I have heard mixed messages about Full Sail. The only responses I have been getting are from partial sources (i.e. University of Florida wants me to attend their school, not Full Sail- and vice versa). I really need some impartial feedback. I have been becoming frustrated lately because I am a Senior in high school and I really need figure out what to do as soon as possible. Is this school really the best place to go for a jump start into the gaming industry or not? (Acredited?) Thank you for any response.

It is all on you. I have also wondered if a game development school is the way to go. Everyone I ask has mixed responses. Some people say they are great. Still, some say that a computer science degree is a lot better because you learn more on the core fundamentals. It is all personal preference. I would say go if you can afford it, as I have heard Full Sail is rather expensive. Howevewr, you will achieve results near equal if you go to a regular school. Your career choice depends a lot to. If you wish to be an artist, a degree in an art field or art history would be helpful. For a programmer wannabe, I have heard a computer science or computer engineering degree is the way to go. However, if you want to be a level designer, you might benefit from a game development degree.
EDIT: Fixed spelling mistake.

Scott Simontis
e-mail:ageofscott@comcast.net
AIM:ssimontis

[edited by - sSimontis on November 21, 2003 4:59:10 PM]

One thing that I''ve been thinking about doing is both. Get a traditional BS Computer Science degree and then go on to get a degree in Game Design & Development. It''s very hard to get into the game industry, so having both might be a better way to go. Some of the classes in the Game Design & Development program can be skipped as places like Full Sail do accept some classes for transfer credit from normal colleges. From what I''ve seen, by the time someone graduates from Full Sail, they''ve already made a video game in a group. That can be good to have when applying for a game industry job.

Feydrex, I'm at FullSail currently and we have to make a video game for our final project. It's more or less our demo to send out to interested companys. Infact we build a small game or game tool(tile engine, etc.) just about every month but the last one is meant to be our largest so we have a good 3 months to do it, even more if you are doing the newly created Bachelor program.

I will say if you are unsure and don't have any programming experience or even very little, hit up your local community college first and take a year or two of Computer Science classes. The C++ course in the GD Program is 2 months long and has a 75% repeat rate, it is rather difficult if you have little understanding of C++.

If you want to be a level editor then I would suggest one of the digital arts classes dealing with modeling. I've personally seen two level editor people change degree programs because they found out the GD program is not what they need. The schedule is highly accelerated, I have atleast 4 hours of lecture and 4 hours of lab every day along with a Quiz everyday, midterms every 2 weeks, and a Final or two once a month.

So come prepared if you decide to come to FullSail, it is a lot of money and you don't want to fail and lose all that.



[edited by - ChaosPhoenix on November 21, 2003 7:29:32 PM]

My background: I studied CS at a regular 4-year univ.

I kind of think that you are excited about games, FullSail would give you -more- educational value than a regular school, just because you''ll be around so many guys that are also excited about it, and you''ll learn off each other. Everybody tends to rate schools solely by the quality of the teachers, but I think the calibur of your other students plays a -major- role in how good an education you will get.

As far as relevant experience: The typical CS program at a 4-year univ is generally very heavy on theory and light on programming, so in order to have enough programming experience to get a job, you would definitely have to do programming projects outside of school.

But another thing to consider: I think that if you focus completely and intensely on one thing for too long, you''ll become unhappy later in life. Having an interest or hobby outside of computers can be very rewarding, and it is a lot easier to pursue non-computer-related things at a regular univ than at a focused place like FullSail

quote:

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Original post by ChaosPhoenix
I will say if you are unsure and don''t have any programming experience or even very little, hit up your local community college first and take a year or two of Computer Science classes. The C++ course in the GD Program is 2 months long and has a 75% repeat rate, it is rather difficult if you have little understanding of C++.

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I personally am almost done with my Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at a Florida university. I have just 6 more classes left after this semester and I''ll be graduating this summer. I''m glad that I''m doing the CS degree because there will always be that to fall back on for other computer jobs if I can''t get into the game industry. I think that it would probably be good for me to go to Full Sail after I graduate this summer. Full Sail would give me more specifics and hands-on with game design, to build upon the knowledge that I''ve already gained from my CS degree. Luckly my university has been doing most of their classes in C++, so I have a solid understanding there. It''s too bad for the new people in the CS major in my university though as they''re changing all of the classes over to Java instead of C++ next year.

If you choose a more "traditional" university, I would HIGHLY recommend taking a class in Simulation if it''s offered. At my univeristy it''s under the Industrial Engineering curriculum. It''s an amazingly useful subject to the game programmer. After all, games are basically just entertaining and interactive simulations. The things I''ve learned in my class have really helped me with the game I''m creating, especially in dealing with pseudo-random game events and timing and game control. If you can take a class in this, do so!

Great feedback guys, thanks. Just a couple other questions. I''m looking to get into animation/character modeling.(I should have made this clearer in my first post- sorry). First of all, ChaosPheonix, are you taking a programming course? If so (or if not), do you know what the animation courses involve?

Also, to anyone else, I would like to get on the fast track to a career in the gaming industry. I''ve been thinking that I could go to DBCC (my community college) for two years to get my AA degree. Then going on to UF and taking every course I possibly can in 3d animation, character modeling, game design, etc. Getting my BS degree there. Then going on to Full Sail, which- I''m assuming- will launch me into the industry. I know all this preperation isn''t necessary for a job in gaming, but would it pay off in the end? I''m already taking college courses, and am thinking about continuing in the summer. That should take a semester or two from college.

So, two questions. What do the animation courses involve at Full Sail (briefly)? And would all of my planned preperations pay off? I don''t want to sound like I am in it for the money, it really is something I would love to do- but it certainly wouldn''t hurt to make as much money as possible while doing it.

Sorry for all the questions, but I want as much feedback- from those already in the industry- as possible.

Again, thank you for your responses so far.

Yes, I''m currently in programming courses, the GD Program is 80% programming courses so I have quite a bit to go. I think we have 1 small modeling course in the GD program(3D Content Creation) and that''s it. It just gives us a very brief overview of programs like 3D Studio MAX. The GD Program is meant for programmers who wish to play with code all day, not for animators.

If you wish to do modeling and animation then I would suggest the Computer Animation course that FullSail offers. In that program you do nothing but model 3D/2D models for games or for film in MAYA, Lightwave, and other high end modeling packages. This is the course a lot of level designers are taking currently.

Another thing about FullSail "launching" you in to the industry - the first thing they tell us when we get here is they do not hand out jobs in the industry. They don''t have some magic book filled with available positions that they can just hand out to every one who graduates. We are told to help ourselves, make our own connections within the industry(I find E3 and GDC have been great for this, SIGGRAPH would probably be a modelers E3) and then use those connections and the placement office to find a starting position in the industry. You''re much better trying to open doors on your own than you really are with just having no connections and trying to have FullSail find something for you. As a modeler your portfolio will be your greatest asset to getting in the industry, not neccessarily the college you went to.

Hope I answered your question, if you have any others let me know.

I personaly would recommand going to an acredit university vs a "game developing" school. First of you have to realize that most people don''t know what they want to do with there life when they go to university and inveitable change majors after their first year. Secondly you have to think about the future after university you will recieve a degree. What do you get from full sail? Is it something that will be recognized by an employer looking for a qualifed employee? Not just in the gaming industry but the rest of the world.

Also if you want to animation and modelling, then I just you look through the varius collages. I know that most quality colleges offer computer animation programs.



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