well, i start tommorrow 22nd September, although Lessons dont begin until next week.

For the 1st year i'll be drawing mostly, character design, and animations.

Its not all smooth sailing however.

• My student loan has not arrived and is still being assessed since Hampshire LEA lost it for 3 months.
  
• I didnt get accomodation, since i got my form late due to the incompetence of UCAS. i'm on the waiting list
  
• I have only between £60-£150 to last me until my Natwest overdraft arrives or my loan does.

So i'm having to get up VERY early to catch a bus for 1/2 hour, then get a train for 40 mins, then arrive in Southampton.
I cant go out and socialise with the other freshers as i have no money.

So things arent easy, but damnit, I have a chance to pursue my career now, as much i was fascinated by astrophysics at my last uni, it wasnt a good choice.

So please VIBE for me. This 1st month will be critical.
:downswords::downswords:

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
  do her}
elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

do it do it do it


ruthyyyyyyyyyy

*hugz*

Hey, does this mean you'll finally finish Stargate, and it'll be even better?

It means he'll have no time for it.

Have fun, ruthy, I know you'll make it.

It'll be worth the pain and effort. But just think of all those nice ladies you'll meet!

Hope it works out well :).

Not to rain on your parade, but have you explored the employment opportunities for graduates of such major? As in, salary and demand?

Wow, I sure feel like a jerk being the only person to vote for the last one.

I don't understand this "games design" degree. Someone explain to me how this whole field works. I always though game companies hired people because of specific backgrounds (i.e. programming, graphic design) rather than go after people graduating with "games design". In other words, I always thought such a degree is a "jack-of-all-trades, master of none" sort of thing; something game companies aren't really looking for.

Enlighten me. I mean, I've seen these game design courses offer teaching "game programming in 2 years." How would that be valuable for a game company if they are looking for skilled, competent programmers?

I assume it's like any degree in the arts - lots of useful experience in a given field but not intended to get you a certain job upon graduation.

I'm in Sheffield right now and a lot of the girls aren't much to write home about - but maybe that's just the north.

But, with a, let's say, Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, you have skill toward one general field. If you got a degree of "game design," that could mean a large amount of different grounds from programming, animation, graphic design and even game testing. Unless there are specific categories under game design that you could specify you are experienced in (ie game design: modeling).

Still, if I was a game company, wouldn't I look for someone with a background in fine arts (who maybe have some experience with game industry, or not) to employ rather than someone with an official degree in "game design". And if I needed a programmer, I would look for someone in computer science? I can't help feeling that such a degree is something that popped in recent years to generate interest with individuals in order for them pay tuition.

Maybe I'm just biased because I see those "TRAIN IN GAME DESIGN ARTS AT DeVRY INSTITUTE FOR 2 YEARS" commercials every adevertisement break on TV.

2 people from my computer science course now work for game developers, and I knew a manager at codemasters who was willing to get me an interview. Except I didn't want it. If I choose to one day get into making games it's going to be small indie type stuff.

ECHOMAN: There are a few game design programs that have specific degrees. An example of this would be UAT.

http://www.uat.edu/majors/default.aspx

Echoman, that's what people said about filmmaking in the 60's. The design in game design is what counts - the 4 years of creative energy you put into developing & fleshing out new ideas for interactive entertainment. The games industry today is run like Holywood in the 40's - big studios, work-for-hire talent, boilerplate concepts. If enough people go into the field from an artistic/research perspective, eventually a (serious) independent industry might emerge which will change the way games (including mainstream) are perceived, made and played.

Having said that, most of the 'game design' curriculums suck bad because they are intended to reel in gamer nerds whose motivation consists of 'cool I can make a pokemon TC in college'. The programs lack serious art/design backgrounds and the instructors are underqualified,. 'Interactive media studies' is a much better definition of the field. From my experience degree programs with that as their title are much more interesting and are geared towards creating artists and designers who work with multiple mediums while pushing the boundaries of human/environment interaction.

Personally, I decided to pave my own course to becoming an interactive media artist - I worked in software development and UI design for 6 years and recently started studying animation and filmmaking. I feel these two aspects are equipping me with the knowledge and experience I need.

RIT has a game design program that's supposed to be rather good. I've thought about doing a masters in game design or something, I'm not sure.

solents games design course is joint 1st or 2nd in the country.

The lecturers have strong ties to several companies.
Most final years work for EA/Lionhead in their final years/3rd years.

Its nothing to do with programming, it focuses upon drawing/art, 3d modelling, texturing, animations, stories, and background on the industry.

The course is good, but 3 years of it shall build up a large portfolio. with that, i can do work for films/illustrations/games/media/sales, lots of stuff really.

I have a better chance of a career in this course, Astrophysics meant 3 years of boring lectures and ridiculous maths and a 50% probability of suicide :p

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
  do her}
elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

In my experience loans never come through until the start of University proper.

So... Monday next week?

When my grants & loans were late coming through, I was always able to get a deferment. I'm not sure how your school does things.

There are some bad game design schools out there & there are some good ones. There are also good schools that get a bad rap because of how difficult it is to actually get in to the game design industry. I know 3 people that went to & graduated from Full Sail, which sounds like a good school on paper & sports big name lecturers but none of those guys currently have jobs in the industry. However, maybe they simply don't have what it takes. Often it has more to do with networking than anything anyways. I also know a graduate of UAT who works at a pet store.

I think that the safest bet is to specialize in an area of game design that has real world application (e.g. game programming). If you don't make it in to the game design field, you could still get on somewhere as a programmer.

I never had my fees taken out until a few weeks into the term.

no i rather meant my loan isnt ready, due to the idiots at the SLC local council.

Although i have to prove i suffered depression at my last uni, else i may not get a loan at all this year. It shouldnt be hard to prove, everyone knows i was a right ol emo.

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
  do her}
elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

How many people do you know who've majored in film making that are actually making money in the film industry?

If it helps you build a good portfolio you might be on to something, but it's still going to be you rather than the degree than determines your success. Honestly, though from the work you've done I think this is a pretty good choice for you.

Without researching it much, I believe most successful directors, photographers, editors etc. nowadays have had a formal film education.

hmm, the 7 people who voted for me losing at life, i hereby wish upon you... AIDS

though it serves me right for adding the option

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
  do her}
elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

Good luck down at Solent, I've been past some of the Uni buildings while I've been in southampton.

As far as night life goes there, you have a few options once you get loan.

But we've never even had sexual contact.

hey, i voted good luck with the ladies

you were passed out drunk, i couldnt help myself.

I went to 1st day today with only 1 hr sleep behind me. Not enjoyable.
The classmates are a strange mix of lesbians, black chicks, goths, nerds, and 2 pretty women.

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
  do her}
elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

Congrats are due, of course, but this should have been a public poll. I want you to know what I voted.

And 9 stone white English chaps

Welcome to technology. After programs where there was a 95% male to female ratio, I couldn't take it any longer. Now I'm surrounded by cool, attractive, if sometimes daft/hollow people. Too bad I don't get along with most of them!