How did you succeed?

[Phlek]

Well it's my junior year in high school and it's time to start looking at colleges. I'm aware of curmans thread that was somewhat like this but I wanted to ask a few more questions. I was curious...how did you all get into your profession? What college did you go to? What courses did you take? How did you finally get your job?

I know of a few schools that have game design majors but I'm not up for moving out of state quite yet. Is it necessary to get an Associates or Bachalors degree to get into the game design industry? Would online college programs suffice as well?

I need a few suggestions so I can start thinking about what I can do, or if I have what it takes to get into this industry.

[-Stratesiz-]

It's about talent and experience. Education is of secondary value.

[Zyn]

It's about talent and experience. Education is of secondary value.

Where I live, it feels like it's the other way around . I have tons of experience but it doesn't show on the paper...

I am going to try to get into a school about game design next year. I applied a year ago, but the examples I included of my work was a rushjob and that caused me to miss that year... but I'LL BE BACK!!!

[kleinluka]

It depends. If you wanna move overseas, degrees are pretty much a necessity for immigration. Most game companies however don't hire people based on what degree they have but on the quality of their work and their experience... hope this helps

[Phlek]

It's about talent and experience. Education is of secondary value.

So could you join a company based only on talent and experience? I'm presuming you'de have to maintain a pretty amazing portfolio to do that.

[-Stratesiz-]

Most of the pros here have just done that.

[Zyn]

You can look at what companies expect from you, like DICE : http://global.dice.se/work/qualifications/

[-Stratesiz-]

Create some quality maps for different engines, join a mod team, learn texturing and modeling. Combine that with talent, the ability to adapt to different situations, teamwork skills and you'll get a job.

[ReNo]

I'm on a games tech course, in my third year, and would say its somewhat pointless for a level designer. Obviously games design related courses are probably more relevant, but I still think you will learn more about level design and related topics through just doing it as opposed to being taught it. In my opinion, if I had NOT come to Uni and had instead been focusing on building a portfolio, I'd probably be a far better level designer and have a better chance of being hired.

As others have said though, if you are moving between continents in particular (eg. Europe to US, or vice versa) a degree is a very useful thing to have. I'd be quite happy to drop my course and look for a job right now, but I think it would be foolish given that I'll get a degree if I stick it for another 6 months, and that will be at least of some use in future years.

[Mojo]

I studied American Studies (History and Culture and the like) during my stay at college and I now work in game design. All through out college I took classes that worked with my major and nothing that really dealt with game design. I took Intro to C++ but that was just not cup of tea and I dropped out of that class (on the last day of class since I had skipped every class since the midterm). But after that I only studied history and really enjoyed it.

During college as well though I constantly mapped. I actually started mapping when first started college. Less than 1 year after I graduated I started in the Game Industry. Basically it doesn't matter whether you get a degree in game design or not. If you know good flow and game design by designing levels yourself, you will have learned more than what they teach you at these "colleges."

[Schmung]

I bunked off throughout school and Uni, have left with a degree of questionable value. Still unemployed, looking at doing tech support monkey work at the moment while I continue to work on mods and stuff in my spare time in an attempt to create a portfolio so I can get into the games industry.

[von*ferret]

i go to school at SCAD for a double major. I'm majorin in both Game design and 3d Animation. I chose to do this because if game design doesn't work out I can fall back on doing animation for film. I can also apply for jobs as a character animator. Game design is more of a little challenge through college. But honestly, if you wnt to get into the industry just go and create some amazing expereiences to show an employee. They'd rather see your work than a line on your resume saying you have a degree. Infact having that line wont get you hired unless you have a portfolio.

[Taylor]

Pointless post deleted.

Also: If it all goes wrong there's always depression to keep you company when you don't even get a response.

Ho-fucking-hum.

[Phlek]

Thanks a lot for the insight people. So my best bet will probably be to work up my skills in the next few years, as Strat had suggested, and see what happens. Then maybe go to college for something that I can fall back on if I don't make it in the game industry?

[Mazy]

no real education wutsoevr

but wut stratty said, but also wut luka said