Out of pure curiosity I googled student reviews and was not happy with all of the 1 star reviews and comments noting it's a waste of money and effort.

This should have told you everything you needed to know.

Is there another online school you recomend that will help me accomplish the same goal?

Why are you so focused on an "online school?" Unless you're working two jobs and raising kids, and therefore have no other option, you should be looking at something physical. A community college will teach you a lot more than an "online school."

Barring an actual university or college, you're better off just getting a non-gaming job and using your free time to teach yourself programming and start your own project. If game programming is what you really want to do, then you'll be motivated enough to finish - and in 2 years, you'll have learned far more than an "online school" will teach you, and will also have a completed project with a LOT more credibility for employers to see.

I can understand how my fixation on online is annoying, however it always just felt the most convenient. I learn better in silence than I do in large lectures.

However recent posts, including your own, have really pushed me more toward a community college, so I believe thats what I'll do. Ill probably follow your advice as well and get some tech job such as geek squad ect.

-Side note- I really do appreciate all of your replies and I am taking all of them into great consideration. <3

If you don't mind me asking, how are you so set on the idea of becoming game programmer if you don't know any programming yet?

If you don't mind me asking, how are you so set on the idea of becoming game programmer if you don't know any programming yet?

Ok sounds good, as long as you know game design and game programming are two entirely different areas in professional game development and that as a programmer you very rarely get to work on your own ideas of games or features.

Ok sounds good, as long as you know game design and game programming are two entirely different areas in professional game development and that as a programmer you very rarely get to work on your own ideas of games or features.

If you're good enough to intern thats the best thing you can do because you get to focus on programming all day long. It also gives you a chance to work with 'professionals' (occasionally there is the guy who thinks they know what they're doing).

The quickest and maybe the cheapest way is to become friends with someone who is in the industry and knows what they're doing. (or hire a tutor; again make sure they know what they're doing). A lot of teachers don't teach 'clean code' which is the next best thing to learn after syntax.

Which this book goes over:

http://books.google.com/books?id=_i6bDeoCQzsC&dq=clean+code&source=gbs_navlinks_s

However, I've also been recommended this book but I have yet to read it:

http://books.google.com/books?id=3JfE7TGUwvgC&dq=Code+Complete&hl=en&sa=X&ei=TjfaU6eoOs7NsQTOwYKYBw&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAA

If they know what they're doing then they know about clean code.

Creating a simple clone game can be relatively easy to do if you have the skills to program and make/get art assets. The problem is that you won't be able to make much money off something like that. To make a game that becomes viral and makes money for you, you'll need to spend lots of time on it.

My advice to you would be to make a few simple games (from start to finish) to get a feel for the amount of work that is involved. Once you have that under your belt, draft a design/plan for the game that you want to make that you hope will make you some money. You can then plan out how much of the work you can do yourself, and how much you will need to outsource to get it released when you want to. Remember, marketing your game is a big part if you hope that people will hear about it and buy it. Making a game and releasing it won't make you any money if no one knows about it.

Good luck!

Considering the schools mentioned and costs involved, this is US centric.

Remember that you don't compete in a vacuum.

Most of those around you (but not all of them) will have college degrees. For me, there are 11 major universities within a one hour commute. Most game industry hubs are located in educated communities. If you don't have a degree in computer science or similar, or have a long list of major game titles, you will be passed over when it comes to interviews. It is possible that some studio will get desperate and hire a non-graduate because they like their hobby projects, but those days are mostly in the past.

Now it isn't universal. In many regions of the world a CS degree is less common and anybody who has an interest and self-educates in the topic can be hired. But that isn't the condition you described for yourself.

Again as this is US-centric, shop around for schools. Usually the nearest popular schools are also the most expensive. Employers don't particularly care which school you attended beyond saying things like "I know somebody who went there". They'll judge you on your demonstrated skill set.

SHOP AROUND. Among the local schools one that is rather popular lately has $1400 per semester tuition. It is located about two hours away from downtown and most kids live in student housing, but the cost is good for an accredited state-supported college. Another (private) local college is $14,000 per semester in tuition. I doubt they are receiving 10 times the quality of education, and wonder if they just have money to burn or foolishly equate cost with quality.

I cannot imagine any good reason for paying $60,000 for a degree at the schools that were mentioned. Maybe perhaps you happen to be independently wealthy and your goal is to spread the money around. Otherwise, shop around. Find the schools that charge a tiny fraction of that cost. They may not be the big name popular schools, but they are affordable.