Serious Question

1: Lawyers make the world a better place? Since when?
2: It's your life, not his.

About the money, he's partly right. Game developers tend to make a bit less than non-game developers.
But still, if he's worried about the money (and you feel obliged to listen to him), there's plenty of money in computer science in general. Studying that certainly won't hurt. (And yes, can make the world a better place [lol])
It's not like you have to specialize and choose from day 1 that you will only learn about games. CS is a pretty broad field, and you'll learn a ton of stuff that's useful for any kind of programmer, not just in games.

Well I am guessing what I am about to say is probably what you will hear from others here. If want to 'make big bucks' you seriously have the wrong impression on the game industry. If you have a passion for game design it shouldn't matter what other people think. all though the game industry does have its benefits. If you want 'big bucks' chances are you will get it being a lawyer or doctor. Also I like to point out you shouldn't base your career on a 'want' theres all types of things I 'want' to do but theres thing I must to/desire/ am Passionate about doing which are things you should do. As for making the world a better place, it depends on your own view of the world. The world would be a better place if everyone followed their dreams and passions.
what should you say? You should ask yourself if it what YOU really want.

Quote:

computer science is for dorks

Yep, it's full of geeks and nerds! RUN! Or think for yourself.

If you want to do it, do it. Follow your passions.

That's the advice Tom Sloper always hands out, and it's correct.

There's a lot of money in software. Not as much in games so you could not mention that bit. Why don't you find job adverts for programmers and show him the salaries?

I you want to make lots of money study money and business which has a lot more to do with making money than any kind of job. You can be rich and dead broke at the same time. Though my two cents on money as a life's work is its for lame ducks who leach off of others. Not that there is anything wrong with having money but making it your life's mission says something about a person I don't like.

On that note your dad is on to something when he tells you to do something that helps make the world a better place. It says he wants and expects something good from his child. Though I will argue that programing, even some game making can make the world better in some respects. Games can teach and games can entertain which are both important. Will it save lives, probably not.

In the end its your life and you get to decide what you will do with it even though it may tick your parents off. You are going to screw up and someone will be right there to crap all over you, so be ready. Even if you make good choices someone will wish you had done something else and give you a hard time. Also It's not all just about the job. Its about your life as a whole and what you are doing with it. Are you happy? Are people around you better for you being there?

As for being a Doctor don't you dare. If your not interested, if you don't know you want to be one for sure, I don't want you touching me or my family. You have a place you fit in this world where you match just right. Don't go trying to force yourself into places you don't belong. That can have a horrible effect on your life.

BTW Computer Science may be for geeks but its not working at McDonald's. You can make a living at it even if its not "big bucks."

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Original post by iliketomakegames Hello. I am a college freshman. I want to study computer science so I can be a professional game maker and make big bucks. But my Dad says I shouldnt waste my time doing such things, he says computer science is for dorks and there is no money to be made in making video games and that video games don't make the world a better place. He wants me to become a lawyer or a doctor. But I really want to make video games for a living! What should I do? I need to convince him that people who make video games are helpful people to society and that its not a waste of talents. What should I say?!?!??!

if you actually have passion or talent just go into computer science but don't specifically say it for games, database management, software engineering and server administration* are all viable option and actually can net you big bucks, when your done decide what you want to go into

*(the server guru we had to call at the last place i worked for a emergency fix got 100$/hour)

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Original post by iliketomakegames he says computer science is for dorks and there is no money to be made in making video games and that video games don't make the world a better place.

1) I find it funny that any Joe Nobody will readily tell you that there will be more and more computers in the future, but at the same time they assert that there will be less and less of a need for computer science graduates.

If you're a programmer, you are basically among the few on the planet who can make various machines from bulldozers to missile control systems "work".

2) Is contributing in the fields of art and technology worth nothing? For example, some would sculptors and painters don't make the world a better place, but who would want to live in a world without them?

The world keeps spinning because there are people who willfully contribute in different aspects of society. In the end, I am glad that there exist people with varied talents and devotions ... and not everyone of them is a doctor or lawyer.

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Original post by iliketomakegames Hello. I am a college freshman. I want to study computer science so I can be a professional game maker and make big bucks. But my Dad says I shouldnt waste my time doing such things, he says computer science is for dorks and there is no money to be made in making video games and that video games don't make the world a better place. He wants me to become a lawyer or a doctor. But I really want to make video games for a living! What should I do? I need to convince him that people who make video games are helpful people to society and that its not a waste of talents. What should I say?!?!??!

Hit him across the face with one of these. If that doesn't convince him, nothing will. Except maybe getting him addicted to WoW...

ask him this:
"would you want to live in a world with no entertainment?"
while at face value it may seem negligible, but in the grand scheme of things, any form of entertainment has been sought after since the beginning of time. such as painting, plays, various machines made for entertainment, books, oral stories, tv, video games...etc. in my mind taking place in the entertainment world will, in the grand scheme of things, truly mean something.
however besides that point, think for yourself, don't let others decide what "you" want. what good would being a doctor do if you hate your job and life? the overall well being of you throughout your life is more important.

Quote:

Original post by iliketomakegames Hello. I am a college freshman. I want to study computer science so I can be a professional game maker and make big bucks.

there is probably greater ratio of rich people in the world : people in the world, than there are to rich game programmers in the world : game programmers.

that said, if your intention of getting into GP is to make $bling$, i would reconsider. if you want to learn game programming to make a subsistence living, then you will probably arrive at your goal within four years.

most of the freshmen who enter my university in the college of engineering and computer science are typically trying to start making games or have been motivated to pursue computer science due to their game obsessions. from my observations, by the time they exit, they have either A) changed their majors or B) have got internships doing non-game programming.

either way, its your life and you should walk your own path.

furthermore, you should know your father the best and should already know the best way to approach him if you wish to change his decision about something.

either way, i bid you good luck

I don't understand. Your dad suggests law school or medical school, but when you suggest computer science, that's out of the question? CS students are dorks, but the lawyers and doctors out there aren't?


What a dumb way to look at life.

You have to have a bachelor's degree to get into a law/medical program, so you might as well get it in something you enjoy. Besides, you need a science/engineering degree to be a patent attorney and they're the ones that make the big bucks.

My brother’s a doctor, my sister’s an attorney, and I hate Thanksgiving.
-- Ron "Tater Salad" White


If you're choosing your profession to "make big bucks", it's unlikely. If that's what's drawing you to it, then you're unlikely to have the passion to make big bucks at it. I believe this is true of computer science just as much as law and medicine.

As far as helping society, one of the professions I have the most respect for is janitorial work.

Out of curiosity, what is your father's profession..?

You need not convince him of anything, it's your decision, not his. It's not in his permute to approve or disapprove of your career choice, he's just not that important.

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Original post by NerdInHisShoe Out of curiosity, what is your father's profession..? You need not convince him of anything, it's your decision, not his. It's not in his permute to approve or disapprove of your career choice, he's just not that important.

While mostly true, iliketomakegames may have to put himself through school if pops won't put up the cash. Not that this can't be done, it's just something to consider.

as for game maker salaries, professionals in teh business earn over US$150,000
(even more if you sell a lot of copies)

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as for game maker salaries, professionals in teh business earn over US$150,000 (even more if you sell a lot of copies)

That's cute. You're completely incorrect. But still cute.

The latest Game Developer Salary Survery pegged the average, for 1-3 years of experience, for programmers, at $80k. You'll be making quite a bit less than that as a entry level employee.

Sorry to crush your dreams.

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Original post by arcanwarrior as for game maker salaries, professionals a select few in teh business earn over US$150,000

Fixed.

Salary Survey results

Edit: JPetrie... always one step ahead of me... [grin]