[casual_games] Casual_Games Digest, Vol 29, Issue 2

[Eric Trudel]

"A number of computer science departments
across the country have experienced declining enrollment and this is
something that sparks considerable interest in potential students, which
could help reverse the trend."

We had same decline here at the local University (www.uqac.ca), but two
years ago they opened a new Computer science degree with a major in video
game programming. The major focuses on math and 3D programming, with courses
on game design, game production and AI programming. They also work on game
projects to build a portfolio. Students can combine their major with a minor
in management, mathematics, computer science or digital art. 

The new program was a success with a twofold increase in new students. The
drop rate is quite high though (30%) since the courses are hard. Some
students obviously think that games are easy to program... Also, it had a
negative effect on the other computer science degrees since most new
students obviously decided to enroll in the new video game program. 

My two cents...

Eric Trudel
Président-Directeur général / CEO
Wendigo Studios Inc.
496 St-Marthe, Saguenay, Qc, G7J 3C8
Cell : 418-550-3445
Sans Frais / Toll free : 1-888-WENDIGO (936-3446) #701 
Fax : 432-577-6694
www.wendigostudios.com 
 

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-----Message d'origine-----
De : casual_games-bounces at igda.org [mailto:casual_games-bounces at igda.org] De
la part de John Szeder
Envoyé : 28 septembre 2007 14:21
À : 'IGDA Casual Games SIG Mailing List'
Objet : Re: [casual_games] Casual_Games Digest, Vol 29, Issue 2

Also speaking as a hiring manager, I want someone who wants my job in five
years time, and I believe is capable of growing into it.

Empirically I have noticed that people coming from well rounded post
secondary institutions seem to be better equipped for management positions,
either because they have already demonstrated that they can manage a good
four to five year plan in getting their degree, or for some other equally
plausible reason that I cannot think of at the moment.

Most of the game schools focus on teaching you a specific craft. That is
great if you want to go work on next generation content in a very specific
field, but your career growth is going to be slower due to the scope of the
projects you will be working on. Given the binge/purge studio mentality on
production staff (and the lack of reasonable union governance, as much as I
hate to say it) you are also likely to experience a hard road there that can
sometimes burn you out.

I am on the advisory board for a college with a fledgling offering for game
developers and there are also folks from larger companies such as EA and
Disney. It was interesting when we sat down at the first annual meeting with
the faculty to get perspectives of what each person is looking for as part
of their existing teams from new graduates and trying to balance that into
their curriculum.

I am actively trying to get a second similar program started at a local
school with their computer science department because it solves an
interesting problem for them... A number of computer science departments
across the country have experienced declining enrollment and this is
something that sparks considerable interest in potential students, which
could help reverse the trend.

-----Original Message-----
From: casual_games-bounces at igda.org [mailto:casual_games-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of universedave at gmail.com
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 9:40 PM
To: IGDA Casual Games SIG Mailing List
Subject: Re: [casual_games] Casual_Games Digest, Vol 29, Issue 2

As a hiring manager, I can see a game degree having a small amount of added
value; it shows me that the candidate is excited enough about making games
to want to take a chunk of time and focus on it.  On the other hand, I pay
far more attention to the portfolio pieces that students create while in
school.  The best candidates are going to be those who view their game
school careers as a 4-year parent-sponsored internship - an opportunity to
learn their craft, create awesome demos, learn to work in a development
team, and (perhaps) build some lifelong bonds with future collaborators.

Dave Rohrl
Independent Casual Game Producer/Designer/Consultant
650-438-9512
Universedave -at- gmail -dot- com



Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

-----Original Message-----
From: Audry Taylor <talshannon at hotmail.com>

Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:12:45 
To:<casual_games at igda.org>
Subject: Re: [casual_games] Casual_Games Digest, Vol 29, Issue 2




>>I feel like education is taking a beating here. I don't think going to

school is a bad thing. 

It can be for someone entering an entertainment industry.

Most people who go to film school make lousy or mediocre directors.  Most of
the best directors in the world didn't go to school for film, or learned
more outside of film school than in it.

Some things are better learned by joining the industry directly, rather than
by taking a side trip down ego lane, which is what college often becomes for
many entertainment industries.  College will gladly teach creative people
how to be cliche, formulaic, predictable, and copy cats of the masters they
study so diligently.

The major exception to this is animation; most high-quality professional
animators did go to a serious animation school like CalArts.  An artist can
definitely benefit from a tough college major full of deadlines and
diversity.

But all kinds of writers, directors, musicians, some artists, many actors --
most of these are better off learning their craft by doing their craft, not
by having it graded. ;-)  Obviously there are exceptions, but almost every
creative person I know who became a success didn't get a degree for what
they do; some even got kicked out of schools for the thing they have since
become successful doing.

Audry Taylor
Creative Director
Go! Comi
http://www.gocomi.com

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