Which career road to go down?

Originally Posted by metalangel

which was basically three years of a drunken shagfest

Why don't they make qualifications for this?! WHY!!!!

As for the university, yes I'll probably skip that, the only reason it came into my mind is because they have the software and the money to pay for things like that whereas, I dont

I work in the games industry and know very few who actually got a job off the back of a degree. The best people get hired from enthusiasm and showing their talent through their own projects, be it designing game mods or pen and paper/board game stuff.
If you really want to be a games designer, I'd reccomend looking at what type of designer you'd like to be (level design or game-mechanics designer, basically) and start reading up about what is required, maybe play with some game tools like unrealED or try writing your own games design docs. Learning to program as a designer is not necessary but learning to script is often part of the job, although that can be learned in the level designing tools themselves.
It's certainly not the easiest industry to break into but once you're in and making connections it's fairly easy to move around and it's a great working environment - no other job I've been at has had free beer, smoothies and ice cream, all day, every day

Originally Posted by femaleacid

Why don't they make qualifications for this?!

It's probably the most useful skill I came away from university with... a skilled tongue and magic hands

Originally Posted by metalangel

It's probably the most useful skill I came away from university with... a skilled tongue and magic hands

Please give me the name of this university - IM GOING.
Qualification or not LOL

Originally Posted by cF^

I work in the games industry and know very few who actually got a job off the back of a degree. The best people get hired from enthusiasm and showing their talent through their own projects, be it designing game mods or pen and paper/board game stuff.
If you really want to be a games designer, I'd reccomend looking at what type of designer you'd like to be (level design or game-mechanics designer, basically) and start reading up about what is required, maybe play with some game tools like unrealED or try writing your own games design docs. Learning to program as a designer is not necessary but learning to script is often part of the job, although that can be learned in the level designing tools themselves.
It's certainly not the easiest industry to break into but once you're in and making connections it's fairly easy to move around and it's a great working environment - no other job I've been at has had free beer, smoothies and ice cream, all day, every day

If I was an employer I'd be the same, I'd look for enthusiasm and determination rather than a gazillion A levels.

I just have nobody who is also interested in this therefore, I can't really learn unless I play around with things and lets face it, it'll take me years but I suppose it's worth it.

It doesn't take as long as you might think to pick up the basics, everyone has to start somewhere. I made my own game level by getting up at 6am and working for 2 hours before work started. Only took me 3ish month to put a small level I'm proud of together. There's plenty of helpful sites out there

Originally Posted by cF^

It doesn't take as long as you might think to pick up the basics, everyone has to start somewhere. I made my own game level by getting up at 6am and working for 2 hours before work started. Only took me 3ish month to put a small level I'm proud of together. There's plenty of helpful sites out there

Wow, I actually envy you right now lol. I want to just do something different, because it seems now the game industry is either just 1st person shooters or MMORPG.

I take my hat off to blizard!

Originally Posted by femaleacid

Please give me the name of this university - IM GOING.
Qualification or not LOL

Cardiff. I recommend doing some field work to practice with the locals as well as your fellow students.

Originally Posted by femaleacid

I take my hat off to billzard!

*UNABLE TO CONNECT TO THE SERVICE {3003}*

I didn't go to University, but I wouldn't write it off - a lot of interviews now ask about theory which is more difficult to get just by learning from books etc (certainly the jobs I go for tho I work for a compiler company).
If you do decide to go to University, ensure that the course you do isn't too specific to games design etc. My nephew recently did a games design degree (at Stafford) but at the end of it, he can program in both C and Java. He now works for a bank in London.

Originally Posted by metalangel

Cardiff. I recommend doing some field work to practice with the locals as well as your fellow students.



*UNABLE TO CONNECT TO THE SERVICE {3003}*

I meant Blizzard not Billzard haha, this is why I hate Macs.

And Cardiff here I come.
If I'm not back on the forum in a few week I think you know why