IT Course NUIG

Yedya

Hi guys,Im currently in the LC and want to do programming in college.I live in galway but i want to do the Multi Media and Computer game development in UL.
My friend told me i could do it NUIG? But does the IT course actually focus on Programming? is it better then the one in UL? Really stress out about this

TheCosmicFrog

I'm in second IT at the moment. Ask any questions you like.

As regards to programming, you do a lot of programming in First-Year using C. In Second-Year you use Java and learn object-oriented programming. You also learn a bit of JavaScript and learn how to make a Pacman game using Java. The Third-Years learn Objective-C and iPhone development.

Anything else you want to know?

Raging_Ninja

The 4 year BSc in IT is quite good from what I'm told. If you do good in it you'd get a job very handily afterwards. IT is still a growth sector in Ireland, the only people in the sector who leave the country do so out of choice, not necessity.

Fisher Calhoun

TheCosmicFrog wrote: »

I'm in second IT at the moment. Ask any questions you like.

As regards to programming, you do a lot of programming in First-Year using C. In Second-Year you use Java and learn object-oriented programming. You also learn a bit of JavaScript and learn how to make a Pacman game using Java. The Third-Years learn Objective-C and iPhone development.

Anything else you want to know?

What he said. The 4 year BSc is quite programming heavy compared to some other Digital Media/Game Design courses. That said, the course was revamped this year and the subjects are aimed to cover more digital media/creativity subjects alongside the programming ones. It's a great course if you're interested in IT, have a logical mind and want to learn to code.

Yedya

Hmm ok thanks guys! Em I wana work for game dev company when im done one of the 4 year courses.

TheCosmicFrog wrote: »

I'm in second IT at the moment. Ask any questions you like.

As regards to programming, you do a lot of programming in First-Year using C. In Second-Year you use Java and learn object-oriented programming. You also learn a bit of JavaScript and learn how to make a Pacman game using Java. The Third-Years learn Objective-C and iPhone development.

Anything else you want to know?

So its that much based around game development? iPhone development ect?

PauricTheLodger

I wouldn't suggest it for what you want to go into. Game Dev may slowly become a proper part of the course but you'd be better off going into a course that is specifically for it because it won't be for a while.

I'd still recommend going in to the IT department or give them a ring and see what they can suggest for you. Even if it isn't the right fit, some of them in there would probably be able to recommend the best one for you.

Yedya

Cheers

Fisher Calhoun

I guess it all depends on what aspect of game development you want to be involved in. Remember that games need programmers too to design the engines that the games are built on and, well, near everything else. The thing is, if you want to get into the media design side (2D Art, 3D Modelling, Level Design, Sound Engineer, etc) then a pure IT course isn't going to cover that in sufficient detail. If you want to be a programmer, though, it'd be a good choice.

aperture_nuig

I'm doing Electronic & Computer Engineering, but might be able to offer some help/advice. We do most of the same programming courses as the IT guys, so I would know most of what they know in that regard. Myself and one of my friends have made one or two games in our spare time from stuff we've found on the internet, so it's not really that difficult to learn games programming even if you aren't in a dedicated programming course.

Most/all IT/programming courses start off in the same place anyway, IMHO, so you really shouldn't dismiss the IT course in galway just because it doesn't have dedicated games modules! I mean, my course is mostly about learning how phones and other embedded devices work, and yet in the summer I'm heading out on a games internship. So what I'm really saying is, you're not losing a whole lot by not studying a dedicated games course.

Columc

the IT course in galwat s quite good, the friends/epople i know who have attended it seem to quite enjoy it.

If you want to pick a course over a game development module, then its not worth it. Game development is one of the hardest markets to break into, recently you see coleges coming out with new modules for game developments, but really they just show how to create simple games and noting to major.

If you really are determined to break into the video game market, there really are no major courses around Ireland that will do it for you, There are some but it wont give you a major advantage. Do an IT course and in your spare time read up and buy books about development in video games.

If you really want to break into the video game market, do a good degree and get a good grade(read 1.1) and while in college build up a portfolio, must computer game companies would want you to give some sort of protfolio when apply/interviews, these are the key parts of breaking into the game industry. Other ways is to try and get jobs in QA(Quality Assurance) this will put you in the company and then from that you can break away and show your skill to ether game development,game design or game producer.

this is a market in which i want to become a part of eventually, I nearly had a great chance in working in a game development company as my work placement but the retarded placement office told me otherwise! While in my spare time I am working up my portfolio and thinking up and designing new games in my spare time. Granted none of them will be good towards quality, but think about minecraft, its a very simple concept that has made the dude millions now from it!

keesa

I'm in the BA IT. Most of what we've done is programming. B.Sc has a focus on maths and more programming languages from what I've heard. Though we've done Python, and I'm not sure the 4th BSc class have, but then they started Java first, we only did it in final year.

But yeah, there's a strong programming focus