huddersfield uni (game design) and ucas Q's in general

[Conanius]

and you for quoting it. Clever people.

Well, ibtl I spose.

Thanks to anyone who actually tried to help and not ruin the thread..

It was only 2 simple questions guys.

dunno if you saw it in all the mist, but I did put you a post about staffs uni, take a read

 

[Burned_Alive]

and you for quoting it. Clever people.

Well, ibtl I spose.

Thanks to anyone who actually tried to help and not ruin the thread..

It was only 2 simple questions guys.

I had my input earlier, please make sure you've thoroughly checked out the university and the town before you commit to it, its definitely not all its cracked up to be. The 'off campus' accomodation seems like a good idea to begin with, buts its not.... I really found it a horrible place to live in and the university didn't seem to try and make it a better place for students, societies and whatnot were almost none-existant.

 

[ninja economist]

You made a comment about huddersfield in relation to a grammer nazi/whatever earlier. I was just picking up on that...

Anyway, I simply don't care for a CS degree. Programming, I failed my AS year. I'm on track to fail my a2 year now. I just, dont click with it. Programming has finally just clicked in a broadened ICT gce course, which computing couldn't teach me.

The only "wider" options i have for game design (which as i said allows itself to be broadened later) is an art degree (nono) or a "multimedia" degree, which any 14 yr old in high school kid seems to be able to do just as easily.

The thing is at the end of it all it's still entirely too specialist. I have absolutely no other suggestions.

If you want to do Games Design, by all means, don't let any of us stop you or even influence your decision. It's a lot of money, and finding a job will be very difficult unless the Univ is accredited and affiliated with employers.

Look into the affiliations more, and the potential for placement. If not, look around some more.

 

[Baker]

I know people who study medicine at oxford. They have no life, no friends and dont find any real time for a social life.

I spend my days doing something i enjoy, with a girl i love and i couldnt be happier.

Night

rofl.. I love it when someone brings their girlfriend into the argument of 'my life is better than yours', especially when its a cheesy line like that. Classic.

 

[Andelusion]

In terms of the actual town Huddersfield isn't great but it could be much worse. There isn't that much nightlife and I can imagine it getting boring going to the same places but Leeds is only a 10-15min train ride away.

If they do the course you like then there's no reason to knock it off the table.

 

[Gilly]

Thats a one month suspension. Lets not have any more

 

[Psypher5]

wow, turn around thread.

Conanius @ didnt see that at all earlier I've been talking to a good few people at staffs, they all preach how good it is. My computing teacher mentioned a while ago staffs sucked, but they seemed to have turned about quite well.

Burned_Alive @ Will take this into consideration when I go up there, nice to know what I'm looking for Cheers

ninja economist @ staffs have good ties, Rare (dunoh if you know them, the did donkey kong! and now do motion sensing shiz) have moved everything they do to staffs uni. HUGE corp, may be more of a marketing scheme, hey... it worked


Cheers gilly

 

[ninja economist]

ninja economist @ staffs have good ties, Rare (dunoh if you know them, the did donkey kong! and now do motion sensing shiz) have moved everything they do to staffs uni. HUGE corp, may be more of a marketing scheme, hey... it worked

That's pretty neat, the corp. ties and experience mean a lot in that sector and generally a proven track record is equally as worthwhile as the degree.

Are there professional organizations representing Game Design that you can apply to join/be tested for after the degree? Even if not there are Computer Science accreditations that you could attain with that degree that would go along very well with a degree and would look good to any potential employer.

 

[Conanius]

wow, turn around thread.

Conanius @ didnt see that at all earlier I've been talking to a good few people at staffs, they all preach how good it is. My computing teacher mentioned a while ago staffs sucked, but they seemed to have turned about quite well.

Burned_Alive @ Will take this into consideration when I go up there, nice to know what I'm looking for Cheers

ninja economist @ staffs have good ties, Rare (dunoh if you know them, the did donkey kong! and now do motion sensing shiz) have moved everything they do to staffs uni. HUGE corp, may be more of a marketing scheme, hey... it worked


Cheers gilly

interesting....

Im not sure if they still do it, but Portsmouth offer a comp sci degree with IBM, you work for them when your not studying,s o you do quite well outof it, and theres a good chance of a job at the end of that
failing that, I was offered Navy (oo err sailor) scholarship for at uni, always worth a thought if you want to secure a job at the end of it....

happy to chat on MSN if you wanna talk about staffs uni some more

 

[gord]

ninja economist @ staffs have good ties, Rare (dunoh if you know them, the did donkey kong! and now do motion sensing shiz) have moved everything they do to staffs uni. HUGE corp, may be more of a marketing scheme, hey... it worked

Shiz? Psypher, your not Snoop.. please dont say Shiz. If you want to design computer games it sounds like the perfect degree. Do they do the whole development side (concept to actualisation) or just 3D modelling? I was always interested in being a concept artist, until i found out i could manage the CS boys so i do a degree that gives me that power.

 

[PinkFloyd]

Well this was an interesting read, now here are my views, as someone doing Games Design up at Stafford.

To the rumours of earning £30k, yes that sounds great, if I earn that when I come out of uni I'll be happy, if I don't I'll be happy with that fact I have enjoyed my time here and learnt a lot.

Its an enjoyable course, you get to meet people with similar interests (ie games)
Which is great if that's what you enjoy doing - I know I do. Contrary to what many people might assume, the course is not full of geeks, and the majority of people are just kids up for a laugh who like playing games every now and then. Of course there are people who sit and play Counterstrike 8 hours a day, but even they aren't as bad as they sound (in my experience)

To all those saying its a completely narrow degree. From what I have done so far I can see the course going in different directions, you can go towards the obvious, for example, modelling characters and making maps. To less obvious things such as CGI and motion capture for the film industry.
Just because the course is named "computer games design" doesn't mean that's all its usefull in.
Whilst on this topic, lets point out that the Digital entertainment industry is rapidly increasing in size so there should be many many jobs in this area in the future.

Games Design is very similar to 3D modelling and such, the course in Stafford Uni is based around Maya etc...

Yep, loads of 3d modelling, I'm about to start my second module in using 3dsmax, Maya doesn't come along until next year.

Just for you.

I study Medicine and am very attractive.

You're a burger flipper.

From what I have read you seem to be a typical med student, stuck up your own behind thinking your far more important than anyone else. Please try and be a bit more sensible and actually back up some of your points with something other than an insult?


almost a ninja edit:

Do they do the whole development side (concept to actualisation) or just 3D modelling? I was always interested in being a concept artist

So far in the first semester here we have worked from concept ideas of a level on paper, with a few sketches and a storyline up to a full blown working level for UT2004. As said previously we've worked in 3dsmax for both rendering and using the charactor studio for motion capture.

Got my first lecture for Charactor design tomorrow.




Anyone interested in chatting more about this or looking for more info on the course up at Stafford just gimme a mail or add me on msn

 

[Psypher5]

afaik, from the open day talk i had a while ago, they have about 95% studets who do a sandwich year into a main corp for a year, and a further however many % of those get asked back by the company after the degree is over.


Conanius, I applied to portsmouth too But again the game design. Purly on the prospectus quotes, a few people saying its a good course and needed and fallback choice.


gord, afaik they do 3d modelling from the basics, up to incorperating advanced maya animation, film level skill. (and I always say shiz, just not in a wanabee gansgsta' way)

Cheers pink

 

[Conanius]

Anyone interested in chatting more about this or looking for more info on the course up at Stafford just gimme a mail or add me on msn

how long you been there sorry?

as I said earlier, for me I hated it, but its all about the individual

 

[Conanius]

afaik, from the open day talk i had a while ago, they have about 95% studets who do a sandwich year into a main corp for a year, and a further however many % of those get asked back by the company after the degree is over.


Conanius, I applied to portsmouth too But again the game design. Purly on the prospectus quotes, a few people saying its a good course and needed and fallback choice.


gord, afaik they do 3d modelling from the basics, up to incorperating advanced maya animation, film level skill. (and I always say shiz, just not in a wanabee gansgsta' way)

Cheers pink

fair enough remembering back to when I applied for uni back in 2001 I went for...

Aston - Comp Sci - Didnt accept their offer
UWE - Comp Sci - Oh my god, have you seen this campus?
Greenwich - Internet Tech- Didnt accept their offer
Staffs - Mobile Computing - Accepted, first choice
Staffs - Internet Tech - Accepted, 2nd choice
Portsmouth - Comp Sci with IBM - Didnt accept their offer

In hindsight, I should have gone for the portsmouth degree choice, might have stuck it out...

 

[ninja economist]

From what I have read you seem to be a typical med student, stuck up your own behind thinking your far more important than anyone else. Please try and be a bit more sensible and actually back up some of your points with something other than an insult?

Hey, didn't you see Scuzi already confirmed my hotness?

 

[PinkFloyd]

Hey, didn't you see Scuzi already confirmed my hotness?

There's been one warning already

Gilly

how long you been there sorry?

as I said earlier, for me I hated it, but its all about the individual

Been there since september so far, and the its getting better qhilst I've been here. The course fits exactly what I want, the lecturers are freindly, and its a nice atmosphere.

 

[ninja economist]

Doesn't mean your not up you own arse due to your course mate.

I'm only kidding with you

Also, address me properly.

 

[triggerthat]

I can understand why people might say it is one of those 'not worth the paper it's written'. I suppose people do the course for the wrong reasons. Plus, Blair wants more students on seats.

I am currently studying for a Information Systems degree, MComp. And I have secured a placement at Accenture Technology. Graduate role starts at 25K. Even though I feel that Kingston University is rubblish, am sure you can still get somewhere.

I feel that if you work hard, have the right attitude and some sort of experience, you shouldn't have too much of a problem securing a placement which I feel is the key when studying for a degree. Especially as it can possibly secure you a graduate job. All I can say is, try to avoid Universities that don't offer any sort of work experience.

My girlfriend's sister's husband did a MSc at Imperial and found it abit tough securing a job, because of his lack of experience.

Also, don't use my examples as a proof by contridiction.

 

[sk0r]

I too study Medicine.
It is the greatest education there is known to man, not because it can help better humanity and cure diseases that plague human life.
But simply because I am taking it and i'll be honest, I'm better than you.

 

[Chris1712]

I think anyone going to uni or considering should just go on a course they will enjoy, at a uni they will enjoy. Don't worry too much about what it is (obviously don't do media or fine arts or some crap like that!) but do something you can put up with for 4 years, and want to continue it when you leave.

This time last year i was in the same situation

Computer Systems Engineering - UWE - Where i am now
Computer Science - UWE - To much maths, not enough hardware for my liking

Games Design - Staffs - After going up to stafforshire open day, i just realised i could no way live there! Its a dull ****-hole! Sure UWE has a skanky campus, but jesus i'm only there ~20 hours a week the rest of the time i'm in a buzzing city where theres always something to do!

3d Modelling - Staffs - Again love the idea of the course but decided i wanted to venture into the hardware engineering aspect rather than making shiny things on screens.


As it turns out i had unconditional offers for games design/cse at staffs/uwe respectively. I went for UWE (no doubt all you lot will say this was a bad idea!) because i just don't think i could live in staffs. Its like living in a village!