Renton 21393 Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 If I've got this right Andrew you've changed from a degree in civil engineering (in Manchester?) to a degree in computer game design at Preston? Got to be honest here, that doesn't sound like a great career move to me. Fair enough you may enjoy it more, but in three years time you run the risk of being seriously in debt with a degree many employers will not take seriously (rightly or wrongly). It sounds to me you've taken a soft option where something more vocational, like, erm, civil engineering, might benefit you more in the long term. Hopefully I'm talking bollocks like. On a wider note, I genuinely feel sorry for graduates this year. Prospects have never been bleaker. I didn't exactly have a choice on that one like also this "soft option" opinion is a right load as those whos done any software engineering/programming will testify especially to the level of current games being put out there I realise it wasn't a voluntary switch but it's a bit of an odd one nonetheless, I can't see how the two subjects (engineering/computer game design) relate to each other. It might not be a soft option but that's how it might be perceived. Probably already been mentioned on this thread, but if you are genuinely interested in game design you really need to know how the large software houses would view this type of degree, I just have the feeling they may be skeptical and can vaguely remember some bad press about these degrees. I'd imagine the field is ultra-competitive too, so if you're not really interested or doubt your ability I'd strongly urge you to rethink. Anyway, enough of me lecturing, hope it all goes well whatever you do. It used to be so much easier, pick a degree and jobs opened up to you regardless of what it was in. It's much more difficult now with so much competition and added to that you've got to contend with student loans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew 4721 Posted July 18, 2009 Author Share Posted July 18, 2009 If I've got this right Andrew you've changed from a degree in civil engineering (in Manchester?) to a degree in computer game design at Preston? Got to be honest here, that doesn't sound like a great career move to me. Fair enough you may enjoy it more, but in three years time you run the risk of being seriously in debt with a degree many employers will not take seriously (rightly or wrongly). It sounds to me you've taken a soft option where something more vocational, like, erm, civil engineering, might benefit you more in the long term. Hopefully I'm talking bollocks like. On a wider note, I genuinely feel sorry for graduates this year. Prospects have never been bleaker. I didn't exactly have a choice on that one like also this "soft option" opinion is a right load as those whos done any software engineering/programming will testify especially to the level of current games being put out there I realise it wasn't a voluntary switch but it's a bit of an odd one nonetheless, I can't see how the two subjects (engineering/computer game design) relate to each other. It might not be a soft option but that's how it might be perceived. Probably already been mentioned on this thread, but if you are genuinely interested in game design you really need to know how the large software houses would view this type of degree, I just have the feeling they may be skeptical and can vaguely remember some bad press about these degrees. I'd imagine the field is ultra-competitive too, so if you're not really interested or doubt your ability I'd strongly urge you to rethink. Anyway, enough of me lecturing, hope it all goes well whatever you do. It used to be so much easier, pick a degree and jobs opened up to you regardless of what it was in. It's much more difficult now with so much competition and added to that you've got to contend with student loans. tbh since I was doing my GCSEs everyone has told me i'd be great at engineering but that hasn't worked out this decision is all me, something I've wanted to do my whole life so i'm going for it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trophyshy 7073 Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 Go for it Andrew, passion and strong interest in something can take you a very long way. Video games is a larger industry than movies now and I don't see that changing. Consider how things have progressed in the last 20 years, when you graduate we may be playing online VR games and, sooner or later, people will start shagging over the internet. So make sure you do a module on realistic vaginas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 14011 Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 Imagine that. ''Is it in yet?'' ''I swear it has to be the connection, honest!!'' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 7009 Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 Go for it Andrew, passion and strong interest in something can take you a very long way. Video games is a larger industry than movies now and I don't see that changing. Consider how things have progressed in the last 20 years, when you graduate we may be playing online VR games and, sooner or later, people will start shagging over the internet. So make sure you do a module on realistic vaginas. It really isnt. Apart from a recent revival videogames have been in decline since the mid 90s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 30369 Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 Go for it Andrew, passion and strong interest in something can take you a very long way. Video games is a larger industry than movies now and I don't see that changing. Consider how things have progressed in the last 20 years, when you graduate we may be playing online VR games and, sooner or later, people will start shagging over the internet. So make sure you do a module on realistic vaginas. It really isnt. Apart from a recent revival videogames have been in decline since the mid 90s Actually it's twice as big. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 7009 Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 (edited) Video-Game Sales Plunge to Nine-Year Low http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2350390,00.asp Gameboy (1989) - 118million sales Playstation (1994) - 102million sales Playstation 2 (2000)- 140million sales Xbox 360 (2005) - 30million sales PS3 (2006) - 22million sales Edited July 18, 2009 by Kid Dynamite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fish 10779 Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 I think you're (unsurprisingly) missing the point here KD. oh, and you're a cock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 7009 Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 Apart from a recent revival videogames have been in decline since the mid 90s I thought id nailed the point tbh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitman 2204 Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 this decision is all me, something I've wanted to do my whole life so i'm going for it Good for you, get stuck in and give it a go. Hope it works out for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 7009 Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 Aye, sorry for being a dick. I do hope you enjoy it mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 Well unfortunately im a cunt! You may as well do america studies at sunderland uni! hit me where it hurts. Each to their own Andrew, Im not sure that picking a course cos its easy is the way to go like. Are you having to shell out 3 years tuition fees for it too? Honest question, are there many prospects for computer game designers these days? Id have thought it was a pretty specialist job and there wouldnt be a particularly high turnover? Should have done an English degree so he could become a nurse eh? Yeah cos English gets you a job in nowt. Teaching, Journalism, EFL just off the top of my head So that's teaching, journalism and teaching again? And given decent jobs in journalism are rarer than hen's teeth, not to mention the pay not being great and a journalism qualification being preferable, plus the fact you'd need an extra qualification to become a teacher you've got an idea of how useful an English degree is. I should know, I've got one. The main point is though Andrew is obviously delighted to have gotten on this course and all the likes of you and knicker-sniffer want to do is piss on his chips. Says it all tbh. Not really. This is a course specifically suited to an industry so American Studies is a ridiculous comparison. You are a cunt though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jusoda Kid 1 Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 Anyone else get the impression that KD is jealous? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ketsbaia 0 Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 Anyone else get the impression that KD is jealous? I get the impression he's just a cock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 If i had my time again, i'd do a degree in Jingle Writing. The biggest mistake of my entire life was not going to that RADA audition after memorising all the Shakespeare and shit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitman 2204 Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 If i had my time again, i'd do a degree in Jingle Writing. The biggest mistake of my entire life was not going to that RADA audition after memorising all the Shakespeare and shit. Is this about you Parky ? It all makes sense now...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChezGiven 0 Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Video-Game Sales Plunge to Nine-Year Low http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2350390,00.asp Gameboy (1989) - 118million sales Playstation (1994) - 102million sales Playstation 2 (2000)- 140million sales Xbox 360 (2005) - 30million sales PS3 (2006) - 22million sales Surely a better indicator of the health of the computer games industry would be sales of games not consoles? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renton 21393 Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 The video games industry is massive and here to stay. What's more is that huge teams of developers are now required as anyone who has watched the credits after finishing a game will know. A far cry from the bedroom developers of the 1980s. Whether a degree specifically geared to suit the industry is useful is another matter though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt 0 Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Might want to throw PC ownership stats into those stats as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fop 1 Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 The video games industry is massive and here to stay. What's more is that huge teams of developers are now required as anyone who has watched the credits after finishing a game will know. A far cry from the bedroom developers of the 1980s. Whether a degree specifically geared to suit the industry is useful is another matter though. The current model (or at least the model of the last few years) is unsustainable. The rate budgets are doubling at it'll be cheaper to actually send someone to Mars than to make a game about it. Having said that potentially other options are opening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TheNewinsider Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asprilla 96 Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Good luck Andrew...be sure to get in touch when you need the coolest music created for a video game in the history of the world ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 14011 Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 and then Asprilla will pass you onto to me and I'll pass you onto Maggiespaws... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asprilla 96 Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 and then Asprilla will pass you onto to me and I'll pass you onto Maggiespaws... Never miss a free header. Knew it was coming but every goal's a great goal etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manc-mag 1 Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Good luck Andrew...be sure to get in touch when you need the coolest music created for a video game in the history of the world ever. "Hello? ....Honda!!!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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