Which Degree?

1. The 3D visualisation one could also be a good choice if it''s the programming side rather than the use of art packages - good knowledge of the maths behind 3D graphics is a *very* important skill these days. Could also be useful for getting your demo together. CS and Software Engineering are both good choices too. A lot also depends on what you want to specialise in within the games industry; engines, tools, AI, R&D, game logic, audio etc...

2. The average age in the industry in the UK seems to be around 25 to 30 (in my experiences anyway), so you won''t be too old. The main thing is that your skills and talent is up to the required standard - which tends to mean a decent degree AND a decent demo AND lots of enthusiasm AND lots of practice* and if possible some experience of commercial software development (particularly if it''s in the games industry or a related field such as multimedia).

* don''t just assume a degree and demo are enough, you need to actually like playing games and be teaching yourself extra development skills - most companies don''t take on "trainees" in the pure sense - the competition to get into the industry is tough (the company I work for isn''t even recruiting and we get on average 4 CVs a week! - some from highly experienced people with many commercially released games to their credit). It isn''t the "easy" option by a long shot!

--
Simon O''''Connor
Creative Asylum Ltd
www.creative-asylum.com

Software engineering is a course that is designed to teach advanced programming techniques. I would think it most appropriate for a games career since game programming is the most complicated coding that exists!

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Original post by PAK-9
Software engineering is a course that is designed to teach advanced programming techniques. I would think it most appropriate for a games career since game programming is the most complicated coding that exists!

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However, software engineering practice is virtually non-existent in the game programming industry (Kevin Hawk, staff and part owner of GameDev.Net, has done rather extensive research to verify this).

Furthermore, there are forms of programming more "complicated" than game programming - those where errors could imply loss of life or irreperable damage to people (air traffic control software, hard real-time systems in life support...)

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Thanks to Kylotan for the idea!

Hi,
I hold a degree in computer science and my profession is that of a software engineer - although not games. I wished my degree had covered more mathematics than it did as I see countless times in every games programming maths after maths, well for the 3D stuff anyway. My programming skills are strong in C++ and assembler (university taught me good OOP skills), but having just a degree is by no means enough to get your foot in the door in game development companies - you DO need a portfolio of work to prove how good you are and I can''t stress enough that as well as being able to code in C++ use Direct3D/OpenGL, you need an understanding of the math involved in 3D games. I started to code games at a very early age, 13 in 6510 on the commodore 64, my first game was published at the age of 14 and I went on to do many other titles mostly for commodore 64 and commodore amiga before doing my computing degree. What has stopped me progressing further with game development is the math, I am one of those people who likes to understand the math involved than to go ahead and just use it. So, the moral of my whittering ons'' are get your computing degree, make sure it has a good math content and get a good portfolio of work together.

Reg''ds,
Steve

FrgMstr... hmmmm.... You must have been a member of the HardForum. Who were you?

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Original post by PAK-9
...game programming is the most complicated coding that exists!

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I hope you''re joking.

-Former Cadence Employee.

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A master''s degree will increase your average lifetime earnings by much more than one years tuition and one year of lost wages. It makes very sound economic sense by every study I''ve ever seen.

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As a generality, sure - but in this particular industry I''ve been told more than once that 2 years experience is worth more money than a masters - and by that time you should be able to teach yourself faster than anyone restricted, ahem, to the acedemic field. And having a masters reduces your job market because many jobs don''t require it, and will hire someone with just a bs.

Many univeristies in the states (MIT for instance) require two years work experience prior to starting a masters in CS.

Now I''m tentatively planning on getting a masters, but I think I have to give the same recommendation to get out there and get a job first.

Magmai Kai Holmlor

"Oh, like you''ve never written buggy code" - Lee

"What I see is a system that _could do anything - but currently does nothing !" - Anonymous CEO

I know the electrical engineering route isn''t on most peoples'' lists here, but since I went that way, I would like to make a suggestion:
If you feel your current major lacking in programming experience, you should check to see if your school offers electives in embedded systems programming, typically an EE course. When I went through my major and took this course, it started a little more of a beginner level than I''d expect (engineering students are not generally programmers, though most engineers must be..), but by the end you''re programming with real hardware, which is much different than the theoretical stuff you get from other degrees.

I was an electrical engineering/electronics combined major for 3 years, and it''s proven extremely beneficial both in real-world applications and in computer science. Having taken physical electronics courses and learnt how junction diode semiconductors etc work, using SR/D/JK/T flip-flops or designing circuits becomes so much easier. Multidisciplinary education has been a significant boon in my experience.

Furthermore, my college required us to take classes in mechanical engineering (statics, dynamics, engineering drawing), chemical engineering (engineering thermodynamics), computer science (programming I and II [in FORTRAN]), metallurgy/material science (engineering materials). This provides a foundation for so many possible careers. Incidentally, computer engineering majors also took these classes but computer science majors didn''t...

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Thanks to Kylotan for the idea!

Well, I am a Computer Engineering major, but from reading your post FrgMstr21, it looks like Software Engineering is the write choice for you. I must say, though, Maths is extremely important. For instance, many times, you will see Mathematics majors and degree holders get many of the jobs of Computer Scientists. Why? This is due to their incredible ability for formulate and engnieer algorithms. If you are leaning towards CS, know your mathematics. Well. That really goes for everything else. Also, Software Engineering is hot, and computer companies are looking for them. I am a freshman undergrade, but have heard information on how well my universities(Rochester Institute of Technology) Software Engineering undergraduates of summer 2001 did salary wise for their first jobs. The average was near $150,000 to start(plus stock options), and one really blessed person got a blank form from Bill Gates which stated that he should fill in his own salary and stock options. The jobs are out there. This goes for all computing fields.

Edem Attiogbe

I am a computer scince major and a math minor (who just recently kicked math up to major). I realized that I don't have to take everything in 4 years flat. I plan to be there now for about 5 and half years to get the double majors. Because of this I have some more flexiablity on my time to do research and get everything I want out of it. My first two years in college was pretty wasteful (not completely, but some stuff I glossed over) It's now starting to kick in how important it is to me and to a future career.

In terms of which degree is better, the other posts make all the revelvant points. My point is don't limit your education to just 4 years, it will keep expanding, and as Oluseyi said he's taken some courses outside while working in the industry.

Also math is so important. Not just to land a "good" job, but the pratice you get from thinking in that, the more richer your life becomes, and the better equipped you'll be to approach problems.

Pactuul


Edited by - PACTUUL on December 11, 2001 5:26:59 PM

My degree is in Software Engineering. Hindsight is 20/20. I would say in hindsight that only those interested in management should pursue the degree. I don''t mean you want to boss people around and make lots of money. Everyone wants that. Rather I mean you are a natural born leader. People look to you naturally for direction. You bring teams together and make them more productive. Not becaues of the work you do, but in the coordination that you facilitate. When people are all milling around unsure of what to do you are able to identify what THEY should be doing. When everyone charges off following their own little agenda''s you are able to reign them in without a slugfest. If you can do those things then what learn of software engineering will let you do even more. If you don''t have that skill then you are just going to get frustrated and angry at everyone else''s failure to cooperate.

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Original post by FrgMstr21
Hi guys, Im 21 and am in the first year of a computing Degree in the UK. The Degree is a 4 year Sandwich course with a Year in Placement. At the the end of the common first year all students decide whether they want to do a CS , Software engineering, Information systems or 3d Visualisation Degree.

Would i be too old at 25 to get into the games industry?

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Heh. By the sounds of it, you might well be at the same university as me (Trent Uni, Nottingham). Either that, or the universities are standardising their syllabuses. (Syllabi? Hmm.) If so, feel free to contact me directly about the content of the 4 pathways as I am half-way through year 3 and can give you some insight.

And I hope 25 isn''t too old: I''ll be 24 when I finish, and approaching 25 if and when I decide to try and get into the industry.

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