It seems that even with all of these qualifications, there’s no place for a new person with a “game degree”… Regardless of said person’s smarts, abilities, skills, and education. And worst of all, the industry still scorns those who attempt to become formally educated in the craft.

The program is only one its fifth group of students, but they’re given 100% of the faculty’s attention for three consecutive semesters while they train (in production, art, or programming) and work in teams on numerous rapid prototypes and a two-semester long monster project. Many of the games, large and small, have earned acclaim from MTV, IGF, Shockwave, and IndieCade. (Shameless plug: Come see Zephyr: Tides of War at IndieCade@E3, booth 652.) Some of those projects have even earned the students money before graduating. Graduates have gone on to make waves at EA, n-Space, Midway, Neversoft, and numerous other studios. The faculty are industry veterans with many having held lead and executive positions.

To survive takes 100% commitment, and if you can’t eat, sleep, and breathe video games, you’ll burn out fast. It’s like boot camp, you’re thrown in the water to sink or swim. But all the pressure and no-sugar-coating critique is there to make you a stronger developer, able to adapt and think under fire. When stepping into first jobs, alumni ramp-up time is minimal because we’ve been entrenched in the process and used the same tools. The school is dedicated the simulating the real deal and does not skimp on that criterion.

The best thing you’ll earn from the program is not the degree but the experience of producing a project with a large team and all the important lesson-teaching roadbumps that come with that territory. Knowing that, the best advice to catch an employer’s eye is to make something you can show off, preferably as part of a team. It shows you know how to communicate, execute, and deliver. And you don’t necessarily need a degree for that experience.

Speakers come in roughly every two weeks to a month. We’ve had guests from EA, Vicarious Visions, Midway, Microsoft, Nintendo, CryTek, and more. There’s even a “job week” where interested employers conduct interviews at the school or otherwise set up phone/video calls.

More info on FIEA: http://www.fiea.ucf.edu

On the other hand, I must admit that a formal certification can be exactly the advantage you may need to success in a highly competitive niche. Moreover, on a long term basis (a lot of years from now on), I think that jobs will be filled in only by specialists. A specialist = study in that specific area + experience.

Bottom line: what would I choose? I wouldn’t study game design but if my kid ( not born yet  ) wants to become Game Designer, I will encourage him to study this in depth in University.

We need to start to shame those Universities that are putting together poor courses. They dont deserve students and the money that attracts to them. Courses are there to equip students with the best skills to make them employable. currently, it feels like some universities are missing this point and are not focused on education but their own revenue stream.

Great blog piece

Thanks for this post. When faced with so many degree choices it is hard to pick the best for me.

I will use your questions on Monday to the University that I am looking to join.

EA rocks

Spot on dude.

I must say I choose a Games Degree course and I made a choice I regret. There are some good courses out there BUT I fell for pretty pictures and marketing spin by the University. My fauly I guess.

The course certainly feels loose, we spend a lot of time discussing the latest games. discussions more worthy of a student bar than the University.

I am desperately worried when I come to graduate next year at my chances of getting a good job in games in this recession.

i wish I had asked your questions EArl when I look at courses.