Finding an Interesting Degree. Digital Multimedia & Game Design

[Coldkilla]

Now I've been scripting in games for years. It isn't always "fun" but after a week of coding, the results can be satisfying. That satisfaction is something I never found in my previous entry level programming class. That class and others I had dropped due to severe personal issues and ultimately lead to my demise at the state university. I say this as a graduated high-school high-honer student, going from high to all time lows in 1 year.

Now I am going to a new college. Only a few blocks from home. ITT Tech it's called. There's only 2-3 PC Information Bachlor Degree's they have. One of them caught my eye, but I am afraid that there's no money to be made in this field:

Greenfield, WI Campus
Digital Entertainment and Game Design
Bachelor of Science Degree

Objectives
The purpose of this program is to help graduates prepare for career opportunities in a variety of entry-level positions involving technology associated with designing and developing digital games and multimedia applications. Courses in this program offer a foundation in digital game design (through the study of subjects such as gaming technology, game design process, animation, level design) and general education subjects.

Career Opportunities
Graduates of this program may pursue entry-level positions in a number of different digital entertainment and game design companies. Job functions may include working as part of a team to help design, develop, test and produce video games, or create animations and 3D scenes for use in video games.

Admission Requirements
Refer to the Admission section of this catalog for information relating to Admission Requirements and Procedures for this program.

School Equipment
Students will have the opportunity to use the following school equipment as required throughout the program: computer systems, modeling and animation software, printers and other common computer peripherals. Refer to Student Equipment in the Online Course Information section of this catalog for information relating to the student equipment requirements for the distance education courses that are taught online over the Internet.

Class Size
Classes generally range in size from 15 to 30 students. Depending on the course subject matter, certain classes may contain a greater or lesser number of students.

Program Outline
Number Course Credit

Hours
-----Core Courses
-----Unspecified Core courses * 40

GD300 Introduction to Gaming Technology 4
GD310 Managing Game Development 4
GD320 Physics of Animation 4
GD330 Game Design Process 4
GD340 Creative Writing and Storyboarding for Games 4
GD350 Game Design Strategies 4
GD360 Advanced Animation 4
GD370 Level Design I 4
GD400 Game Interface Design 4
GD410 Game Engines and Production 4
GD420 Level Design II 4
GD430 The Game Development Team 4
GD440 Capstone Project 4
-----Subtotal 92


-----Elective Courses
-----Unspecified Elective courses 32

General Education Courses
-----Unspecified General Education courses++ 24

EG371 Research Methods+ 4
EG372 Written Analysis+ 4
EG381 Statistics+ 4
EG452 Economics and Change+ 4
EG462 Contemporary World Culture+ 4
EG465 Modern and Contemporary Art+ 4
EG468 Ethics+ 4
EG481 Environmental Issues+ 4

Subtotal 56
Minimum required credit hours for the Baccalaureate Degree (Grand total) 180

Now making "games" seems to me, like only a few companies actually come out ahead and 99% fall behind. Is this true? I want to be in an interesting career, but don't want it to be like an Art Degree where you can spend 5 years in college, but find it hard to find a good paying job. (I have an Aunt whose an Art Professor in Anchorage, but hates her job). I mean no disrespect. I'm just saying generally a good artist with a degree may not do as well as a hard working laborer.

Anyways.. Taking a career in this field, is this an okay degree to shoot for? I know Game Design is sorta new to the college field, but this "Digital Multimedia" aspect could too play a part.

Bottom Line:
Can I make a decent living after I graduate with this career? (Just afraid is all).

 

[hanoverphist]

i have a degree in digital animation production from UAT. graduated back in 2000. havent set foot in an animation house to date. the industry is so cutthroat i just didnt want to deal with it. i already had a great job by the time i graduated, and have turned it into a career. i do use lots of stuff from that degree, the scripting, programming, interface design and the management stuff. id say if you were serious, do a check on the industry and see what kinds of jobs were available now, as well as 4 years ago. back in 2000 when i was graduating, you needed to have 5 years experience to get any serious job, and when you did land a serious job you were going to be contracted until the end of project and cut loose to look for a new project. i didnt like that aspect, and its an aspect no one laid out for me prior to going to school. i do not regret doing it by any means, i still dabble on my own in both animation and multimedia, as well as game design to keep the stuff floating in my head. i just couldnt see taking a 7 dollar an hour cut to go fill in backgrounds at an animation house when i had 3 kids to feed so i didnt pursue the field after graduation. maybe its better now, but the market was flooded like crazy by the time i graduated.

 

[Coldkilla]

How would one recommend checking the market? Just websites?

 

[pontifex]

its probably extremely difficult to get into that field. you'd have to be really good to beat the competition. if you've had experience before, it migh help.

 

[kranky]

I would not pursue such a program at a technical school.

There's no guarantee I'm right, but chances are very good that:
- the school will not be using state-of-the-art software/hardware
- the classes will be dumbed down to the point you will be bored to tears
- you'll be at a severe disadvantage for jobs compared to people with 4-year degrees, even if you are the ace student in the program
- you'll spend a lot of money and be disappointed

You're smart to question the potential for employment. It sounds like you'd be spending many thousands of dollars for a degree which is so specialized, there's very little chance of finding a job.