basically, that's my question! I want to study physics because i really like it, but what could i do with that degree? People tell me that i can do anything with it, but i can't find anything good that brings money. :(

As for a game programmer, why do countries other than the US need programmers? Don't all the countries import their stuff from the basic industry that lives in the US?

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Original post by lovepc "Anyway lovepc... why do you want a degree in physics?" Basically, that's my question! I want to study physics because i really like it, but what could i do with that degree? People tell me that i can do anything with it, but i can't find anything good that brings money. :(

Don't you know you're supposed to be young and idealistic? Change the world!

I have a master's in particle physics, and am working on my PhD. Except for writing down my results, the actual work involved is almost pure programming. I don't know about the lesser branches of physics, but subatmoics is very definitely compatible with programming.

I suppose i should forget about programming if i am going to study physics...

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Original post by Medulla_Oblongata Ofcourse you can combine physics with programming. Take the gaming industry as an example.... Almost any game needs/has physics. You can work for a company that makes physics engines for games or other stuff. Maybe you'll find a job at Havok [grin]

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Original post by King of Men I have a master's in particle physics, and am working on my PhD. Except for writing down my results, the actual work involved is almost pure programming. I don't know about the lesser branches of physics, but subatmoics is very definitely compatible with programming.

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Original post by lovepc I suppose i should forget about programming if i am going to study physics...

...Uh, did you even read what they said?

Sorry yes i read them i just got confused.

But if i am going to study physics, i'll have to learn some programming languages at the same time on my own and that would be very overwhelming :(

And even if i do so, if i don't have a degree in programming how will a company hire me? And is there any good money in the field of programming?

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Original post by lovepc Sorry yes i read them i just got confused. But if i am going to study physics, i'll have to learn some programming languages at the same time on my own and that would be very overwhelming :( And even if i do so, if i don't have a degree in programming how will a company hire me? And is there any good money in the field of programming?

I degree not only teaches you it also proves you can work to deadlines and under pressure which is important, especially in the gaming industry. To prove you are adept (once you are :P) at programming just write a few games, to show off aswell you could incorporate some of your physics skills which is bound to impress, especially more than what the CS graduate going for the same job will be able to produce. I'm in the same position of you remotely, I'm going in for a Maths degree in 1.75 years so I will have to learn programming in my free time, I'll be able to do this though :)

Although I have no experience in the gaming industry I have a feeling game development will become more and more reliant upon physicist to try and emulate the universe within the games (making them as realistic as possible) and then I think games will then require biologists and chemistry graduates for further realisticism, this is only my prediction, one thing is for sure though, a physicist can be useful to game development, depending upon the game.

Go for what you enjoy is what I say :) Remember you will be studying during your degree for four years, make it enjoyable :)

Good Luck
TomX

PS. No matter what your degree is in, I've heard a portfolio is always required to be hired in gamedev.

The degree that you have is generally not nearly as important as whether you have one at all. As TomX says, if you've got a degree, it usually means you went through a process that involved working, meeting deadlines, producing things to specification, etc etc.

Physics is fine. I'm told that Chemistry's also great if you want to understand spherical harmonics. I don't really know what you mean by a degree in 'programming' - you either want Computer Science or Software Engineering. Stay the heck away from a 'programming' course.

you don't have to be too concerned about programming. In any case, you'll be likely to enconter some kind of programming, and learning C/C++ is FAR easier than learning mechanics to the point of being able to right a complete physics engine for a game developer. While learning physics, it's always a kick to see it in action in a game/simulation form, but it should not be too hard to do. Physics and maths translate well into programming forms.

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Original post by oliii you don't have to be too concerned about programming. In any case, you'll be likely to enconter some kind of programming, and learning C/C++ is FAR easier than learning mechanics to the point of being able to right a complete physics engine for a game developer. While learning physics, it's always a kick to see it in action in a game/simulation form, but it should not be too hard to do. Physics and maths translate well into programming forms.

Yes, I believe Maths and Physics is the future of game development (at least I hope too :P), most importantly too what you think you'll enjoy most (which is usually what you're best at), plus if you do Physics and the game industry becomes extinct (by means of law or something else very unlikely) or you decide that you do not like the job you can always fall back (or forward depending on how you interpret the situation) to a more physics based job with a cool sounding name... Aerodynamics Fluids Research, I have no idea what it is or even if it exists but it sounds cool :P

For my situation I get a Maths degree and end up not getting a game development position, for whatever reason, I will probably end up doing Maths research or Cryptography, still interesting to me rather than if I had a CS degree where I'd hope to work on applications programming.

Although I may be a little biast have you ever considered Maths with Physics, although before considering this I would advise asking somebody who's already completed a Physics degree and their interpretation on the complexity of the Maths involved in it (and their level of Maths education, i.e. if they took it for A levels)

Well I think I rammbled on a bit there but good luck again!
TomX

You'll probably get a better paying job with a degree in Physics than a degree in just CS.

I know this may sound silly, but for anyone wanting to do 'Game Physics' a Physics degree is probably not a good approach. When we talk about Physics in the context of games, we really mean 'Dynamics'.

A Physics degree will teach you all about Molecular Physics, Electromagnetism, Quantum Mechanics, Space and Time, and things like that, but very little about game physics as far as I'm aware.

For 'Game Physics', you'd be much better off doing a degree in either Maths, or Mechanical Engineering, as you'll need to learn about Dynamics, Advanced Calculus, Optimisation (Linear, Non-linear equations, LCPs etc), Mathematical Modeling etc.

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Original post by WillC I know this may sound silly, but for anyone wanting to do 'Game Physics' a Physics degree is probably not a good approach. When we talk about Physics in the context of games, we really mean 'Dynamics'.

thank goodness someone finally cleared that up.

Oh thanks for the input everybody.

And something final. Could you tell your opinion on this:
As for a ( game ) programmer, why do countries other than the US need programmers? Don't all the countries import their stuff from the basic industry that lives in the US?


Thank you

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Original post by lovepc Oh thanks for the input everybody. And something final. Could you tell your opinion on this: As for a ( game ) programmer, why do countries other than the US need programmers? Don't all the countries import their stuff from the basic industry that lives in the US? Thank you

There are many non-US game development companies, for example, Jagex, the creator of Runescape is based in England and if I'm not mistaken, Peter Molyneux, one of the worlds most renown game developer is from Ireland. If you're good enough it won't matter where you're from.

learning a programming language is a million times easier than learning physics. Do physics. Learn programming on the side. If your logically minded learning a programming language shouldnt be too overwhelming.