Online Courses - HELP!

[Rick_D]

So I want to take a few courses relating to the game industry, widen my horizons and learn more about the tools I use and ones I need to use.

I was checking out this site: http://www.qantm.com/courses.php

After sending them an email there's a couple of good ones, mainly related to 3d modelling with some other things thrown in there for good measure (animation, texturing), all part of a diploma in multimedia. The price is around $6000 (Australian dollars, I presume) which is about 2,500 pounds.

It doesn't sound too bad to me, and a friend of mine is going to one of their colleges in Germany, and has only good things to say about them.

Does anyone have experience in this? Can you reccomend any places (online would be best as I'm not the richest person in the world), I need a course that will appeal to employers and will also teach me enough to make me useful to those employers, any and all help in this will be most appreciate and maybe I'll even blow you an electronic kiss.

Thanks

[PS_Mouse]

I'm actually doing a Bachelor of Interactive Entertainment with qantm at the moment. It gets the thumbs up from me.

[Section_Ei8ht]

Depends on the field. If its an art thing, you should be fine taking online courses because the only thing that matters is the portfolio, but at most of the programming gigs I've been with, they never even look at a resume if the person's degree is from an online institution.

I personally wouldn't do anything degree-wise online, but its all a matter of taste.

[Skjalg]

When it comes to bachelor of art, what school you are attending matters alot. (if noone has heard of it, your diploma isnt worth anything). If you're doing a bachelor of science, it doesnt really matter that much where you've taken it. (Although it does matter a little). But in both cases, its what you do besides the school that counts (working on a mod/your own game).

[ReNo]

Wow, those are two very conflicting posts

[⌐■_■]

Wow, those are two very conflicting posts

haha yeah, it think you cant just go one direction on this subject. its important that you really know what you want to achieve. if that's clear you can work on things that will most effectively work in your advance...

[Rick_D]

Yeah, the main problem I have is that I would like a course that will teach me the ins and outs of the science behind modelling, and how to use the tools as best I can.

The actual paper is merely a bonus that "proves" I can do more than make some trash cans, and along with my portfolio it should be just a bonus.

I learn best when I have guidance, I can pick things up very quickly, but if I'm learning on my own it takes longer, some people learn best on their own through countless hours of painstaking mistakes and rebuilds, and practicing. I like someone to say "don't do this because this will happen, instead of spending a week finding it out for myself. Call it lazy or whatever, but it's just how I like to learn.

I know for a fact I am not very experienced with Max (the program I'd like to work with) - and I think honestly I'd just like a good course that runs you through Max - 3dbuzz is ok for some stuff but drops short when you have a question. Which is why I thought of an online course (online because I don't have the funds for a school or college/uni, I'm 23 and have a less than perfect credit rating due to some "life issues" so schooling is not a realistic option).

I just want to learn a lot, quickly.

[atrocity]

Well I can tell you I go to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and I have a learned a lot there, however I quickly realized it was more of how hard I pushed my self to learn then going to class. I have some awesome roomates who have taught me a lot of what I know, and have pushed me or lead me in the right direction.

if you are simply looking to learn a lot and work hard on things then you should look into some online communities that may help you. Poly Count, CGTalk, and me and my friends have forums up that we post all kinds of art and give each other help all of the time. If you want links to useful sites for things, tutorials, what ever I can get you a million. Do as you please, but I can advise you if you don't have to spend the money, then don;t I think you may be able to push your self hard enough with out blowing your money.

[Bic-B@ll]

go for trump university