Game Design: Schools and Courses

For a while now, I've been looking at a career in the video game industry, in game design. I've been looking at colleges around the Montreal area, seeing as there are so many studios there, it seems one could get a good education on the subject. I was hoping someone could point out which courses are most important, and any other possible schools which I should look at.

The majority of sites I have read have in common: strong language skills and communication, from there it variates into multiple other courses. I'm hoping to find people who are pursuing a similar career track, and have some knowledge of which schools are the best, as well as primary courses to take.

 

No idea about courses, well in Canada at least, and I ain't a designer...but the gist generally goes, experience counts a lot more than the course, so don't just look at doing a directly related course because it'll limit your outlook. Look at something that relates to the real world because it'll give you further options not just in games. Language skills and management skills are pretty important and you could get those in a variety of courses and do some stuff in the mod community...

 

I am a designer working in the UK and if you have not picked your course yet, it might be an idea to look at a more pure course to keep your options open, i came from a pure Computer Science background and this has helped me no end.

It also means you have more techical abilites which are definitely a worthwhile commodity in modern game design....

...just my two pence anyway

 

That's true, apart from a few of the artists and programmers, most have a varied background around where I work and where I used to work. Mine's industrial design and technology, some people are hotel and tourism management, some were pure science geeks etc.

 

Those courses are great for teaching you which levels to tighten the graphics on.

 

More seriously, if you set up a website on which you'd hosted some kick-ass levels or mods you've built for a couple of different games, that'd probably get your foot in the door somewhere.

 

For the Montreal area, you should take a look at the program offered by Champlain College. I believe they have a satellite campus in Montreal.

 

Perhaps a bit late for a reply...

If you don't mind heading out to Vancouver, they have a great Game Design program there.

http://www.vfs.com/fulltime.php?id=14

I would recommend brushing up on programming, however, as others have stated. The design jobs I know of seem to require most scripting knowledge than outright programming, but it helps to have the syntax down. It also makes you a much more valuable person to a team when deciding on final teams for the final project.

In a nutshell: VFS allows you to make a team, and create a game in six months and then allow you to show it off to all of the local (and sometimes out of town) developers at what is called 'Industry Night'. This course isn't just about learning something, it is about enabling you to show off your skills as a team and as individuals.

BE FOREWARNED!

VFS isn't a school... it is a showcase. Come fueled with passion, and ready made design talent. They can only teach you so much about design, but it is about how you apply yourself in the end.

Be ready to give up one year of your life to games. If you can do it, then you are ready for the Industry.

Stay frosty.

- B

 

What the hell is THAT supposed to mean? Reason #452 TheCarver is wary of game design schools: teaching crunch as a proper method of game development.

 

Well I meant more in that you will live, eat, breathe and sleep games. The ideology is to 'work smarter, not longer.' That comment is more towards keeping up with gaming news, playing as many different types of games as possible, learning, reading and writing gaming articles and (in this case) actually making a game in a relatively short amount of time.

Some people just like the fantasy idea of 'making their own game' but that's not what it's about. The passion has to be there... otherwise they should pack up and go home.

I find if time is managed properly, one can do anything.

 

I agree with Anathema...a comp sci, engineering or art degree before you design sets you up for success. While there will always be exceptions (Portal), I don't see the majority of "game design grads" possessing the skills to score a full-on design gig.

Everyone has ideas...lots of artists and programmers with significant experience would have a greater chance of success at a design role. Why would I hire a fresh grad vs. trying a proven performer?

Design grads are more likely to be routed through QA or an assistant production role to gain experience and become less fluffy. If you take such a course, be prepared to do less glorious work than you might expect.

 

I'd suggest this over an actual design course. I just don't agree you can go to school and come out a game designer. I'd also suggest you get a gig as QA or dev support and learn the industry from within, as well both of these roles usually help design with tasks and you can use this to build skillsets and see if it is something you want to do. In a school they will teach you theory and other bullshit that may be good for scoping out an idea but no one is going to teach you about the passion, how to deal with programmers and artists properly.

As for VFS, I have sat through a few of their students final courses to review their games and give feedback and while it is a good course to take in Canada I do agree it's not going to teach you much, just give you the tools to be successful y pairing you with some talent and letting you guys develop a prototype game.

I also do agree getting skills in something else like art or comp sci will pay off way more down the road even in design. Designers to me are the jack of all trades, we need to be sponges, learn programmer GUI's they create so we can do edits, fudge values, etc. so the more diverse your skillset the better.

 

guildhall

We've taken several people from Guildhall since I've been up in my current office, and they have worked out very nicely. I would say that whatever the curriculum they might have there for game design, they are teaching prospective designers the right stuff