I was crap at school. I didn't understand the correlation between education and a career, but even if I did all the men around me had manual jobs they hated and actively discouraged me from pursuing. The only exception was my [much] older brother, who had a job in computers. I liked computers, they played games. So I followed in his footsteps, although I was only ever really interested in the games. I tried and failed a BSc in Computer Science and I’ve stumbled through a career in IT ever since.
These days, there are loads of unis offering degrees in games design and games programming. There was nothing like that for me back in 1994 and I still find it incredible that the industry has got to this point. Degrees in gaming are tough though. Games programmers need to understand all things normal apps and database programmers understand, plus a load of very specialist stuff like particle physics, AI, global illumination, all the different console architectures and of course, fun gameplay.
GamesTM recently ran an article on the best unis in the and for gaming qualifications. They picked out:
* Brunel University in West London* Plymouth College of Art and Design
* Trinity College in Dublin
* University of Derby
As an East Midlands boy, it’s great to see on the list, but it’s also a bit galling; the degree I dropped out of in ’95 was at Nottingham Trent Uni.
If you’re not a programmer or designer, there’s plenty of 3D graphics degrees out there too. I believe Bournemouth Uni is particularly good for that stuff. Not that it’ll make things any easier. Not only are 3D apps like Autodesk’s Maya utter beasts, with 18” thick user manuals (no joke), but as graphics advance games artists need to be more technical too.
Still, if you’re a sad old gamer like me, a job in games is a dream come true.
Log in to comment