Software Developer

Burkie7

I'm a young 19 year old from Dublin just got accepted into a Fas Software Developer course that is starting in 2 weeks time.

Just wondering if you can give me any hints and tips and insight into this type of work because I am doing it in prepration of going into Computer Game Devolpment when I finish.

Thank you.

Smoggy

If there is customisation in the course, elect to do modules that are maths and physics based, to give you a grounding in software games dev.

Mr. Loverman

Computer game development normally requires very strong maths skills.

How is your maths?

amen

Computer game development normally requires very strong maths skills.

not only that they normally want you educated to degree level.

Havok which make a physics/games SDK for the likes of the PS2/3, XBox360 etc normally want a Master as minimum and often want a PHd in Physics or Maths.

3D graphics involves a lot maths and the modeling of real systems (human movement, waves, airflow etc) requires a high degree of physics and maths.

That said you could be very gifted and get a job without the above but I think it will be very hard.

I even think it will be very hard to get a job a developer without a 4 year degree.

Go to college to do Maths, Physics or Computer Science would be your best bet,

gollem_1975

I would not expect to go immediately into computer game development after a 6-9 month Fas course.. unless you have already been programming games at home in your own time or unless it is a course specifically in computer games programming.

its more likely that at the end of your course you will have to apply for unpaid 9 month WPP s/w dev positions.

you will have a better idea as to what the work will be like when you finish the course would be very difficult to explain to you at this stage if you have limited understanding or experience of what programming actually entails.

if you take the course and end up enjoying programming as a result you will be ahead of many of your peers when it comes to applying for actual jobs.

Saint_Mel

AIT do a 4 year degree course in S/W Games Design/Development

Linky Here

Also, is FAS being scrapped next year? Just caught the tail end of the news on the radio at lunch time and they were talking about it

Burkie7

Maths was one of my weak subjects did Foundation and got a C+ and I didn't do Physics in the Leaving Cert but working in Computer Games is something I always wanted to do so I'm going to try my best anyway. When I finish the Fas course I plan on going to College and doing : http://applications.bcfe.ie/course-LUDO-Computer_Games_And_Interactive_Entertainment_Developement.html and after it http://applications.bcfe.ie/course-CGH-Higher_National_Diploma_In_Computer_Games_Design.html then when I finish these look for a job, Just a dream at the moment but do you think I stand no chance?

Also this is the Fas Course : http://jobseeker.fas.ie/Default.aspx?q=iSRIxZhfcq1m5f+Y0OsKti+tyY9zujTiZWK69Vph4eGy80q6eP/me/O820kwhR+nCxC15RkeGVKn2xvNcyfC8b41jZZ7HGg6zOHn2s46VD2yRNQ80qhFh1dyo2T8SY6tj/tBj9hw91yxDAwIfd5E3nN597FJCSJybF7Qehg3gyxqExjusdB8Edmzxf3kn91SeH+pV+Wm+AimLk1XdgK/c/DxYIQ0nr7tAslCojp1fCBm990riolI1aripolwTGxsY7KC/CHJHGDmeGltRIvekctfkHUYHX05XMO1/FXKPxO+pABAxE/IzmWgtYG+OGBt9862MCklv6+1f77ow8ZhwBribK5luhR3qmTqH5AivGQo6NhHQusPtRVpk8nns57Qq0wA92xyXk1szA0OMjeff67njDMOavziTH1vgjeaSKk=

pieface_ie

Maths was one of my weak subjects did Foundation and got a C+

Don't let it deter you (nothing is impossible) , you have time on your side, if its what you really want to do id do what people have said once you finish the FAS course, go to third level education to pursue it further.

In the meantime get some maths foundation books and bring yourself up to speed as if you don't you might get lost with it in college.

Burkie7

pieface_ie wrote: »

Don't let it deter you (nothing is impossible) , you have time on your side, if its what you really want to do id do what people have said once you finish the FAS course, go to third level education to pursue it further.

In the meantime get some maths foundation books and bring yourself up to speed as if you don't you might get lost with it in college.

Thats what I plan on doing their is 2 links in me previous post with the 2 courses I hope to do.

And looks like that is the best thing to do I get very frustrated with Maths but going to work hard at it.

jimmycrackcorm

amen wrote: »

not only that they normally want you educated to degree level.

Havok which make a physics/games SDK for the likes of the PS2/3, XBox360 etc normally want a Master as minimum and often want a PHd in Physics or Maths.

3D graphics involves a lot maths and the modeling of real systems (human movement, waves, airflow etc) requires a high degree of physics and maths.

That said you could be very gifted and get a job without the above but I think it will be very hard.

I even think it will be very hard to get a job a developer without a 4 year degree.

Go to college to do Maths, Physics or Computer Science would be your best bet,

It's incorrect to over-emphasize the maths requirement for games development. The example of Havok is that they provide the physics engine that defines game behaviour, but that engine itself is used by games developers without the same level of maths.

6679

You can easily do create games without going into the Maths or Physics behind it by using XNA.

Obviously it is very useful to know it and understand it.

As for computer graphics you really do need to understand the Maths and Physics like for one of my assignments we had to make an 3D object move around the screen by using Hookes law and Euler method so this is the type of stuff you would need to incorporate into code not exactly easy stuff.

But yeah much like pieface_ie if you work hard there is no reason why you cant become good at it. Most of my class maths did lower level Maths for the LC. Come to think it of the best programmer in my class (who cracked the eircom wep ssid) was terrible at Maths.

I would actually love to do this course as I wasnt the best programmer in my class and I would help me fill in the gaps in some things I struggle with.

Burkie7

Thanks for all the feedback people, I start on Monday and don't know what to expect hope I can stick at it because I say it will be a very exciting and fun job in the long-term.