Skills Needed to Make a Game?

[Rabban]

I'll throw in my two cents about regular colleges and universities. I can speak only about UF but I assume most universities are the same. Though they offer BSes (and higher) in computer science and computer engineering, you can tailor your degree towards gaming by taking game related courses. For example, they have AI in Computer Games and others at UF. They just don't have a formal game design program so your degree won't say anything about gaming.

Personally, I didn't. I squandered my time doing a double major in Math :-P Granted I technically have two bachelors (one of science (Computer Science) and the other of arts (Math)). My point is that there were 10-20% of my class mates were putting their efforts towards going into the gaming industry.

The beauty of getting a well-rounded degree from a regular university is that you could work anywhere that needs software development especially if you find that you don't want to do game design for a living. I also would assume that if you went to Lockheed Martin with your gaming bachelors, they may frown at you and turn you away.

I'll conclude by warning you to inquire about what language your school focuses on. For example, UF focuses on Java. 75+% of my classes that required programming projects either required you to do it in Java or highly recommended it. They do expose you to C/C++ in Operating Systems and other courses, but nothing great unless you actually take the C++ course. Really that's not a huge downside because you should be able to become an effective programmer in other languages on your own (Ex: teach the man how to fish and he can feed himself). Personally, the first job I took after I graduated only had projects in C++ and the first little while was rough but now I'm more comfortable with C++ than Java :-P. Though I suppose my exposure to C# through RunUO may have helped a little.

[Kitchen_]

Originally Posted by Jeff

you can include them all into the installer, so your point is unfortunately invalid

The point isn't invalid, it's harder to redistribute a game written using XNA.

[DuckyInMyTrucky]

Originally Posted by Macil

I realize games are made with multi-million dollar budgets and hundreds of people. But humor me, please.

Weather I modded another game design or started from scratch, what kinds of skills would I need along the lines of programming (which languages or what not) or schooling would I need if I were interested in such a thing?

I've always kind of had this crazy dream since I was little to make my own game, so like I said, just humor me. I'd really appreciate the input from you guys. =)

Game design can be broke down into so many departments. I recently graduated with my bachelors degree in the field of digital entertainment/game design. When I first started my associates I had no clue what I was wanting to do till the first year was up. Anywho ended up going with rigging as my main focus although I know how to model etc... but anyways if you want to learn some scripting or something to mess around with try out some open source game engine. I'v learned quite a bit of Python and C++ this way from messing around with there source code and forums.

[Pyro-Tech]

one problem i have around here where i live, is that at the universities around here don't have anything where i could "tailor" a coumputer science degree to lean towards gaming. And i agree about ITT and what not....i looked into them and decided against it

the two im looking at as before (DeVry and Westwood) offer the C++ and C# language....Java....

there were four but i can't pull the other one up off hand

and westwood i know for a fact will say bachelor....Devry im not sure tbh....

I know both schools are acredited.....ITT isn't and neither is Full Sail

Game design is what i want to go into....i love the art and the medium and i know im going to be playing games till arthritis kicks my ass...hopefully by the time that im that old, they will have a good fix for it.

Then alsheimers will be a problem...kinda hard to stay into an RPG if you forget it an hour or so later

@ Jeff again: i know your age and seeing the stuff you have done here and i respect the opinion you have put forth and will actually take it into consideration into my current state. I know this thread wasn't for me but it has definatly given me a few things to ask and think about...thank you

[Radwen]

Thing people don't realize is that a bachelor will get you jobs that have nothing to do with your expertise on top of it all.

[Anti-Basic]

Originally Posted by Kitchen_

The point isn't invalid, it's harder to redistribute a game written using XNA.

it takes like 2 seconds to include those things in an installer..

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by Radwen

Thing people don't realize is that a bachelor will get you jobs that have nothing to do with your expertise on top of it all.

pretty much my exact point.

[Pyro-Tech]

another thing that is prolly best advice of all.....ask questions and explore your options. I myself had actually sent out letters to various companies....some i got a canned response from, a couple actually replied back to me.....also request information from any school that has things in the direction you want to go....worst thing that happens is you waste a couple hours reading material and talking to a rep at the school.

and if you are involved in a community like this then ask questions also.....people here are willing to help and offer their advice and opinions and im sure you can find that at other communities as well

Good luck to you either way though

[Macil]

So, which schools are recommended that offer all online courses? My time is relatively scarce and I have permission to do any type of schooling during work hours from my in-laws (who employ me currently).

[Tumeski]

Originally Posted by Macil

So, which schools are recommended that offer all online courses? My time is relatively scarce and I have permission to do any type of schooling during work hours from my in-laws (who employ me currently).

If your interested in doing C++. I would say start with Bloodshed Software - Dev-C++

Bloodshed is free and you can play around with all kind of Opengl programs and also Directx if you get the SDK. Theres a lot of tutorial videos in the internet and also i would still say loan some books from your library that tells about C++ programming and videogame programming with c++.

[Vorspire]

Another good tool for editing is Ultra Edit and DevSharp

[Macil]

I've tried Bloodshed, I like it. It did not go well with my Sams Learn C++ in 21 Days book though... As there were massive typos that caused things to fail to compile properly in the lessons.

As long as we're on the topic of books, what are some good books to get if I were doing it the do-it-yourself way?

[Vorspire]

Originally Posted by Macil

I've tried Bloodshed, I like it. It did not go well with my Sams Learn C++ in 21 Days book though... As there were massive typos that caused things to fail to compile properly in the lessons.

As long as we're on the topic of books, what are some good books to get if I were doing it the do-it-yourself way?

Search for O'Reily

[Suil Ban]

I reccommend tinkering with Managed DirectX in C#. Though somewhat outdated now, learning how it works will give you a good foundation for actually understanding what makes graphics programming tick while sparing you from the horrors that C++ can provide for a beginning programmer. XNA is great for instant results and can be utilized to create fantastic games, the learning curve becomes steep between the tutorials available online and creating games that actually look and feel good.

Diving into programming with the sole intent to create games is something you should experiment with before wasting money on it in college. Programming takes talent and drive, and if you don't have some sort of passion for it, you will flop. To be honest, I don't reccommend investing in a game programming-centered education. You should really learn your way around the world of programming with a broader set of courses and take on game programming as a hobby and possibly an elective in school.

[Kitchen_]

Originally Posted by Anti-Basic

it takes like 2 seconds to include those things in an installer..

Are you speaking from experience or speculation?

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by Kitchen_

Are you speaking from experience or speculation?

either or, hes right...

[Suil Ban]

No, he's not.

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by Suil Ban

No, he's not.

....it takes like 5 clicks to add a dependency installer....

[Vorspire]

And if you use a custom installer creator, then it probably takes 3 clicks in a wizard...

[Suil Ban]

Even if it took one click, it'd still be a turn-off for both developers and end users. I know I wouldn't want to install 25MB in frameworks to play a Bejeweled clone.

[Vorspire]

25mb is nothing these days, unless you're a poor 56k dial-up user.. i see no problem. Framework updates are mandatory now and a lot of programs run on the Framework platform.

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by Suil Ban

Even if it took one click, it'd still be a turn-off for both developers and end users. I know I wouldn't want to install 25MB in frameworks to play a Bejeweled clone.

its not 25mb its 2mb

[Suil Ban]

Originally Posted by Vorspire

25mb is nothing these days, unless you're a poor 56k dial-up user.. i see no problem. Framework updates are mandatory now and a lot of programs run on the Framework platform.

It's not a lot of space, but it's a lot of bulk when you're downloading a 3MB game. I can't think of anything I use regularly that isn't gaming-related or a program I've written myself that utilizes the .NET framework.

[Kitchen_]

Originally Posted by Jeff

its not 25mb its 2mb

That's assuming they have .NET and DirectX.

[skull77]

Originally Posted by Jeff

wow arent you encouraging... way to be a real downer

Well what I said is true. I mean there are some decent engines out there like bigworld and heroengine, but they cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Also, the reason you got denied because you did not have a bachelors is because they assumed you knew next to nothing about programming. Having a bachelor shows you have knowledge of some of the finer points of the programming language you studied, as well as things you may never come across from self-taught programming.