Hello everyone, Forgive me for this terribly long post but any help is really appreciated. Please read it :-) Just to give a brief background, I'm 17 years old and currently doing a B.A (Hons) in Digital Media (Game Development) from an institute called ICAT (Image College of Arts, Animation & Technology), located in Chennai, India. It is a full time 3 year course. I'm about a month and a half into it (started on 27th August - 2009) and i'm already starting to have doubts regarding my chosen degree. My problem is kind of unique. I've already started off with my education in this field but this decision was very much influenced by my parents. I've always loved playing games since i was a kid. When i completed junior college education here (equivalent to 12 grades/high school graduate in other countries) i had to chose what i wanted to do and what university to go to. Well i did'nt fare very well in my 12th grade and thus i did not want to do Enigneering related courses - as per my original plan. Hence, i was considering doing something along the lines of Hotel Management (being a chef in particular) or just some other management course like BMS or something. I could maybe add an MBA to that after graduation. But I stumbled upon this course (Game Development) and immediately took up an interest in it. I was so lost in my fantasy world of games that i never really took time to assess wether if this is what i wanted to do for the rest of my life - thus, i just dint bother to research and i just jumped into this course - part of the reason was that i was attracted to the prospect of handsome paychecks and that too for making games - seemed like a brilliant combo. I just thought it'll be a cake-walk. Now that i've actually started my course i'm starting to realise the enormity of this career. I never realized this before mostly because of my own ignorance but also because my parents thought that this was the ideal course which was cut out for me and was hell bent on getting me into this. The way i was presented with a very sugar-laced picture of this. It was made to sound like this was the best there is and that i wont be successful in any other or maybe i just interpreted it that way (but i was under pressure as i really had limited options) - sure it was mentioned that it'll be tough and stuff but my mind had already wandered off. They never really liked the idea of anything else maybe because the others simply weren't as rewarding as this when viewed from the perspective of where would i stand after 5 years from now - and maybe thats why i dint even think about what i wanted - i just thought about the money. Well all that aside i think i made a really messed up decision. Since the past 2 days i've been spending all my spare time researching about careers in game development and the pros and cons of it. I've read many horror stories and complaints on these forums itself, but then again ive read the good ones too. But all in all the bad points seem to outweigh the good points. Sure i'll be rich and stuff (if i get to the top) - but what about life in all ? Money's not the only thing. Being the kind of fun-loving person i am i really dont think i will be able to devote my 100 % to this career. I cant picture myself just sitting in front of the computer all day writing code or something like that.I used to be like that but i've changed in the past couple of years. I really dont have a lot of information availabe to me here and all that i can learn about real - life experiences of people who are actually working right now is through the internet. But then again the internet can be mis-leading. So please be clear on what you state. Anyway, I suck at creative stuff (it sounds lame i know but....)as well as physics.. and also i dont really think this is cut out for me. I know this sounds very stupid but i really dint wake up to the fact that i had to make a career choice until i actually started off on this. Before that i used to just think that anything and everything can work for me. I really get a feeling that i'm not cut-out for this/ i don't want to do this/ i can't do this , but then again i don't know what i'll do next. I'm not sure many of u will understand my situation and i don't expect you to - but out here in India theres like too much pressure on kids to make their careers right from the word go. I spoke to my Dad about how i feel and that i want to possibly drop a year and pursue something else - his reaction - he just went nuts - made it sound like it was the end of my life and that the whole universe was going to inflict its wrath upon me if i dint continue this course. It was almost as if he was telling me i'll be miserable and i'll never be successful just because i dint have my head screwed on right till now - i say - screw that - its never too late. See i understand that all careers require hard-work and dedication, be it game development or be it acting or WHATEVER !! . But i just dont think i'm going to be able to give my 100 % in such a heavy - duty course/career. I'd rather be better off doing something else - i still gotta find that something else but i'm sure i will. All i know is that gdv is not the answer - what is i still dont know. But i just don't no what to do - everyone in my family and even a few of my friends are pushing me to keep doing this but i just dont really think this is what i want and also what i'll be able to do. They are telling me to keep up with this course and stick with it for atleast a year - that way who knows maybe i'll start liking it and also get a pretty good idea of what its gonna be like. The first year of my course i have subjects like Foundation art, design fundamentals, critical media studies, etc. The creative part/ Art and Design part is what i hate the most and also suck at the most. The actual programming starts from the 3rd semester i.e 2nd year. So basically my friends and family think that i'm hating this course atm because of all this art and craft - and that i'll start liking it when the actual work with programming starts. But i really am having second thoughts. I mean i kinda like messing around with programs but not scrutinizing every last detail. Could any one please provide me with possible opinions on this and also a few valuable tips about choosing the right career path - i know i gotta decide that myself but i need guidance - but the guidance which should come from parents, relatives etc is pretty much one sided right now - they are freaking out because they think i'm going off-track - i dont think they see it from my perspective - but cmon , 1 year wasted is not the end of the world :S. I'm still bloody 17 FFS (u could say 18, my bdays in december thus im still officially 17 (-: ). So please please please try and give me your opinions on what i should do. Should i do what i feel is right for me or should i take my familys opinion and just do this course come hell or high water ?? Their question to me is - IF NOT THIS THEN WHAT ELSE ? , My question to them is - IF I DO THIS BUT I DONT LIKE IT / DONT DO GOOD - even after i get my degree i'll be worthless because i simply wont be good if i dont like it !! !! Sorry for this terribly boring and long post - but i'm really confused and i just needed to get all of this out of me somewhere - try to help and not jus flame away at me for such kind of a post :-) . Thanks in Advance - Ativ. [Edited by - OwnageDevil on October 14, 2009 12:49:50 PM]

Summary:

OP started into field which he does not believe suits him. Pressure from his parents (father mostly) to continue on the current career/educational path is making him question himself.

About right, yes?

Solution:

Do what you want to do. It is your life, not your father's. If you gave it your best shot, but the field repulses you - don't do it. Find something you're comfortable with and pursue it.

Not everybody is cut out for software engineering / game design / what-have-you.

You may try getting into a traditional Computer Science program if you aren't interested in arts. How is the game production industry over in India?

It's not uncommon to switch degrees after you've started university. I know computer science majors for the first 2 years that switched to English. I switched from EE to CompSci. The problem for you, however, is that if you hate arts... you can't really switch to anything non-artsy in an arts college, so you will have to switch colleges.

Really. Don't go through courses and get a degree if you will absolutely hate the field. Switching now will be much easier than even a year from now.

@ Programmer One,

I started into what i thought i would like but i did not do my research on it , i just went on what i thought without having actual knowledge - only thing im referring to regardin peer pressure is that my mind was clouded because of it. But yeah you got it about right. I'm in the process of finding out something i'm comfortable with. But i just gotta wait a lil.

@ Curtmax,

The game production industry here is okay i suppose, there isnt a great consumer market for games here. But the chances of getting a job actually producing/making games is high. But overall the QoL in India with jobs related to this field wont be even remotely near Western standards. They'll suck for sure. If i continued with this then my best bet would be to find a job abroad, as 1. It'll provide higher pay and better QoL. 2. I'll have more job security. You never know what will happen here, because the game production scene is relatively new here - still developing. This would be clearly illustrated by the fact that there is only 1 college (which has 3 branches in 3 diff cities) in India which offers a degree course in game development.

I dont mind switching colleges, hell this college is wholely and solely for game related stuff - it has 4 courses on offer - i.e Game Dev, Game Design, Visual Effects, and 3D Animation. So obviously i will have to switch. Not a big problem though.

And the last point you make hits it right on the head, I want to just get out of this right now because I sincerely fear/think i wont be able to do this. But my parents are asking me to give it a years time and then decide (according to me the hidden agenda behind that is they hope i'll settle down and just get through). And i don't have a backup plan formulated as of yet. If i leave this i'm gonna start my search of what to do next from scratch. So thats what's confusing me. The risk of leaving this and then finding out that i have nothing else which is better is scary.

Thanks for the replies/opinions, Please do keep them coming.

If you have a dream, something that you really want to do then you should go ahead and do it. But my impression is that you just got scared, so I must agree with your family - just continue that course until you finish it or find something better for you.

It is *your* life. You are the one who must live with the consequences.

The choices of fields seems odd. Hotel manager, chef, engineer, and computer programmer have very little to do with each other.

Quote: Sure i'll be rich and stuff (if i get to the top) - but what about life in all ? Money's not the only thing. Being the kind of fun-loving person i am i really dont think i will be able to devote my 100 % to this career.

I don't think you have an accurate view of the field.

Your post talks about all the money in games. You will *NOT* get rich making games. From what I gather in your post, you will be a programmer. Programmers make a bit more money than other fields, but you will still be running the rat-race for several decades before you retire.

Quote: I cant picture myself just sitting in front of the computer all day writing code or something like that.

If you do not have a passion for writing computer code, then games programmer is not the career choice for you.

Quote: Foundation art, design fundamentals, critical media studies, etc. The creative part/ Art and Design part is what i hate the most and also suck at the most.

So it sounds like you are not an artist.


So if you aren't an artist and you aren't a programmer and you aren't a game designer, then you probably will hate any of the game development career paths.


What do you enjoy? What do you do in your spare time? I have had co-workers leave for a wide variety of interests: One left to start a flower shop. Another left for a career in music education. I have seen people leave to become school teachers, professional photographers, and one who started a restaurant (and just opened his third location).


Go read Sloperama Lesson #40.

Next go find copy of "What Color is your Parachute?" from the library, or a friend, or a bookstore.

Skip to the appendix where he discusses the "flower diagram". It is an excellent soul-searching exercise to help you discover your passions: What you enjoy, what you are skilled at, where you want to be, how you want to work, and what you hope to offer the world.

You can then chart a course from where you are to where you want to go.

Quote: Original post by LeChuckIsBack
If you have a dream, something that you really want to do then you should go ahead and do it. But my impression is that you just got scared, so I must agree with your family - just continue that course until you finish it or find something better for you.

That is exactly my dilemma, see i never really had a dream of making games but then again it kinda intrigues me to a certain extent.

I want to make a final and informed decision, i did get scared to a cetain extent but then there are other factors too that made this less desirable.
On the other hand it could be that maybe their right. I need to find out you know - thats why this post - I want to make a final and well thought out decision and then stick by whatever it is and stick with it - no matter what - and then atleast i wont regret.

Quote: Original post by frob
The choices of fields seems odd. Hotel manager, chef, engineer, and computer programmer have very little to do with each other.

So if you aren't an artist and you aren't a programmer and you aren't a game designer, then you probably will hate any of the game development career paths.

What do you enjoy? What do you do in your spare time? I have had co-workers leave for a wide variety of interests: One left to start a flower shop. Another left for a career in music education. I have seen people leave to become school teachers, professional photographers, and one who started a restaurant (and just opened his third location).

1. Yeah, those choices of fields were my rough list of options when I first thought about what i will do.

2. See I have learnt the C language (a short 2 month certificate course on it) and I have just flipped through a few pages from a book on C++ - forget that actually - just say i have not learnt C++ formally. My college will teach both to us in due time.

I kinda thought C was easy enough - but I find it hard to concentrate when writing a long program with it. I think i can understand the languages with a little effort - but As i said i cannot picture myself sitting long hours writing codes in front of the pc. But the main point here is, I really dont no even ABC of art - i know development doesnt directly deal with art but for me understand a diagram is tough in itself - thats why my physics also sucks. Math I understand but that takes me a long long time and my grasping is weak.

As far as i know development/programming needs understanding of those concepts to a certain level as in the end you gotta write the code to make things work. Suppose i gotta make a game with high-end graphics and animations - i would have to understand certain underlying principles of physics and stuff. It might sound like i'm chickening out but it is really tough for me - thats part of the reason i'm unsure about development - i dont wanna do it for 3 years and then find out i'm not good at it and then run around lookin for other alternatives.

3. I enjoy gymming and everything related to it, Music, Cooking ( sounds funny i know :P) and playing games lol. But as i found out theres a HUGE difference between playing and making.

Thanks for the tips - keep em coming.

P.S:- Thanks for the sloperama link, and i'll definately check out the what color is your parachute book.

If your family is aware of your feelings on this, I say you should go along and try it out for a year. You will learn something, even if you ultimately switch to another school. Most people (at least in the US) don't graduate from university in the standard 4 years anyways.

Also, don't think of a 'programming job' as programming. Any real software development job in a reputable organization is going to involve much more than coding. Programming language is really irrelevant, and you will be doing lots of process & design, testing, collaboration, etc. By the time you start coding it will pretty much all be automatic and you won't have to think much about how to go about it.

If you start the job and they hand you a computer and tell you to type away. Run away fast.

My main concern with most 'game programming' degree programs, is the ones I've seen don't place much importance on computer science fundamentals. It's all about programming in one language (C++ mostly), using graphics APIs, 3D math, etc. On the other hand, the program I'm attending has almost no language instruction, and is very much math and theory oriented. 80% of my graduating class can't even write working programs. I think there is a happy medium somewhere...

Quote: Original post by OwnageDevil
2. See I have learnt the C language (a short 2 month certificate course on it) and I have just flipped through a few pages from a book on C++ - forget that actually - just say i have not learnt C++ formally. My college will teach both to us in due time.

You may have learned the syntax in two months but you certainly didn't learn anywhere near all of what there is to learn about the language itself.

Quote:
As far as i know development/programming needs understanding of those concepts to a certain level as in the end you gotta write the code to make things work. Suppose i gotta make a game with high-end graphics and animations - i would have to understand certain underlying principles of physics and stuff. It might sound like i'm chickening out but it is really tough for me - thats part of the reason i'm unsure about development - i dont wanna do it for 3 years and then find out i'm not good at it and then run around lookin for other alternatives.

With the rise of middleware you may never need to know how are what goes into the rendering or animation system of a middleware package. On my released game nobody on the team knew how the actual animation system worked. Skinned models were exported from Max and a couple scripts were setup and the models moved. It worked so we didn't need to know why it worked. Nobody knows *everything* about every part of game making. There are jack-of-all-trades and while they do good at a lot of things, they don't do everything great. You could be a gameplay programmer and would probably never have to worry about physics, rendering, input, etc. You just make sure game elements work like they should with the given tools.

If you don't want to be a programmer then there is nothing wrong with that. You should do what you want to do. But if you want to try then you should really get a regular CS degree as you might find corporate world programming to be a bit less extreme. Generally better pay and better hours as well.

As Frob says - if you don't have a real passion for game development you will hate it. However you have already made one rash and ill informed choice by jumping into this course. You shouldn't compound this by making a second equally ill informed choice and jumping again.

It is easy to be overwhelmed when you jump into something new (and challenging) and time may show that it is actually something you cab succeed at. Alternatively time may prove what you currently only suspect, which is that it isn't for you. Give this course a year, work as hard as you can to succeed, but spend that year researching other possible jobs.

At the end of that time you can make your decision based on actual knowledge.
1. You will know if you like/can manage the course,
2. You will know about potential new careers,
3. You can say to your folks that you have given this your best shot and it simply isn't for you (and explain what career is for you based on your research).