Hello GameDev.net,

It has been awhile, the forums have changed a-lot, and I am here tonight with a very good question. Is Fullsail University's "Game Development" program worth it? Will it get me into the game industry as a programmer? I am currently studying the "Game Art" program but I have found that its not right for me.

Here is a link to Fullsail's "Game Development" program...
http://www.fullsail....pment-bachelors

I have looked at the coursework, it seems to be right, but I need some opinions.

Thank you for your time, extrickster

1. Is Fullsail University's "Game Development" program worth it?
2. Will it get me into the game industry as a programmer?
3. I need some opinions.
4. Thank you for your time, extrickster

1. Read FAQ 66 (click the link above to this forum's FAQs). Only YOU can determine whether it's "worth it" FOR YOU.
2. No, of course not. No school or degree is a guarantee of a job. You have to apply for the job, with a great resume and portfolio, and do the other smart things in FAQ 27, and not do the stupid things in FAQ 24.
3. Then read the FAQs. Lots of opinions in there.
4. My name is Tom. YOU are the one who's formerly a trickster.

89% Male, 11% Female[/quote]

Nope, not worth it.

89% Male, 11% Female

Nope, not worth it.
[/quote]
See? It all depends on YOU and YOUR criteria. Typ thinks everything has to be about coeds. But maybe the OP has different criteria. "Worth" is SUBJECTIVE AS ALL GET-OUT.

No, Full Sail will not get you into the industry. You will.

I went to Full Sail and I am not in the industry, but quite a few of my friends who were in my class are in the industry. It's all about how you apply what they teach you, not whether or not what they teach you will get you in.

There's also nothing wrong with a general computer science degree and a more well-rounded education at a state university. That's the rout i'm taking and even if you don't believe it now, you absolutely can learn just regular programming and teach yourself to make games on the side. Hell, my first game was made after a one semester C++ course at a community college--it's absolutely possible. It had tons of bugs, memory leaks, and technical problems, but every journey begins with a single step. School can give you a good foundation on programming, but google is all you need to make games.

Plus, with a CS degree, you can get any CS job, not just ones in the game industry.

I also went to Full Sail and I have since done work both in and out of the industry. As stated above, whether or not you get into the industry is very much dependent on what -you- put into it, not so much on which school you went to or what degree you obtained. I just wrote a two-part piece on this very topic not too long ago. I recommend checking it out:

http://robwalkerdme.blogspot.com/2011/01/computer-science-vs-game-development-or.html
http://robwalkerdme.blogspot.com/2011/02/cost-of-education-or-computer-science.html

Hope that helps!

I feel like I'm being redundant here, but as a Full Sail Alumni myself, I can tell you that everything everyone has said thusfar is true.

Your question is wrong.
The only thing that allows;
determination.

There's also nothing wrong with a general computer science degree and a more well-rounded education at a state university.

to elaborate on this, a state school will cost you less, and you could use this extra money to attend GDCs or other industry events that will let you network and learn more than most game degrees will teach you.