Studying Game Design, where to go?

Jekht

I'll try to keep this brief, because no one likes reading essays.

I've just finished university in the UK, studying animation. The course was a bit rubbish, and despite ending with a decent grade (2/1), I'm not equipped to enter into the games industry at an art role. So I've recently turned my eye to game design, specifically level design, etc.

I'm looking primarily at 1 year courses around the world, and right now looking particularly at VFS. It's a one year course in game design that is supposed to be intensive to the point that you have no other life. I'm fine with this fact as if I have someone pushing me, I can happily crunch down and get the work done. I'm currently working full time doing something almost completely unrelated, but it means that I can fund it almost completely.

Has anyone here been to VFS? I've heard mixed things about it. I've tried asking them to help get me in touch with some alumni or current students but I was offered to talk to someone else instead.

Can anyone recommend a route of study that isn't 3 or more years?

Anyone else in a similar situation where they have high CG skills but not the portfolio, the skills, or the time and so don't know where to begin?

Thanks to anyone that can help!

TheFallOfHenryT

I'm sorry that I can't really help you but I'm in the exact same position. Having just finished my animation degree at Westminster Uni, I don't really have the most organized portfolio yet.

I was late in deciding what other course I should take for the next academic year so instead I'm working on networking and work experience at the moment. Hopefully someone here can help us.

NotYou

VFS is a great school, but I'm not sure it's what I'd recommend to a level designer. I can't really think of anywhere except digipen where a level designer would actually have a chance to do something interesting that they couldn't do in their bedroom. The best level design lessons I ever had were at a game studio doing an unpaid internship. Try and get one of those.

Cultural Geek Girl

Get a copy of Neverwinter nights and fuck around in it. Same thing for any other mainstream game that has a robust level editor. Do some stuff. Did you know Bioware STILL hires level designers based on Neverwinter modules? It's a fact. Oh, and Valve hires entirely based on work you've already done, so if you design some great stuff with their engine you can try for something there.

Otherwise yeah, get an internship if you can. Save money. If you're still young, see if you can get the money/time to study at DigiPen - they're arguably the best, but you need to go full time for four+ years. If you already have a Bachelors, DigiPen does have a non-matriculated program where you can go there and take a few select courses.

amateurhour

I've heard a lot of people in the gaming industry say that they've gotten their jobs through internships and game mods they developed, having never set foot inside a classroom.

Game colleges are expensive, as are art schools. You'd be better off getting a good job and working on your designs on the side and trying to get an internship with your credentials you already have, in my opinion.

zilo

I've worked with people from Digipen and other for-profit schools, their opinions are mixed except when it comes to cost effectiveness- they all say it's more expensive than it's worth.

You're going to want a degree that's more versatile than just game design, trust me. Why not get a better art degree from a traditional program? It sounds like game design is your fallback, which is not a good career strategy.

If all you want to do is work in the industry, get a job in QA and do design work in your free time. Designers and artists get jobs based on portfolios, not degrees.

Jekht

Cheers for the responses. Bit of an update:

I think I'm worried that if I don't go and do a course, I just won't do it. The jobs I have consume time like nothing else. I realise people get jobs from portfolios, not just the degrees, so I'm looking at very specific courses to complement what I don't have. This way I can fully justify leaving my jobs. The degree isn't really the issue, it's what it teaches me and what I build up portfolio wise from it that counts.

I am actively looking at internships and work placements as well and if I get my foot in the door with one I'd back out of my application even if I had put money down, but I want to cover all bases.

Glad to hear someone is in the same situation as me though. I've looked at train2game as well, but as my time at uni wasn't great I was hoping to do an on-site course so I could meet some more people.

To those mentioning digi-pen, I'm having a look at their non-matriculated program - that might be a very good idea! I'd feel kinda sad not to get a piece of paper at the end of it, but like I said, its more about skills. I already have a degree! Also I'm almost 23 and I think that's a bit old to do a 4 year course (plus it ends up being a 6 figure payment for overseas students, which is a risky investment)

Great advice so far! Just trying to figure out now if in the short term I can get a day off work a week to work more dedicatedly towards the portfolio.

amateurhour

Also, nowhere does it say that you can't take the classes and skip the degree if you just want the experience.

A lot of expensive art and design schools offer what they call community classes for pennies on the dollar.

For instance, a local art school here that charges roughly 20 thousand or more a year in books, housing, and tuition offers most of their 101 and 102 level courses to the public for about $180 bucks.

you could take a few of those and get the hands on experience you're looking for, and have something to put on a resume and have a class that will teach you and allow you to look on your portfolio.

Yogo

Hi there!

If you don't mind living in Denmark, taking a semester or a whole MSc, you can take the Media Technology and Games MSc here at the IT-University in Denmark. I am currently enrolled and I'll be taking the Analysis track (3 tracks, Technology, Design, Analysis). I am currently being taught a course called Foundations of Play and Game (academic approach to games and play) and Game Design (how to create games, good design, bad design, work process. We are currently making a group game for our term paper).

I would suggest reading the course webpage for more info.

http://itu.dk/Uddannelser/Kandidat/Medieteknologi-og-spil.aspx?sc_lang=en&contentlang=en

Edit: Ofc you'll have to pay tuition fee since you're a non-Danish citizen. Furthermore, you won't be alienated. We are currently sitting at 50-60% foreign vs. Danish Students, so the course is very multi-cultural and of course in English

Lewisham

Yogo wrote: »

Hi there!

If you don't mind living in Denmark, taking a semester or a whole MSc, you can take the Media Technology and Games MSc here at the IT-University in Denmark. I am currently enrolled and I'll be taking the Analysis track (3 tracks, Technology, Design, Analysis). I am currently being taught a course called Foundations of Play and Game (academic approach to games and play) and Game Design (how to create games, good design, bad design, work process. We are currently making a group game for our term paper).

ITU is the premier games uni in Europe. If you're going to do it, and really do it, it's the right place to be. I'd recommend here in California, but it will be more expensive than ITU I expect. ITU and UCSC are really closely tied in the games departments, a member of my lab is off to teach there next year, and we got a guy who was teaching there teaching here now

Jekht

Yogo wrote: »

If you don't mind living in Denmark, taking a semester or a whole MSc, you can take the Media Technology and Games MSc here at the IT-University in Denmark.

It sounds like another decent possibility, but I did laugh when I read their 'Games and projects' section. The university responsible for Dark Room Sex Game?!? SOLD.