Many of these game degrees are terrible. Because of this, they've all gotten a bad reputation. Even if your degree is actually awesome and teaches everything you need to know, an employer may look at your application, see game degree, and throw it away. It will obviously depend on the employer, some may have had a good experience with a certain school, and hire you because of that, but a CS degree will generally open up more doors. PLUS you will be able to work in many more fields using a CS degree, which means you can get a job faster, right out of school.

Derby and Hull have pretty good reputations in the UK with Games Companies and have healthy relations with studios last time I spoke with them. De Montfort's Art is supposed to be decent, not sure about the programming one.

[quote name='Tom Sloper' timestamp='1301684196' post='4793221']
[quote name='Huwtrosky' timestamp='1301679642' post='4793175']
1. Here is what Staffordshire Uni has in it's Computer Games Programming Course:
2. Any ideas?
3. I'm not ruling out CS atm
4. I just want to wait and see what Lionhead and Bungie have to say

1. Why are you showing us all that stuff? You have to decide on your own college/uni plan. It's your first adult decision. You have to make it yourself.
2. About what?
3. OK. If you want to be a game programmer, definitely don't rule CS out.
4. About what? And why? And are you thinking those two companies are reading this thread?
[/quote]
1. I'm showing this stuff to see what people on here say because you have more experience than me most probably. Yes it is my first adult decision but I don't want to make it my worst that is why I'm asking for your input.
2. I wanted to see people's opinions.
3. Yes I do want to be a game programmer so I'm not ruling CS out
4. I meant I have emailed both Bungie and Lionhead. I'm not expecting a response back any time soon but I was asking which degree for game programming they look for more. CS or Computer Games Programming.
[/quote]
1. What kinds of things are you looking for people to say?
2. Opinions about what? What kind of opinions?

[quote name='Huwtrosky' timestamp='1301685758' post='4793236']
[quote name='Tom Sloper' timestamp='1301684196' post='4793221']
-snip-

-snip- [/quote]
1. What kinds of things are you looking for people to say?
2. Opinions about what? What kind of opinions?
[/quote]

1. + 2. Since I haven't got much information on what is good in a course and which isn't I was opening it up to people more experienced than me (like you). Like you said previously this is my first adult choice. I don't want people to pick for me but I want guidance off of people who know their stuff.

[quote name='Tom Sloper' timestamp='1301693420' post='4793281']
1. What kinds of things are you looking for people to say?
2. Opinions about what? What kind of opinions?

1. + 2. Since I haven't got much information on what is good in a course and which isn't I was opening it up to people more experienced than me (like you). Like you said previously this is my first adult choice. I don't want people to pick for me but I want guidance off of people who know their stuff.
[/quote]
Yes, you said all that before. The problem is, you are not asking a clear question.

"I want opinions about bridges."
"Well, the London Bridge has an interesting history..."
"No, I wanted to know if you think it's safe to dive from a bridge."

"I want opinions about apple pie."
"It's very American, or so they say."
"No, I wanted to know if you think it's okay to use that whipped cream that comes from a can on it."

All you've said is "here are some classes. Any ideas?"

What kind of "ideas" or expert opinions are you looking for exactly? Surely you would learn stuff in those classes, don't you think?

I see what your saying so let me explain better.

The universities listed above are in my range. I want to become a programmer for game development. I have been informed on this thread that a degree in CS might be better. Also above I have given the course content of 2 unis. I would some experienced opinions on those degrees to tell me if they would be suitable for employment if I have a good portfolio with it or that I should consider CS instead.

Huwtrosky,

I agree with the people who have said that Computer Science is a wiser choice than Game Programming as a degree choice. I'll explain why I think this.

A degree helps you to learn things in a structured way, but really it is more about academic status than learning in my opinion, i.e. it is mostly for the purpose of improving a prospective employer's perception of the quality of your education, and also about being able to point at your achieved degree and officially establish your academic status. I say this because you can learn most things, and probably in a more focused way and for a much cheaper price, outside of a university. Even at uni everything you learn will have to be learned by you and no one else, especially with something like programming, simply because no one can learn for you.

Given the above, when chosing a degree, the percieved value of your degree should be a priority. This means chosing a subject that equips you with learning skills and practical skills, and chosing a university with a decent reputation. And tbh when chosing between Computer Science and Game Programming... the titles of the subjects say it all.

Let's look at those titles in detail. First lets look at the Computer Science title. The word Computer suggest usefulness. The word Science also suggest usefulness. Lets take a look at the Game Programing title... The word Programming certainly sugggests usefulness. However for any job outside of the games industry, the word Game is not likely to impress anyone, and worse still could even make prospective employers dismiss your CV at a glance. Even within the games industry the wider and soberer skillset of Computer Science is likely to impress more.

In view of the above I would actually discourage anyone who was having any doubts from pusuing a Game Programming degree. But I would encourage anyone considering a Computer Science one.

By the way, I'm impressed by your responsible and forward thinking attitude towards your future at an early age. I wish I had been more like that

Good luck!

I would some experienced opinions on those degrees to tell me if they would be suitable for employment if I have a good portfolio with it or that I should consider CS instead.

Any degree you get is suitable for employment. Go for the school you can go to, and whatever degree you want. Have you read this forum's FAQs yet?

Thanks for that forsandifs :-) ill definitley look at CS now. The last query I have is if I do CS will I be prepared for going into a game programmers job? I have had a quick look at the FAQs :-).

Thanks for that forsandifs :-) ill definitley look at CS now. The last query I have is if I do CS will I be prepared for going into a game programmers job? I have had a quick look at the FAQs :-).

To be honest I don't think any degree alone prepares you to go into a job, unless that degree gives a fair ammount of practical experience (for example through a placement year). Whatever degree you take, in order to have a good chance of getting a job you will have to do some applied work that you can point at in an interview. This experience will also help you to answer theoretical questions better too actually.

To answer your question, no, but you will be better prepared than with a Game Programming degree imo. The reason being that Game Programming is a subset of Computer Science that won't really give you any more practical skills, but will give you less learning skills.