I'd recommend a good, broad, and solid education over completely blindly focusing on one thing.

Of course, if you love computers, then go with a CS degree. But as some have pointed out, that doesn't necessarily mean you'll get where you're going.

You'll want to make yourself look on par with everyone, but different. If everyone just has a CS degree, same grades, similar schools, etc, you're going to be a member of the mold. So, as others have suggested, what you do outside of school projects and what not are really important. As is your diversity in knowledge and wisdom (why I recommended a good, general, broad education).

Remember that entry level programmers (grunts) in the game industry are dime a dozen. Try to slip in a step ahead of the crowd.

"Try to slip in a step ahead of the crowd." This is only the first step, but before that, you need to ask yourself if you are willing to step on the throats of others to get what you want. This might sound cold, but you are competing with thousands of others for the same prize, and many of those thousands are not going to politely step out of your way, in fact they would push you off a cliff in a heartbeat. It's ok if you don't beleive it now, because in a few years you'll experience it for yourself.

Quote: Original post by catch
Remember that entry level programmers (grunts) in the game industry are dime a dozen.

No, people who want to be entry level programmers are a dime a dozen. There are way more applicants than there are positions at the good companies. I remember the interviewers at one interview telling me that I should consider myself honored in that I was in the top hundred applicants for the position.

And in the long run, it's not what you know, but who you know.

Quote: Original post by Anonymous Poster
I remember the interviewers at one interview telling me that I should consider myself honored in that I was in the top hundred applicants for the position.

While that's a sign of how popular game programming jobs are, thats also a reminder of how unprofessional the industry really is. I would absolutely _never_ want to work in a place where an employer constantly reminded me that he was doing me a favor --> by employing me to do a job working twice as long and earning half as much as i would be otherwise.

This is the kind of thread I was looking for, since I have to make a descision as well.
The college I am interested in has a new Game Design and Development program (Bachelor degree in 2 1/2 years). It seems as if by taking this course, I'd be able to learn quite a few things about game development such as networking, character development, storyboarding, object oriented programming, and interface design. However, I think it's overkill if I just want to become a game programmer. The major turn-off is the price, which becomes a total of $80,420. Like everyone else, I really don't want to be in debt for several years. I can't even sleep at night knowing that this is how much it could cost me.
The Computer Science program (Bachelor degree in 2 1/2 years) is about half the price. That's something I could live with. I would really like to get a job in the gaming industry as a programmer, but I'd be satisfied as a software developer as well.
I have a choice. By limiting my education to game programming, I may increase chances of getting a job in the industry, but it may be harder to get a job elsewhere. But if what you say is true, that the buisnesses are more interested in hobbies outside of school, the Computer Science degree sounds like a better choice. It'd also be easier to get work elsewhere if I don't make it into the gaming industry. I'm just a little stressed about the whole thing.

Quote: Original post by Weston
This is the kind of thread I was looking for, since I have to make a descision as well.
The college I am interested in has a new Game Design and Development program (Bachelor degree in 2 1/2 years). It seems as if by taking this course, I'd be able to learn quite a few things about game development such as networking, character development, storyboarding, object oriented programming, and interface design. However, I think it's overkill if I just want to become a game programmer. The major turn-off is the price, which becomes a total of $80,420. Like everyone else, I really don't want to be in debt for several years. I can't even sleep at night knowing that this is how much it could cost me.
The Computer Science program (Bachelor degree in 2 1/2 years) is about half the price. That's something I could live with. I would really like to get a job in the gaming industry as a programmer, but I'd be satisfied as a software developer as well.
I have a choice. By limiting my education to game programming, I may increase chances of getting a job in the industry, but it may be harder to get a job elsewhere. But if what you say is true, that the buisnesses are more interested in hobbies outside of school, the Computer Science degree sounds like a better choice. It'd also be easier to get work elsewhere if I don't make it into the gaming industry. I'm just a little stressed about the whole thing.

It is DEFINITELY a mistake to specialize like that. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard of people who went into really specific fields and are now unemployed. Get a broader education, like CS, and go from there.

Thank you very much!

As an advocate for good, broad, and solid education, keep in mind that college doesn't ONLY mean your financial future! It will dictate the flow of your life.

Like I've said to other people in similar situations as yours, we do more in life than go to work, program games, etc. Pick and education that will make you the kind of person you want to be, and from there, you can do whatever it is you want to do.

A good game designer/programmer is not just a computer science guy. Game design spans humanities, history, english, literature, etc. As do our everyday lives!

Best of luck,
Catch

(edit: I look real smart making a typo on "education," don't I? :)

Quote: The major turn-off is the price, which becomes a total of $80,420. Like everyone else, I really don't want to be in debt for several years. I can't even sleep at night knowing that this is how much it could cost me.

Oh my GOD! That is stupid tuition fees! I'm going to uni in the UK to study 'Computer Science with Games Programming' and it's costing me a total of £3000 in tuition fees, maybe you should consider studying here lol!

I'm not a programmer, but i'm working towards my associate degree in business mid management and i've worked on five different teams. 3 of which aren't around now. Yes, this can be unprofessional place.

My suggestion is get an internship, with a game company. This will give you experience and let you see if you like what you see. Or failing that, work with some game teams, go with a simple project. Start small build up. To many times I have seen deadlines missed becuase we were to ambitions.

I would advise a cs degree, and because you might also need to build some tools for the team. Also if you find out you don't want to be in game development, you have options. People with options are happier then those that aren't.

True, India programmers are cheaper. However, there are also cons, to the pros. It's harder to communicate with them. Not only do you have the language barrier, but the cultureal and distance barrier. Most of that is going to be with big companies. I think when the price gets to expensive the companies will go elsewhere.

Tue, less jobs for entry level programmers, however more jobs for technical leaders. You need those soft skills too. No matter how well you can program without being able to work with others in the organization, how will you stay around?

I saw an article in Business week, about this so why back so that's where i'm getting some of the information. Some of it's also from my personal experience. I can't say i've made any money, yet..