games developer??

floodster1 · 14 Apr 2011 at 17:28

i would really love to work in a games development role but frankly have no idea on how to get into this line of work and am looking for some advice in what to do next. really just looking for what qualifications/courses i would need for this.

cheers!

manbearpig · 14 Apr 2011 at 17:31

Propably a computer science degree.

BlackDragon · 14 Apr 2011 at 17:36

You would need to be a good programmer, and you will need to have good knowledge of maths, algorithms, and possibly physics.

I don't think it is something you can just pick up and do. It is a competitive industry and you need to prove you are worth it before anyone will hire you. A degree will help, but you will need a portfolio of some sort to show off your skills.

_Gizka_ · 14 Apr 2011 at 17:38

Really depends what area of games development, I mean you can graduate with a degree in Architecture and land a decent job in games development.

Robbo · 14 Apr 2011 at 17:40

Dream on.

RDM · 14 Apr 2011 at 17:42

manbearpig said:
Propably a computer science degree.

Possibly not, a maths or physics degree may be a better bet or an art degree. Try to avoid Games Development degrees though, most of them are pretty useless. Though I hear that Abertay do a very good one.

Xandos · 14 Apr 2011 at 17:44

As said, what sort of games dev? Many aspects, with many sub-aspects. Programming, 3d modelling/animation, level design, game design, audio, blah blah.

I did a Games Computing (Software Development) degree, and it was a load of cack. Would have been better off not going, aside from the whole social thing of uni. If you are good at a particular part, then you could try going without qualifications, though the sad truth is that you usually need a degree to get past HR, so go for the piece of paper and chase girls around (not that there will be any on a computing course).

Also, the industry is a big pile of exploitative ____ at the moment, and not an industry I'd like to be in. I'm in straight up 3d animation now, and I don't have to do 60 hour weeks for basically no money. (I do 35 hours a week for basically no money haha)...

RomanNose · 14 Apr 2011 at 17:46

Just do maths or physics, it will leave more doors open than Computer science and you probably could get into the games industry with either one.

Azza · 14 Apr 2011 at 18:02

Depends what area you want to work in. My best mate did computer games design at Salford and he now works at Codemasters doing level design, which he what he wanted to do. He has been playing around with level design and stuff a lot before doing the degree though, mainly in unreal ed. I think a few of his mates from uni who were on his course still haven't got jobs in game design.

DailyGeek · 14 Apr 2011 at 18:08

This is flamebait on here so people will tell me i'm a fool but I've fairly recently signed up to do Games development with Train2Game.

If you go and do some research on their forums it's really useful. It's been benchmarked by a couple of Uni's as the equivalent of level 5 (first two years of a degree) and covers C++ programming through 2D and 3D games. It's based around you developing portfolios to take to employers showing ability, and there are work placements being offered to some on the course for experience.

Codemasters have just been offering interviews for those about to graduate from the course and it's backed by TIGA.

I'm part-way through the first section but learnt quite a lot already, and I'm someone that's always struggled with C++ books. Just my 2p.

I'll hand you back to people to slate me without knowing anything about it

Fenris · 14 Apr 2011 at 18:10

Many Uni's are now doing specific games design degrees, from Programming to Games Science/Technology, they have moved on a lot, so ignore the people saying they are rubbish.

Azza · 14 Apr 2011 at 18:12

How much is that costing you DailyGeek?

DailyGeek · 14 Apr 2011 at 18:20

Azza said:
How much is that costing you DailyGeek?

It's (i think roughly) £4960 all together. £135 a month for three years, interest free.

Sounds a lot, but compared to Uni it's pretty cheap and at 28 I'm in no position to be jacking in work to go to Uni, so for me it was a good choice

Souleh · 14 Apr 2011 at 19:02

I wouldnt rate a game design degree tbh.

Get a comp sci / Soft eng. degree and get into the game development scene..

Most get recruited via mod teams etc anywho

Skillmister · 14 Apr 2011 at 19:25

Souleh said:
I wouldnt rate a game design degree tbh.

Get a comp sci / Soft eng. degree and get into the game development scene..

Most get recruited via mod teams etc anywho

It depends what you want to do. I'm doing a game design degree at the moment and while some modules are usless to me it still gives a wider view of what is available. It's also a good resource for help/advice on any work ive done as many of the lecturers have worked in the industry at some point.

However a degree doesnt seem to be necessary if you want to get into the art side, a strong portolio is a strong portfolio with or without a degree and at the end of the day its your ability they want.

JamesU2005 · 14 Apr 2011 at 19:26

Maths, maths and more maths!

Burnsy2023 · 14 Apr 2011 at 19:29

RDM said:
Try to avoid Games Development degrees though, most of them are pretty useless. Though I hear that Abertay do a very good one.

One of my friends did a games design course at Southampton Solent University. He specialised in 3D modelling and has worked for EA, Ubisoft and now works for Jagex.

RDM · 14 Apr 2011 at 19:31

Burnsy2023 said:
One of my friends did a games design course at Southampton Solent University. He specialised in 3D modelling and has worked for EA, Ubisoft and now works for Jagex.

I did say most rather than all.

Was just something I was reading the other day, doing an IT degree so trying to keep up with developments in the industry, and basically the games industry was complaining about the woeful state of Games degrees and would prefer Maths, Science and Arts graduates on the whole. There are some very good games degrees about, but most seem to be a bit rubbish.

_Gizka_ · 14 Apr 2011 at 19:39

Burnsy2023 said:
One of my friends did a games design course at Southampton Solent University. He specialised in 3D modelling and has worked for EA, Ubisoft and now works for Jagex.

What does 3D modelling for games actually entail? I assume you have to be a decent programmer and know something about maths and the like, or is it not explicitly required?

floodster1 · 14 Apr 2011 at 19:44

like dailygeek ive been looking at the train2game course as im 24 and cant be not working at all ive fooled around with programming and have A-level maths and Physics but from whats been said im going to probably need a degree of some sort to even get thruogh the door.