Course query

Torakx

I was hoping to get some info on a course I am applying for.

http://applications.bcfe.ie/course-DGH-Higher_National_Diploma_In_Creative_Media_Production_%28Games_Design%29.html
Its in Ballyfermot College.

Basically That is all the info I have.
Course Content:

Contextual Studies for Creative Media Production,Research Techniques for Creative Media Production, Project Design, Implementation and Evaluation, Special Subject Investigation for Creative Media, Practical Skills for Computer Game Design, Computer Games Studies, Career Development for the Computer Games Industry, 2D Digital Graphics for Computer Games, 3D Computer Game Engines, Music and Sound for Computer Games, Ideas Generation for Computer Games, 3D Animation for Computer Games, Computer Game Design Techniques, Level Design for Computer Games, Scripting for Computer Game Design, Human-Computer Interfaces for Computer Games



Has anyone taken this course?
I would like to know a bit more about it.
How prepared I might be to create games and join the workforce afterwards(should work be available).
Im a hobbyist for now and hoping to get into any course that can help me further myself.
Im unsure if i will even qualify.
I have only an apprenticeship with some CAD design.Which I forget mostly.
All of my experience is recent regarding game design.
I use UDK, blender, Gimp and can import modular building assets now and have gotten the hang of UV unwrapping them too among other things.
I dont know if my strong enthusiasm for gaming and game design is enough.
Or the fact I have been very much so involved in online games since about 2004 or so.
Il be applying as a mature student and have never been to college or completed my leaving cert.
Im good at anything I am excited about, but I fear that may not be enough.


Here is an image of some modular buildings I made, to give a very rough example of what I did in a couple of hours.
Since then I have improved and it gets better each day.
This image you can see the UV maps were not great and I had not made the connecting edges of the modular pieces marked sharp as I do now.


So any info is much appreciated.
I have no idea where I stand in relation to other applicants.
Im confident I can complete the course.But it is not me who decides if I will be attending unfortunately lol

Also if someone knows the course content or what will be covered from experience, I would appreciate some advice on areas to start studying now, so I can best be prepared with the ground work beforehand.

Should I make some kind of portfolio to prepare for an interview?
I dont have much prepared at all.Ive mostly been focussed spending hours each day watching tutorials on youtube and trying to implement them into UDK.
Or learning small details like UV unwrapping tips,animation rigging in blender,importing low poly character meshes and so on.
Learning the correct workflow(I think!) as appose to just blocking out the whole thing in BSP geometry.

Im just a bit nervous about the whole thing (college).The more information I have to build a clear picture, the safr i feel about it and the better I can perform.
I dont take on much, but when I do I push it to the limits and obsess about it.

Hope to hear some advice, even if its not relating to this course.
No info is bad info

Thanks.

Torakx

Just got a late spot in a game dev course at Pulse College.
So scratch that.
Thanks for reading anyhow and dont forget to stick your neck out and follow your dreams

COYVB

From speaking to people in the industry at various levels, in various fields, and with different amounts of experience, there seems to be an overriding opinion that the last thing you should do if you want to work in game development is a game development course. It's much more attractive for a company to hire someone who is a specialist in their field, be it physics, art, audio or straight up programming. Game development courses give you crash course primers in everything, but teach you nothing to a high enough standard to get a job.

Of course, if you're using this as a way to figure out what you're best at, or what you want to go on to do a degree in, then it'll probably be a worthwhile exercise - it's just highly unlikely you'll get yourself a job anywhere based on the qualification and experience you'll gain

Torakx

Thanks for the advice.
I had actually been thinking this for some time myself.
The course I am in is decent enough that I will learn new skills.
I cannot say yet though to what extent in each area.

My thoughts were to use this as a springboard to go onto higher education hopefully through the CAO and into a university.
Of course I will certainly be open to taking on work if I get the chance.But I dont hold my breath.

I think that programming seems the most solid skill to have in this industry.
Although I am quite creative in general and seem to pick up everything really fast.So im not sure what direction to go in.
Its looking like enviornment building, making assets via 3d modelling is where I have come from and excell the most.
Im still unsure how good I would be at programming.
Im only ok at concept art,maybe not skilled enough to be above average in the industry with training and focus.

My original plan was to learn enough to be able to make my own games on the side, no matter what else I do.
Even IOS games and possibly start a group or solo project, to get something sold aswell later on.

Still very much open to any info at all relating to any of these things.
Wages between job types etc.
Good fetac level 7's if any.
Or just inspiration for different directions to head.

Im sure many are watching this thread also thinking the same things as me

FewFew

Torakx wrote: »

Thanks for the advice.
I had actually been thinking this for some time myself.
The course I am in is decent enough that I will learn new skills.
I cannot say yet though to what extent in each area.

My thoughts were to use this as a springboard to go onto higher education hopefully through the CAO and into a university.
Of course I will certainly be open to taking on work if I get the chance.But I dont hold my breath.

I think that programming seems the most solid skill to have in this industry.
Although I am quite creative in general and seem to pick up everything really fast.So im not sure what direction to go in.
Its looking like enviornment building, making assets via 3d modelling is where I have come from and excell the most.
Im still unsure how good I would be at programming.
Im only ok at concept art,maybe not skilled enough to be above average in the industry with training and focus.

My original plan was to learn enough to be able to make my own games on the side, no matter what else I do.
Even IOS games and possibly start a group or solo project, to get something sold aswell later on.

Still very much open to any info at all relating to any of these things.
Wages between job types etc.
Good fetac level 7's if any.
Or just inspiration for different directions to head.

Im sure many are watching this thread also thinking the same things as me

You really just need to start making those games, you're exactly right on that bit. Most of the advice I've heard on getting a job in the games industry is just the same as journalism (me in a former life) If you want that job, you just have to start doing it. Ireland is currently jam-packed with game developers and studios and so on, and so many haven't released a game, so getting that game out there is a massive step up. It might not change the world, or be something you'll want to show off in a few years time, but at least it'll show how you've taken a product from beginning to end. Plus, if you're good at it, you can maybe set up a company of your own.

Next I'd say take part in game jams. Lots and lots of game jams. Not only do you learn how to work to a deadline, you also generate content and meet people you might work with again later.

By the way, I'm not talking as some old pro, I'm quite new to it too, but the above will be told to you every time you ask the question of someone established internationally in the industry.

Torakx

Do you think I am at a level for game jams?
Im able to use 3ds max and blender now for 3d assets.
Also thanks to pulse college I can now use photoshop fairly well for texturing.
But I still feel like im a newb overall,could do alot of stuff, but I might be a little slow doing it lol
Maybe not at a level for game jams.
If its 2d games only im stuck to only being able to do pixel art in phtoshop or maybe basic unity stuff.
Have messed around with construct 2 and gamemaker, but not really looked at them properly yet.
College is keeping me busy enough.

http://dublingamecraft.com/2013/04/23/dublin-gamecraft-3-comin-at-ya-pow/
Heres one for May 18th
But you need to bring your own hardware, so thats me out.Im not gonna lug my massive desktop setup

But from the looks of these game jams, im getting hopefull.
8-12 hours to make a game and you can use any programs and tools you like.
If I can get a hold of a laptop in the future I think i will go to one of them.

TPD

I always wondered, at those game jams - are you allowed to bring old code you've written before?