Game Development Community

Master in game programming

by Renzo Sanchez · in General Discussion · 07/31/2003 (12:34 pm) · 8 replies

Hello, I'll gradute next year as Software Engineering. I would like to have a master or specialization in game programming, but I am not interesting in art, sound, 3d modeled, etc. I am interesting in programming using DirectX, OpenGL, make a game engine, alpha-blending, anti-aliasing, mipmapping, bumpmapping, shading, fogging, lens flare, etc.

I've already read gamasutra list of schools, but a lot of schools offer or 4-5 years studies or game design (art, 3d studio, sound, etc).
I am looking for 2 years master or specialization in GAME PROGRAMMING. If I have to study 3d studio, Poser, Bryce, etc. no problem, my my main goal is game programming.
Could you help me?

Thanks a lot.

Renzo.

#1
07/31/2003 (12:46 pm)
Plain and simple you can't code games unless you understand the entire pipeline. The majority of game programming nowadays is TOOLS for the content creation people, not that many places do "engine" coding anymore.

If you just want Game Coding then there are plenty of books of varying quality that explain the implementation details of all the things you mention. Self study is the way to go, sadly most CS departments are 3 - 5 years behind where the actual workforce is technology wise.
#2
07/31/2003 (9:34 pm)
Check out "Full Sail"
www.fullsail.com

Im going there next year.
#4
08/01/2003 (8:58 am)
You can also check out Rochester Institute of Technology. They are boasting a masters in game development. But they haven't been answering my questions, so I have no idea.

www.rit.edu
#5
08/01/2003 (9:33 am)
Yeah, Jeremy. I go there, and I haven't gotten answers to my questions. The way I see it, though, is it's a graduate program which means more school ;) No way in hell am I doing that.
#6
08/01/2003 (9:38 am)
It's a little odd to have what amounts to a vocational degree in a graduate program anyways. Grad studies are usually more theoretical than that.

If you're going to invest the time and money into a graduate degree, you'd probably be better served with a general computer science degree, which is just as impressive and also applicible to a wider range of fields.
#7
08/01/2003 (11:16 am)
@Pat:

You attend RIT? local or distant? I live in Webster, NY and was going to-do the RIT online thing, but frankly did not like their coding type degrees *shrug*

@Renzo:

UAT seems to be fulfilling my req's for a decent online school teaching the art of SWE (SoftWare Engineering)

-Ron
#8
08/01/2003 (12:13 pm)
Really, Ron? I don't know exactly where Webster is, but if it's close-ish we should grab beer sometime. I live on campus. Yeah, the Software Engineering department did not impress me, I was a SE major for my freshman year. I played musical majors, switched 3 times...I really don't think I can give a good impression of the Comp-Sci degree because, as sad it sounds, I see my degree as a necessasary evil. I'm really not impressed with the majority of the classes, but I think that would be true of any school I went to. I realize college should be a challenging learning environment, however most of the 'challenge' is wading through the bullshit of academia, and the 'learning' comes from me skipping classes and doing my own thing. The good part about RIT is the required co-op (internships). After half a school year with GarageGames I've learned more than probably my first 2 years of school.

I don't blame this fully on the school, however. I think it is probably next to impossible to teach in a classroom what I learned here, which is, doubtlessly, why they require a year of internships. All in all, I'm glad I went to RIT because it will a) get me a piece of paper which says "It took 5 years and a few hundred thousand for us to determine this kid knew his stuff" and b) when people see said piece of paper they will say, "Oh, RIT, that's a good school."

Seems like a lot to pay for a responce of, "Oh that's a good school...what projects have you worked on?"