Is becoming a game designer a realistic goal?

[PhineasJWhoopee]

My son wants to become a game designer? How realistic is it?

He's excellent in science and math (3.75 GPA in HS) and will start college at 16.

What's the best educational path?

 

[JS80]

He's pretty dumb for a supposed smart kid

 

[sunzt]

He needs CS degree (not theory based though). And yes its reasonable if he can get internships and the like. Have him start learning now and during the summers by having him learn programming and making simple games in Java/C++ or whatever they are using now.

 

[Cogman]

It is very realistic, most CS/CompE guys start out wanting to do that. However, most end up not doing it because they find other aspects of programming to be far more rewarding.

It is a competitive field, but not impossible to get into. He should major in CS, and if he wants to lead in design I would recommend that he get an MBA as well (Business skills are coveted in the tech industry)

He should start learning how to program now, get ahead of his classmates. Most CS majors (at least in my school) can barely run a computer. The skill to program comes from a love of programming, not a degree.

 

[Cogman]

He needs CS degree (not theory based though). And yes its reasonable if he can get internships and the like. Have him start learning now and during the summers by having him learn programming and making simple games in Java/C++ or whatever they are using now.

C++ is still pretty dominant in the game development world. If you want to program for a mobile platform then java is good to learn. An alternative to C++ for the PC and even console would be C# though.

 

[Fritzo]

Absolutely.

Now, wanting to be a "Game Designer that actually makes any money"...that's a pipe dream.

 

[Cogman]

Absolutely.

Now, wanting to be a "Game Designer that actually makes any money"...that's a pipe dream.

its possible, just not many take that route. Like I said, you come to a point in your studying where you realize "Hey, some of this other stuff is pretty fun!" Or, at least I did.

 

[PieIsAwesome]

Sure. Artists, software developers, and other people in involved in the development of games can find the opportunity to become among the lead developers of a game. Sounds like your son might want to pursue CS or Software Engineering. If working in the game industry doesn't quite work out there would be plenty else that he could do with his degree and experience.

 

[Matthiasa]

Yeah, but pay is usually bad from whats been reported on it. I would also probably suggest a software engineering degree rather then a CS degree though, but either would be fine.
Oh yeah and lots and lots of practice codingas already said.

 

[cKGunslinger]

I finished God of War 3 and watched the making-of videos.

Game programming looks really hard. I program real-time military applications and mission-critical guidance systems for missiles and aircraft, and I think game programming looks too hard. D:

 

[Bibble]

My friend always wanted to be a game designer and just started his first job with a company that makes a very popular MMO (today was his first day, as a matter of fact). This is after going to school specifically for game design and doing an internship. So yes, it is possible.

 

[sandorski]

Everybody loves majoring in Counter Strike, but you gotta ask what aspect of Game Design. CS(Computer Science) deals with the Programing/Coding side of it, but there are also Audio, Video, 3D Modeling, and other aspects to it as well.


He may already know about this link, but here it is anyway.
3DBuzz

It's a great link dealing with most aspects of Game Design, but more focused on the Art/3D Modeling side of things with some Programming as well. Could give him a taste of what to expect.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Yeah, but pay is usually bad from whats been reported on it. I would also probably suggest a software engineering degree rather then a CS degree though, but either would be fine.

Does ABET do accreditation for Software Engineering like it does for traditional engineering fields and CS programs? Not sure how employers would view an "emerging" degree like SWE.

 

[vi edit]

After reading about how these game company employees are handled when they get bought out by the big boys...I don't think I want any part of it. And it sounds like brutually rough office life if you are still employed. Long hours, tons of stress, and not great pay.

But that's just what I've sort of skimmed out of various articles/blogs/ect.

 

[PhineasJWhoopee]

He's going to take visual basic this year, and there's a tech college near our house where he can take C++

http://www.mstc.edu/academics/cbt/Offerings/CPLc++.htm

 

[Matthiasa]

Does ABET do accreditation for Software Engineering like it does for traditional engineering fields and CS programs? Not sure how employers would view an "emerging" degree like SWE.

Yeah they do, though not many places have it yet.

Edit: Just looked and they have only accredited 19 programs for it so far.
Hmm okay so many the numbers are to low to really recommend them right now but eventually it wouldn't hurt, since you can get through cs without learning how to code properly. Would mostly likely be considerably harder to get away with that in something focused so heavily on the software side.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Read up on how brutal the industry is compared to others. Becoming a game designer is not as bad as wanting to be a rock / rap star, but possibly as difficult as wanting to be a film director.

As others above said there is the more attainable goal of working in the game development industry, which is a whole collection of jobs just like with making movies. And just like the movie business most of them are paid less than they would earn with the same skills working elsewhere.

Software development is fun (for me anyway) and can pay quite well outside of the games industry. A CS degree with an emphasis on programming is one route to a good career.

 

[Fenixgoon]

I finished God of War 3 and watched the making-of videos.

Game programming looks really hard. I program real-time military applications and mission-critical guidance systems for missiles and aircraft, and I think game programming looks too hard. D:

glad to know we're getting the best of the best D:

that includes me too (materials engineer )

 

[Chaotic42]

Gamespot has an article you might find helpful.

I went to college at 16. Make sure he doesn't slack off like I did.

 

[PhineasJWhoopee]

Gamespot has an article you might find helpful.

I went to college at 16. Make sure he doesn't slack off like I did.

He's really laid back. He does his homework but doesn't really study. So far, that hasn't stopped him from getting good grades.

He wanted a new sound card, and told him I wouldn't buy him one unless he read four classics this summer.

 

[nboy22]

The thing is he will be up against the best of the best. He has to be the best by dedicating himself, not impossible but it's a challenge. He would be in the same boat that I am in, but I am a Lead 3D Animator at a company straight out of College because I worked hard for it.

 

[PhineasJWhoopee]

The thing is he will be up against the best of the best. He has to be the best by dedicating himself, not impossible but it's a challenge. He would be in the same boat that I am in, but I am a Lead 3D Animator at a company straight out of College because I worked hard for it.

He's 13 but he seems pretty passionate about it. He regularly reads gaming magazines cover to cover.

 

[PhineasJWhoopee]

Any thoughts about this program at UW Whitewater?

http://www.uww.edu/academics/majors/factsheets/magd.php

 

[Leros]

I was always under the impression that game design colleges/majors were a joke. The jobs I see at my university for game companies are for computer science and physics majors.

 

[PhineasJWhoopee]

I was always under the impression that game design colleges/majors were a joke. The jobs I see at my university for game companies are for computer science and physics majors.

I want my son to study CompSci/EE and if he's still interested, get a graduate degree in game design from USC or a school like that.