Hey I''m interested in going to one these new dang-fangled specialized game design schools, and the one that is really the best (and only) option for me is Centre for Digital Image and Sound (CDIS), in Vancouver BC. They are a technical school offering a two program in game design and a three program in programming. I am interested in taking the two year design program. I''ve heard good things about the school when it comes to their 3d animation and sound engineering faculties, but haven''t been able to dig up any stories (good or bad) about their game faculty. I am going to the school tommorow to hopefully look at some demo reels and ask more questions. Anyway, my question is; has anyone heard anything good/bad about CDIS'' game faculty? Anyone been there? If you have the time, please check out their website and tell me what you think (www.artschool.com). Thanks

Hi Drummerboy,

Just want you to know that if you want to become a good gamedesigner, you'll learn more through trying and doing, thinking and discovering than through being teached.

A really traumatic experience can be 'teachers' who tell you how to do something, before you even questioned yourself how you would do it.

Another thing is that it is extremely interesting to work out your own project. Most of the time they will tell you what project you should realize and how to realize it.
This because they think they learn you something that way. The truth is that people get, if they are strong, very rebellious the moment other people tend to make them do things. Certainly when they do not see the purpose of that action. (In witch Schools, this time I have to confess, do are good )

There is only one main motivation which you have to have in order to (99% of the cases) graduate: I WANT THAT DEGREE (the paper). Most of the people have that motivation, not because they thought it ever but because they think that if you do not have a degree, you wont earn money or will definitely have difficulties earning some...

That argument does not hold, look for rich people, who made there fortune themselves, there is no link between a degree and the amount of millions, hence our Bill.

The same counts for the designer argument. Some successful people have a degree others don't. My heroes Kubrick, le corbusier do not.

I have followed, for some time, an architecture education and the most disturbing thing was that 'teachers'(like most of them are even when they think they are not) are not really open to your ideas, they want to put there ideas about, in this case gamedesign, into you!

Like we all tried to ask, but why? The most honnest answer you will get is, because I'm big and you are little! Or because I'm wise and you are stupid! ( this one sounds too rough though apparently the system is build on that idea!)

Accepting that authoritarian act upon you, in most of the cases, is a step backwards into the adventure to become one day a master yourself. There is only one good reason why you should act as a slave and that is when it gives you something of value in return. This is exactly what I couldn't find in the two educations I tried. That answer to the question 'Why should I go through this?' does not have an answer that sounds of any value to me.

The best arts/craftsman are those who investigate, try, experience and make conclusions for themselves! Accepting the rules, without criticism, will never make a truly innovating person from you. But that is exactly what schools, universities..., our education system wants you to do, hence the examinations!

Of course from time to time they ramble sentences like, we want them to develop themselves, we want them to be critical, we want them to learn how to learn..., but as you remeber from schooltime, this was not the case!

So, think twice before starting an aducation. Do you want to learn their craft, is there place for immediate, realtime (to say it in our terms) critisism or do you have to follow them first with the promise that afterwards it's your turn...

Have to confess though.. I seriously considered Digipen myself too. It looks attractive. You work project-based, you get very interesting topics and if you succeed you'll have a nice job in the industry..., some critic though:

The projects you will have to do will probably be chosen by them. The subjects may be attractive but you will have to do that examination. Doesn't mather if that professor is boring, or you are simply not interested in that part, you will have to SUCCEED for that examination.

You better hope not to become interested in other stuff. There is no room for that! The system is not prepared for that possibility, bad engineering!

M.




Edited by - Avator2138 on November 30, 2001 12:41:41 PM

Edited by - Avator2138 on December 1, 2001 7:11:52 PM