Hey everyone, I live in the Orlando are in Florida. I''ve been going to Florida Institute of Technology and it just really doesn''t seem to be getting me anywhere. I''m good at math and programming but many of the computer degrees out there aren''t really designed to help you learn how to develop games. I have been looking at fullsail and it seems like a very good school. From what I''ve heard the professors there are willing to help the students as well. Here at FIT, I have had numerous instructors that are not willing to help even during there office hours and they are going to raise tuition when it''s already set at 20k a year! I''m getting a little mad because i feel like i am paying money for just a piece of paper when I feel that I have more potential to learn than what I am being offered. Does anyone else feel this way? I know everyone says you have to go get a four year degree, but what good is a four year degree if it isn''t what makes you happy? I guess if anyone has information on fullsail, I want to see if it really is what it says it is. And I want to know that by graduating from there, will I still stand a good chance of getting a job? I guess i could always come back to finish my four year degree, but after I have learned what my heart truly desires. So if you know anything about Fullsail, please let me know. Thanks guys.

I''m gonna be heading down there this fall/winter. Here are a few links you may want to check out, it should give you an idea of what it''s like.

http://www.gamedev.net/community/forums/topic.asp?topic_id=139135

One of the recent threads, it''s more based on that recent article, but a good amount of info on the school.


http://www.dperry.com/GabrielCantresArticle7.htm

Pretty good summary of one''s time at Full Sail



I''d recommend calling them, or signing up for info if you''re interested. They''ll call you right away, and give you a lot of info. If you ask, they''ll have current students give you a call, so you can ask away.

my brother has been considering going there after his two years at a state college are up, and he recently got a letter in the mail telling of a tuition hike at Full Sail. I believe it was several thousand dollars, and he said they just raised it a year or two ago by about the same amount. I think he said it''s around $30,000/year right now, and apparently they''re pretty fond of raising their tutition quite often.

anywhere you go, you''re going to face high and increasing tutition. even the New York state college''s tutitions may be going up a couple thousand dollars (and I believe its only around $5500/semester for New York state residents right now), so that''s quite a big increase.

and now I know to ignore the FIT mailings that I''ve been getting... good ol'' PSATs and the "Student Search" service. I took the PSAT twice so now I''m getting loads and loads of college mail. I think I''ve gotten the same brochure from FIT about 3 times now...

Check this school out...

http://www.aicasf.artinstitutes.edu/programs_detail.asp?list=yes&pid=67&dtid=3&display=program&programname=Visual%20And%20Game%20Programming

I looked at both of their Game Arts & Design, and, Game Programming Programs. They have pretty good courses.

I''m pretty sure Full Sail is raising the tuition approx. $4,000 starting this winter. It''s true though that you''re going to pay a lot no matter where you go. Hell I''m paying somewhere around 15k a year for college in northeastern Ohio. Since you are nearby, you might wanna go get a private tour of the school, since i heard the monthly one is boring as hell for anyone interested in game design. That way you can get a lot of information, and see what it''s like.

Its all up to personal opinion
Im finishing my 2 year this next quarter, and decided to go to Digipen instead fo fullsail. Digipen is more prominent in the game field community, and also Digipen''s students have alot better job placement opportunitys right out of school. They also were named the top school for game programming degrees in the world this last January, and DigiPen students made four out of the ten finalists in the 5th Annual Independent Games Festival Student Showcase. Forty-six games/entries were submitted by students from various countries. Digipen, is funded exclusively from Microsoft and Nintendo, and is located in Redmond, WA (Thats basically right outside Seattle).
But... Its alot harder to get into Digipen then Fullsail also

Both are good schools, and concentrate on Game Programning. Going to either one would definetely make you a better programmer overall.

Best of Luck

Address to Digipens page Digipens Homepage

Not to knock the Independent Games Festival Student Showcase...but isn''t digipen one of the members of the board that decides who''s games get shown in the student showcase? Not that I''m implying that they are rigging the showcase, but it does beg the question. Full Sail has had entries in the showcase as well over the past couple years.

However there aren''t too many due to the following reasons:
Students are either just starting the game design program or just finishing the game design program when the entries for the IGDF SS are accepted. Students just starting can in no way have a game ready, and students just finishing the program will be graduating in 2 months, and all going their seperate ways. Typically the IGDF SS decisions take longer than this to make. And by the time the GDC rolls around most students have graduated.

If I were you, I would finish my degree at FIT and then think about going to game school.

A BA in computer science or computer engineering will go a long way especially since it is very difficult to get into the game industry. If you don''t get in right a away, its easier to find a good programming job with BA than with an associate degree.

I have heard that the Game institute has some pretty informative classes. You could take a few of those online while you finish your BA.

Why would you get a BA? BS is more analytically oriented (i.e. more math). A BA substitutes those with foreign languages and humanities. Basically, things you don''t need.

FIT is in Melbourne isn''t it? I''m from Orlando myself, though I no longer live there. Anyway to get back on topic, I think at any college you will find yourself just going through the motions in order to get that piece of paper. I know I felt the same way when I got my CS degree. Specialized schools, like Digipen and Fail Sail might be different though. The best advice I can give you is, get the degree, but teach yourself in your spare time. Hands on experience making programs on your own, will teach you more than you will learn in school IMO. The diploma can help open doors, but experience is just as important.

Hi, I'm a current student at Full Sail in the Game Design and Development Program. I looked at both Digipen and Full Sail. Both schools have alot to offer but I think Full Sail has more to offer, because when you graduate you will have 900+ hours of coding C++ under your belt and from what I hear Digipen isnt even half that. Plus more then half the teachers that teach here are people who worked in the industry, one prime example is my 'Rules of the Gam'e class which is taught by Dave Arneson(one of the original creators of D&D if your not firmilier with him). Also the last 3 months before graduation the only thing you work on is your final project where you make a fully working game demo. During this time you work in a team of programmers and animators (from the computer animation program that Full Sail offers) and create everything from an intruction book to a time schedual(basically all the things you would be doing if you worked for a real development company).

I was also in your position a few months ago, I had just got my A.S. in Computer Programming and I was deciding to go to a four year school to get my B.S or come here. I decided that even if I got my B.S. I still wouldn't know how to program games and if that is what you really want I suggest you check this school out especially being so close.

People who don't go to Full Sail don't understand what it's like here, it is different then your normal college experiance you will relize this as soon as you take a look at the school. From only being here a month I know I made the right choice in coming here.



"If there were no rewards to reap,
no loving embrace to see me through,
this tedious path I''ve chosen here,
I certainly would''ve walked away, by now.
-TooL

[edited by - EndGuy on March 3, 2003 3:51:38 PM]