Is School really the best route into the games industry?
by Mark Jones · in General Discussion · 10/25/2007 (6:05 am) · 26 replies
I didn't really know where to put this, where it wouldn't just fester unread. However feel free to shove this in the correct section if totally need be.
I've been lurking these forums for a long time now and I have a problem, which I hope you guys, especially the ones already in the industry may be able to guide me in the right direction.
As advised by many, I've already taken the university route in my bid to start in the games industry. I'm currently studying Game Design at Bolton University, England and I'm already part way through my 2nd year of a four year course.
However I really enjoy the graphics side of the games and it's something I've really started focus on in depth in recent years. Ever since I was child I wanted to work on the artistic side, creating environments and the like, I just lacked the technical knowledge.
During the last summer break, I found I was pretty much knocking up a 3d model, environment concepts every day to every week, as well as taking external art classes to learn traditional art. I was pretty much sat at my PC every waking hour of the day, not exactly my idea of fun but I know this is all really necessary for this extremely competitive industry. The need to appear head and shoulders above the rest is essential. As I stand now I've still got a long way to go before I can truly feel competent, I'm determined I'll get there though.
The problem however is now I'm back at university after the break, I'm now unable to find the actual time to continue focusing on my own studies due to the increase in university work. I've started to fall behind quite a bit as I'm a little reluctant to move away from my own studies and often get absorbed in it. Some of the classes I'm taking this semester seem a little irrelevant to me and after speaking to my fellow students, I'm not alone in that. I'm starting to feel as though I'm actually wasting a great deal of time, time that could be spent on my own studies.
If I just leave university I'll no longer have a degree to my name. I see the image of receptionist sorting through the applicants with two shortlists, one the trash and the other possible applicants, the trash being those who do not hold a degree. So regardless of my skill level I won't be able to actually show it as I won't even get passed the initial stage.
Should I simply grin and bear the flak, get the degree and try and concentrate on my own studies during break periods and after leaving university. Or should I leave the course, attempt find a more relevant one to what I intend to do? Or simply leave now and continue working heavily on improving in graphics and art, creating a portfolio of my best work as I go and when I actually feel competent enough, take on any freelance work to get myself known that way?
Apologies for the rather long post and any obvious grammar, spelling and even common sense mistakes, I managed a whopping 2 hours sleep last night but I wanted to get this off my chest.
Thanks
Mark
I've been lurking these forums for a long time now and I have a problem, which I hope you guys, especially the ones already in the industry may be able to guide me in the right direction.
As advised by many, I've already taken the university route in my bid to start in the games industry. I'm currently studying Game Design at Bolton University, England and I'm already part way through my 2nd year of a four year course.
However I really enjoy the graphics side of the games and it's something I've really started focus on in depth in recent years. Ever since I was child I wanted to work on the artistic side, creating environments and the like, I just lacked the technical knowledge.
During the last summer break, I found I was pretty much knocking up a 3d model, environment concepts every day to every week, as well as taking external art classes to learn traditional art. I was pretty much sat at my PC every waking hour of the day, not exactly my idea of fun but I know this is all really necessary for this extremely competitive industry. The need to appear head and shoulders above the rest is essential. As I stand now I've still got a long way to go before I can truly feel competent, I'm determined I'll get there though.
The problem however is now I'm back at university after the break, I'm now unable to find the actual time to continue focusing on my own studies due to the increase in university work. I've started to fall behind quite a bit as I'm a little reluctant to move away from my own studies and often get absorbed in it. Some of the classes I'm taking this semester seem a little irrelevant to me and after speaking to my fellow students, I'm not alone in that. I'm starting to feel as though I'm actually wasting a great deal of time, time that could be spent on my own studies.
If I just leave university I'll no longer have a degree to my name. I see the image of receptionist sorting through the applicants with two shortlists, one the trash and the other possible applicants, the trash being those who do not hold a degree. So regardless of my skill level I won't be able to actually show it as I won't even get passed the initial stage.
Should I simply grin and bear the flak, get the degree and try and concentrate on my own studies during break periods and after leaving university. Or should I leave the course, attempt find a more relevant one to what I intend to do? Or simply leave now and continue working heavily on improving in graphics and art, creating a portfolio of my best work as I go and when I actually feel competent enough, take on any freelance work to get myself known that way?
Apologies for the rather long post and any obvious grammar, spelling and even common sense mistakes, I managed a whopping 2 hours sleep last night but I wanted to get this off my chest.
Thanks
Mark
#22
Damn, rolled a 1 on the 1D20 vs Better Judgement check...
11/23/2007 (8:31 am)
... must... resist pointing out.. the ... irony...Damn, rolled a 1 on the 1D20 vs Better Judgement check...
#23
Thanks for all the responses everyone, especially to those who made the longer posts. I really appreciate the effort. A lot of good points and advice has been raised here. I hope this thread will be of help to someone else in a similar situation to me. Hopefully they won't be too lazy to actually read any of the comments because they exceed 5 or so lines. :P
Just so you all know, I haven't left university. Phil Carlisle has been great and has organised a perfect solution for me, so kudos to him for that.
Oh and I apologise if the original post came across as a feeble attempt at justifying leaving university, that wasn't its intention. What I wanted to know if it would be in my best interest for my potential future to stay at university to collect a degree or my simply spend the time on my own studies (and some online classes), studying the more relevant areas that I wish to pursue in the future.
Again thank you for all your replies.
11/23/2007 (11:44 am)
Hi, I totally forgot about this post (I've been pretty busy) so sorry for my lack of response to it.Thanks for all the responses everyone, especially to those who made the longer posts. I really appreciate the effort. A lot of good points and advice has been raised here. I hope this thread will be of help to someone else in a similar situation to me. Hopefully they won't be too lazy to actually read any of the comments because they exceed 5 or so lines. :P
Just so you all know, I haven't left university. Phil Carlisle has been great and has organised a perfect solution for me, so kudos to him for that.
Oh and I apologise if the original post came across as a feeble attempt at justifying leaving university, that wasn't its intention. What I wanted to know if it would be in my best interest for my potential future to stay at university to collect a degree or my simply spend the time on my own studies (and some online classes), studying the more relevant areas that I wish to pursue in the future.
Again thank you for all your replies.
Torque 3D Owner Neill Silva
Its SCHOOL. Without school no one would want, and or care about you at all. It seems to me as if you are lazy and just don't want to go to school and don't want to work for it. You don't realize how much school teaches you, and yes it is the best route. Haven't you seen all the stuff that says, made by blah blah at such and such university?