Education

#1 Don't work at EA.

#2 A lot of places now do degrees in things like Game Design that can be a help... other than that your best bet is to get a strong grounding in C++ as it'll be at the core of most of the engines the companies are using.

#3 Algoma has a game program, so does University of Ontario Institute of Technology. Seeing as both of these are relatively close to you, you might want to look into these programs. They both seem very sound.

#4 @Okashira - Might need to explain a bit more, as it sounds like a flame and not advice.

@Martin - The big two in the US for game design and development are Digipen and Full Sail University. Devry also has a lot of schools that offer a similar certificate/degree.

There is a program at the University of Central Florida that offers a program that will practically bleed you into a job at EA Tiburon.

The following areas of education that would be beneficial:

- Language: I took quite a few higher level English and Spanish classes, accompanied by some speech and debate courses, to build up my reading and writing abilities. This is very important for both design and development. Communication and writing docs (design, tech, support, code comment) are critical to getting and keeping a job.

- Math: If you are going to be a programmer, you will need a strong base in every area of math your brain can handle: Algebra, geometry, physics, calculus, algorithms, etc. Full Sail forced us to go from Calc I to Calc III in a month. My brain almost melted, but the important stuff stuck.

- Programming: This depends on your target job and specialty. Honestly, we are not going to get into which languages are the best or being used to most or blah blah. If this war starts I will lock the thread and help Martin one on one. However, my chain of learning went like this:

C->C++->Windows API->Data Structures->DirectX->OpenGL->Game Programming->Python->Lua->Mel Script->Torque Script->C#

I could keep going, but it's best to find a school that would offer programs focusing in those areas. General Comp Science classes are OK. However, if you get a only get a Comp Sci degree, be prepared to spend quite a few years teaching yourself game specific skills.

#5 Michael's advice is excellent in all points.

I would chime in and recommend taking as much math & physics as you can.
Be sure to cover at least Calculus 2 (integrals), and preferably Calc 3 (surface integrals).
Take at least one class in statistics, and pay attention. (that may seem like a useless comment, but i've found that stat is a class which is particularly easy to not pay attention in, but a solid understanding of a little theory there is something you're unlikely to pick up outside of a stat class, and it will serve you well.)
Physics is great for two reasons: first, it teaches you some specific stuff you might need to know for game programming like kinematics and general vector math, and second because it's some of the best problem-solving experience you can get in school.

personally i sometimes wish i'd gotten a degree in math or physics rather than comp. sci, because often the job-specific skills are stuff you [can] pick up in the work-place without too much trouble, but the deeper understanding of the hard science stuff is much harder to get outside of a classroom.

#6 I have a Comp Sci degree from UWO in London (Ontario). It's heavy on programming, math, they have several game design classes now (didn't have any when I went there).

But, the key is to make as many games as you can, start to finish. The industry wants to see your skills. Think of the smallest game you can, make it, then move onto something bigger. Make minesweeper, make a version of Eliza. By the time you're done school you'll have a portfolio of games that can show off your skills. And be sure to finish each project. When you apply for the job at EA or Ubi you'll want to hand them an installer with a finished game, show them you already know what you're doing.

#7 I really appreciate everyone's advice at my current state of desperation. Its highly appreciated.

@inman UOIT is actually my primary choice but im trying to see if i can find better some place else before i can come to a final conclusion. The UOIT course is Called Game Development and Entrepreneurship but other than that i have to research the specifics of this course because i don't know much about it.

@Michael Perry
I actually thought of full sail and had a chat on the website with one of the Service people there.
Im very much attracted to that course but the downside is the high cost. Over 70,000. I wish i were rich
Im going to look into your other recommendations of Digipen, Devry and U of Central Florida and see what they have to offer.

I never knew language was so important. I will consider english though i don't have the stomach to learn a new language at the moment especially since i don't plan on to Going over to Ubisoft in Montreal or Outside North America.

Im currently working on Gr.12 Calculus. I actually stayed back a year to get a credit in calculus. You are not the first to emphasize the significance in having a good background in Math. I'm relatively weak in math except when i work too hard :)

My target is to learn both programming and design that way once im out of school or even before im done, i can create a small team and start independent projects.

You said "General Comp Science classes are OK. However, if you get a only get a Comp Sci degree, be prepared to spend quite a few years teaching yourself game specific skills."

In that case, Is a Game Development Degree more helpful to me than simple computer science? Or should i look at both because Im aiming for a university program that's specific on game development and little unrelated material.


@Orion Elenzil
I haven't been to university yet so im unaware of how it all works but I guess im going to have to look into the courses you mentioned above although to be honest Im not Math and Physics's biggest fan even though i understand thier significance in what im trying to achieve

Are there Specific programs in University that teach 3d Modelling/Texturing[Anyone Can Answer. Im not simply interested in Programming.. I want my be more diverse]


@Nikos Beck
What kind of Game design classes do they have now UWO and how much do you recomend i look into it.

Secondly, I appreciate you stressing the importance of making independent projects because that's exactly what im eager to do which i why i lean the way of taking a Game development program that will teach me game development in different areas from hopefully A - Z rather than say Just Computer Science then having to learn Game Development separately.


This all seems like alot. All the course recomendations im getting. How Many Years in University Am I looking to become fluent in Game Development because The Game Development programs ive come across in universities are 4 years and Im wondering if that's enough for me.{hopefully because i'd hate to stay in Univresity over 4 years]

#8 I forgot to ask.

If any of you are Game Designers, and Programmers. Can you list me your positions whether in the industry or independent and what programs you took in College or University Thanks.

That would help alot

#9 Oh, forgot to mention. This particularly goes for Full Sail and Sallie Mae. Avoid using private loans as much as you can. Even if it means waiting tables for 5 years just to have enough living expenses before you go.

Sallie Mae is currently trying to charge me over $100,000 interest on my loans. They also throw funding at Full Sail and other schools to be the only private lender offered by the financial aid offices.

#10 I'm not sure what Western's program is like, it's been too long sice I attended.

To answer your latest qyestion: I have a comp sci degree, was in the industry for a short time and it's now a hobby. Business application dev is my day job.

#11 @Martin Otyeka

Deciding what school to go to is extremely important. The one thing I would stress is, check the back grounds/Bios of the people in charge of the program! You will see that there are a lot of people who do not have the knowledge and experience to direct these kinds of college programs!!!!!

Too many colleges will hire someone with NO industry experience, but with an MFA/PhD to direct game development programs, and thus you can imagine what you will learn from them.... Nothing.

Instead, look for people (directors) with at least 5 years experience in the games industry and who have some teaching experience. They will have rock solid programs, and you WILL learn what you need to... Its ALL about the people....

Its not easy, but you have to do the research before you invest $$$$$$$$$$$$ into your education.

Good Luck!!


And yes, I am a Games Artist/Designer/Scripter and also direct a Game Design program at a major art school.

#12 @GI_JOEJK
Thanks for the reply and suggestions.
Can you aswell as anyone else look at the program map for this "Game Development and Entrepreneurship" program at University of Ontario Institute of Technology and then tell me what you think.

http://www.businessandit.uoit.ca/EN/main/96618/140839/141093/148747.html

#13 @Michael - There was a lot of noise a few years ago, sparked by a blog written by "EA Spouse". From that, EA has gained a reputation of having a very poor working environment. Whether that rep is accurate or not, I couldn't say - I've never worked there, and don't know anyone who has. But I do suspect that there's something to it - to the best of my knowledge, no EA employees have stepped forward to say no, that's completely off-base.

#14 @Sherman - Quite aware of that. In fact, one of my instructors at Full Sail was a former EA employee and was involved in the class action lawsuit over the lack of quality of life due to the demands of EA. Since then, EA has worked extremely hard to turn that around.

It's no longer hell to work there. In fact, I was one meeting away from working at EA Tiburon before I was recruited by GG. I'm pretty the demands and stress of my current job are higher than that of EA, but I happen to like this a lot better than programming non-stop.

#15 @Michael - Yeah I figured your request for explanation above was for the sake of someone who's reading this thread and didn't know about all that, not for yourself. Now they'll know that Okashira's comment isn't just a flame, and they'll also know that things have changed for the better at EA. If they read the whole thread, that is... :-)