Boston student looking for videogame school.

Adversary

I live in Northern Massachusettes, and want to go to school to develop games. I'm not exactly made of money, so probably can't afford a private school, but want a degree from somewhere a little more reputable than DeVry. Any advice from people in the industry, or in a school?

Scosglen

What exactly do you want to do? "Making Videogames" is a pretty complicated process. Unless your answer to that question somehow involves programming or art then you might be deluding yourself.

Adversary

Really? I thought that if I left my videogame diploma under my pillow at night the videogame fairy would come and leave a AAA title under there because I'm a good Christian...

Programming.

sirSolarius

Programming what?

There's nothing about video games that makes them different from other programs. If you want to be a game programmer, you're either working on an engine (fantastic work, but you'd better be a hell of a math wiz) or writing game logic (mostly AI work, but it's pretty tough stuff).

Either way, you need a formal degree in computer science. My friend interned for Treyarch last summer and worked on Call of Duty 3... he said that the game programmers there were really smart, and said that even with a CS degree from Stanford, the work was really pushing him to his max.

Have you thought about doing something like art?

aesir

you dont want anything video game based cause it will probably be a cheap piece of shit.

Just find the best comp sci program you can afford.

Adversary

Most of the schools in this area that have really bitchin' CS programs (MIT, Northeastern, maybe Harvard) are too expensive: usually in the 40-50k range. That's yearly, for off campus students. Also, I'm 23, my Dad makes a 6 figure salary, and my GPA is an unimpressive 3.2, so I'm not eligible for ANY federal aid (and no, Daddy won't pay for jack shit). I've been looking into a branch of SMU called The Guild Hall which specializes in game design and has a master's program at about 50k for 7 terms (pretty sweet deal if you ask me). You've all probably heard of it (there's a project called "Eclipse" that some of their students are developing for a thesis to be released via Steam), but it's in Texas... And I REALLY don't want to move to Texas. USC and UCLA also have game majors, but having grown up in SoCal, I know for a fact that I don't want to live there either. Anyway, I know that going to a school for game design will probably make me a niche programmer, but it's really what I want to do. I think I would therefore benefit from a videogame focused program that teaches me not only about generic programming, but about the industry, game theory (yes, I know it's just math), and helps me network. I've already made my decision, so unless you have information regarding respectable schools in my area that won't cost me my first born and have at least a course or two geared towards game design, please don't bother posting. I may end up just going to UMass Boston to get a CS degree, but I'd like to know what options are available before I have to settle. Thank you.

Captain Cthulhu

Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont actually has a really good game dev. program, but its almost always full so if you want to go next year I'd say apply now.

Adversary

Thank you, that's exactly what I'm talking about. Do you know if the tuition figure on their site is per term or per year?

greynin

UMass Amherst has a very good CS program. It's actually a pretty great school if you're not looking for Ivy Leagues (which it seems you aren't). You're a Massachusetts resident, so the tuition will be fairly cheap. It's also in one of the most unique places in the country due to the area having 5 colleges.

kaliyama

Er, there's no point in not applying to schools with expensive sticker prices, like H/Y/MIT, whatever. I went to a private school that cost $45k a year and I only paid 5k for the 4 years and took 12k in low-interest and interest-free loans.