Quote:Original post by kek_miyu My experience though, indicates that it's definitely possible to get a job if you show skill through your portfolio and passion at the interview, no degree required.
Indeed. I don't think anyone is saying its impossible without a degree. However "possible" isn't as important as "probable". It is always possible but having a degree makes it more probable.
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So far, my advice would be that you can always try getting a job right away making games, but in the long run it might be a good idea to get a degree for your own personal development.
For me this is more important than the issue of getting a first games job. There are other industries where having a degree is a requirement and while the OP may feel sure that they want to make games for a living there is no telling where the future can take you - also live exists outside of work and developing interests outside of games is a good thing.
From your point of view, you probably should think that could you acquire the necessary (whatever is necessary then) knowledge on your own. In general I would say it is eases the process of learning to hear from experienced people what they deem to be important. In addition, learning to learn is very important and university gives plenty of practice concerning that.
From the perspective of an employer, I have a good idea (in Finland) what different kinds of curricula entail. I know that there has been both some language and business and management related studies at least a minimum required amount even in a CS programme. It really helps the company if the individuals see how the big wheels work. If thinking of the games industries I'd be interested to know if you actually are able to design algorithms or understand basic software and hardware architecture.
Portfolio is good since it demonstrates that you have actually implanted things. It doesn't tell, however, if you have just mainly copied most of the ideas without actually getting at least the basic principles. Or that how long it has really taken time to implement the ideas and how you cope with schedules and quality demands (unless you have previous work experience). In university studies I know that the courses have some fixed time periods and there are certain demands to be met in order to pass them.
I don't work in the game industries, so perhaps I'm not that qualified to comment. Anyway, in an everyday software business it is important that people have a common language and an idea of the basic concepts. It helps on getting ideas across and eases on management job in positioning people. It is also easier to keep people around if there are different kinds of jobs to offer when they feel like trying some new roles. And very importantly regarding this is that if I had to decide between two people, I'd hire the one that has shown the ability to learn even if this individual hadn't all the "right" skills right now.
All the things said earlier apply to my post also. And this is of course from a Finnish perspective.
I plan to keep a compact but detailed portfolio of the stuff I create during my time in Uni. One advantage of being there is that I'll be around lots of different people with the same interest in programming.
I have decided to go there. Accommodation has been organised and I'm ready to go. Just need to pack a few things. Term starts on the 22nd.
I just wanted to see if he would actually do it. Also, this test will rule out any problems with system services.
Get the degree. I don't have one and it's never held me back but I joined the industry at a time when that didn't matter. Back then, if you were a monkey and knew any assembly language you'd get in.
Nowadays, I won't really hire people to any team I'm on unless they have a degree. I don't believe a degree will prepare you specifically for game development in any special way, but it will make things easier in a number of ways.
So I don't have a degree, won't hire folk without one nowadays and I don't think a degree prepares you well. Sounds hypocritical I know.
In my experience the problem is that someone without a degree is very likely to have a knowledge span that can look very complete even if they are 'a natural' but is shallow and has many gaps in it. I generally find someone who has been through a degree program has a better foundation. They may not have as wider knowledge span as a naturally gifted person who has put the time in, but that smaller knowledge span usually requires just a little pushing in the right direction to make it grow fast. Typically I find a graduate more analytical and even when they don't know a solution will be better prepared to find it, or the solutions will be more obvious at an earlier stage.
You only have to compare knowledge on something like C++. Even if taught badly to a graduate (as is usually the case I'm afraid), that person will likely have a better foundation than someone self taught.
Another good thing about the degree is that if you do not like game development, a degree will position you better to move into another, even totally unrelated role at a later date. You certainly do not need a degree to be in game development if you are one of the rare natural talents that actually IS good...but seriously, outside of game development your life will be much harder without one. I live in the US now and work with a few people who do not have degrees and I have no idea how they will have any prosperity 20 years down the road.
[Edited by - freakchild on September 10, 2007 12:03:37 AM]
After I finished my degree, I had the chance of doing a 1yr internship with Sony UK (SCEE?) - I didn't follow it through (I got a job here instead), but I wouldn't have had that opportunity without getting the degree first.
