1. You have to pay for the course (duh.) 2. You have to pay to use their stuff. (No, It's not tax-payer supported anymore) 3. Homework. UGH. 4. Imacs (WHAT KIND OF IDIOT USES IMACS??) 5. Tutorials are free and you can go at your own pace instead of either trying to catch up with or wait for the rest of the class. 6. The realization that marine biology would have been a lot better because you get to scuba dive every other class and it was cheaper, then the sudden realization of how interesting giant squids and octopi are. 7. I bet Kylotan is an evil college teacher in disguise!! GAAAAAAAAHHH!! 8. Me is a kollege graduat. Lookit how grat i em... 9. Let's say you had an interview with Activison and you were up against someone who doesnt have a degree, didnt go to college to learn to draw, but still has a kick @$$ portfolio (I know lots of people who fit this criteria) and you have your degree, but only a so-so portfolio (cause you kept staring outside wishing you chose marine biology) who do you think they're gonna pick?
Edited by - Dazyna on February 13, 2002 3:04:31 PM
Im a senior, getting a BA, majoring in art and psych. Right now we are preparing a gallery show and also our resumes...getting us ready for the real world (it is a required class for all senior art majors). Also, I have been researching the game design industry quite a bit, as that is where I want to go (of coarse I didn''t decide/realize this unti this semester).
From what I gather, getting a higher education really will help you. You will learn a lot more than you think (yes, even some english and biology). You also have the chance to get involved in many campus organizations or pursue an internship, like with some graphics company. All these opportunities are for your betterment. Experience pays, and employers like to see that.
Yes, one could argue that you don''t need to get a formal education to learn how to use programs.
If you do skip college, there are a few things that you will be missing out on. Deadlines suck, right? But they keep you on track. If you do the work, you actually learn the program. But if you decide to sleep in all day, wake up and scratch yourself for an hour, and spend only about 2 hours working with the programs, you wont get anywhere. It is an amazing concept, huh?
Another thing is that you will miss is feedback from peers and professors. This is very important, as some feedback can be invaluable. If you are doing something that is bad, you might not see it, but someone else might, and they can help you out. There have been many times where I have been stuck and sought help from other students or a professor.
In each of my art classes I have learned something that is applicable to game design: color theory, form, how to create a focal point, working with 3D objects and materials, light and shading, textures. All applicable.
I don''t think that the average high school can prepare you enough for going right into the game industry. I know that my high school art curriculum was absolutely horrible. If you can''t afford a 4 year school to get a BA, you should strongly consider taking a few classes in different areas at a community college. I would recomend ceramics, photography, and painting. Those 3 classes would pretty much teach you the fundamentals of the arts. And any computer graphics courses would certainly benefit you.
I didn''t want to go to college. But I did anyway. When it is all over, I will be glad I did it. It certainly won'' t hurt my job search.
College is not a bad thing, it is a good thing. You will get lots of experience, and that always looks good to employers.
Yeah, you are also paying for something that will teach you more than what you could teach yourself.
"2. You have to pay to use their stuff. (No, It''s not tax-payer supported anymore)"
Heh... yeah, but at incredibly reduced prices. I know at IU anything involving technology comes free by our $100 technology fee that everyone pays any way. Also, just try buying a 3d animation package without a student discount. Heh. Also, this "Stuff" is more expensive than any high school graduate can afford.
"3. Homework. UGH."
Hah, so... you don''t like homework huh? Try telling an employer that you aren''t going to do what they want you to do, your going to do what you want to do and at their own pace. The working world is all about deadlines.
"4. Imacs (WHAT KIND OF IDIOT USES IMACS??)"
Who says they all have IMacs? Here at IU we have all G4''s and Silicon Graphics stations.
"5. Tutorials are free and you can go at your own pace instead of either trying to catch up with or wait for the rest of the class."
Once again, the real world has deadlines. Better get used to it. And, these free tutorials don''t familiarize yourself with the business and don''t give you the luxury of having someone to critique your work.
"6. The realization that marine biology would have been a lot better because you get to scuba dive every other class and it was cheaper, then the sudden realization of how interesting giant squids and octopi are. "
Yeah, just about everyone changes their major in college. Thats the great thing about it. You get to explore your interests and discover what you really want to do. I started out a Telecommunications major, and now I''m a 3d Art and Animation major.
"7. I bet Kylotan is an evil college teacher in disguise!! GAAAAAAAAHHH!!"
Rarely will you find a "teacher" in college. Thats the great thing about it, you get plenty of first hand interaction with those with PhD''s and real time world experience.
"8. Me is a kollege graduat. Lookit how grat i em... "
Thats exactly what employers will look at. If they have completed a college degree and have received high grades in courses taught by top notch professors, then you must be doing something great! No college diploma? What does that show? Laziness.
"9. Let''s say you had an interview with Activison and you were up against someone who doesnt have a degree, didnt go to college to learn to draw, but still has a kick @$$ portfolio (I know lots of people who fit this criteria) and you have your degree, but only a so-so portfolio (cause you kept staring outside wishing you chose marine biology) who do you think they''re gonna pick? "
Oh, there''s plenty of other things involved. Let''s say that person you were up against had an internship already in the field? Had on their resume that they had experience with all the technology that they used, studied in Italy over the summer, was Fencing Club President (Heh, my brother got a job for that... showed team spirit), did a senior thesis on Art and Game Design, and graduated with honors. Not to mention had a rounded out eductation in science, humanities, culture, and historical studies. What''s this? The applicant also has a business minor? OMG! Sorry, your out of a job.
Your demo reel is the most important thing. End of story. I know because I WATCHED the senior artists and engineers review them. They didn''t give a damn about where the person went to school. If it sucked, it gets chucked to the side. And I''ve seen them chuck aside a terrible demo that belonged to a graduate student that didn''t have a clue. If you do decide to go to school, do NOT use assignments you did on your demo reel. Sounds obvious, but I''ve seen it time and time again. Generate your own demo and don''t listen to BS that the school will feed you about your demo. I does not have to have a story and yes, outer space content is fine as long as you do it well. My demo was all outer space and it got me hired. (lots of schools push this stuff)
Those who can, do. Those who can''t, become critics.
Whatever advice you choose to accept be sure not to limit yourself to the games industry. The whole I want to be a games artist thing is a bit shortsighted. You must be prepared to work in other fields of digital art. It''s not a good idea to limit yourself. If your like me then you would prefer to work in the games industry or on movie special effects but like me you may have to do some other boring graphic design job until an appropriate position pops up... And what if there is any sort of slump in the industry, then what? Just make sure your multi-talented and skilled enough to take your art skills in other fields.
------------IMPORTANT--------------
-------------------------- "640K ought to be enough for anybody." -Bill Gates 1981
--------------------------"640K ought to be enough for anybody."-Bill Gates 1981
what up.. to dimitri, I'm feeling you dawg.. that is why I just don't want to do programming because I think I will get bored real quick.. like you said I know I will want to do a couple of movies/FXz.. I appreciate all the replies from ya'll catz, it really has enlightened me..
Thats another reason to go to a good school If I graduate MIME I''m pretty much guarunteed to be placed in a major company like Universal Studios or Blizzard... MIME accepts only 35 people each year and they have probably the strongest placement program at IU. Reason being is that to get into MIME you basically need to be good enough to work there... so... *crosses his fingers*
The only thing that really counts is the quality of your work and like someone said, noone will give a dime about your education or if you visited school at all.
Forget degrees and anything of that kind. Get some education if you feel that it will help you artistically but don''t do anything for a degree, they''re useless.
Why do you want to be a game artist? Sounds cool at first, but after a few years you''ll realize how much bullshit goes on inside the industry, management usually sucks big time in most game dev studios, long hours without much pay, working with decision makers who pretend they know a lot more than they actually do, very little organization and communication. You''ll also be working with a bunch of pussy''s more than likely. Sorry to sound negative, but it''s the reality of working in the game industry.
Now if I haven''t put you off, aim for some of the smaller studios... better by far working for a small team.
If I graduate MIME I''m pretty much guarunteed to be placed in a major company like Universal Studios or Blizzard... MIME accepts only 35 people each year and they have probably the strongest placement program at IU. 
