[jHof]

Now maybe I just to don't know what major I should get. But, ideally, I would like to be a concept/texture/background/skinner artist for a game company. In my head I figured that a major in Illustrations would be the way to go for this position. (I really don't know if there is a better choice.)

The Art Institute of Phoenixrecently started offering a BS degree in "Game Art & Design". I had them send me out more info on the courses in this 3 year adventure that is in the 53,000 price range.

Course goes as fallowed:

====================================
[Quarters 1 through 3]
(Techniques and Skill Development)
Computer Paint
Computer Science
Image Manipulation
Introduction to Animation
Modeling

(Art Foundation)
Analysis of Form
Color Theory
Fundamentals of Design
Fundamentals of Drawing
Life Drawing
Perspective
Video Camera & Lighting Techniques

(General Education)
Art History
College Algebra
English Composition I

[Quarters 4 through 6]
(Techniques and Skill Development)
Advanced 3D Animation
Animation Layout & Scenic Design
Basic 3D Animation
Broadcast Graphics
Character Study
Digital Audio/Video
Game Design & Gameplay
Inside Multimedia
Intermediate 3D Animation
Level Design
Programming for the Artist

(Art Foundation)
Illustration

(General Education)
Humanities
Psychology
Speech

[Quarters 7 through 9]
(Techniques and Skill Development)
Advanced Character Animation
Advanced Level Design
Advanced Low-Polygon Modeling
Animation for Multimedia
Computer Simulations
Designing Interior Spaces & Worlds
Interface Design
Mapping for Digital Media
Writing for Media

(Art Foundation)
Advanced Animation Drawing
Introduction to Architecture

(General Education)
Critical Thinking
English Composition II
History of Popular Culture

[Quarters 10 through 12]
(Techniques and Skill Development)
Advanced 2D Animation
Advanced Game Production Team
Advanced Game Prototyping
Interactive Game Prototyping
Production Team
Professional Career Development
Project Preparation
Senior Project

(Art Foundation)
Advanced Illustration

(General Education)
Environmental Science
Ethics
Sociology
General Education Electives (2)
====================================

Cool sounding stuff for some one who prolly doesn't know a thing about making games.

3D Studio Max and Maya are the Digi-Animation programs used.

Question is... Is this to broad of a Degree? Coming out of this, do you think I'd have a shot at working at a game company? They have Illustration in this and "Advanced Illustration", but it's like how advanced is it, compared to a 4 year Major for Illustration.

I'm wondering on your opions about what you would choose if you had to make the choice.

Focus on a Major for Illustration and pick up the game design after your hired?

- Or -

Get a good broad range of Game Design and focus on sharpening your skillz to match the potential of what an Major in Illustration could have gotton?

And, yes, it's all in the person to make yourself better even after a Major. But I'm just thinking you might get more painting in if you go for a Major... Where as the Game Design BS is some what everything.

If anyone here is going to AIpx, let me know what you think. This is a new course, only a few colleges are offering this. So it could possible not get you anything besides a big lump of money that is owed. Someone with a BS in Game Design, will they jsut get laughed by game companys, or do yout think this might actually turn out to be a new area of Study?

I'm interested in hearing what you all think. If more information is needed, let me know.

Thanks for your time!

jHof

[ April 23, 2001: Message edited by: jHof ]

[Subhuman]

That is a lot of money.

[kerosene]

Try checking out through gamecompanies sites. They sometimes have lists of recommended schools. Does this school hve web gallery of stuff their students have done. That tells a lot. So many schools produce crap no matter what tools and cool sounding curriculums.

Ask also in concept design forum for hints. There are guys that work in gaming industry.

Team Gt hosts the forum

53 000$ - that is crazy.

I am so happy living in Finland. The education is free and as student I get around 170$ for my rent monthly + 200$ for living expenses.

I am kind of taking an extra yer here exploiting the facilities and trying to learn as much as possible as I think I can't aford studies in California (I used to dream about Art Center, Pasadena)

heikki anttila


ProjectKerosene

[pixualize]

Last time I checked the Art Institute of Dallas they had a similar setup for around $65,000 which is one of the reasons I'm still stuck in Tec Support

If ya can - I say go for it.

[Ysg]

I'm a student at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, the tuition is about $49,000 I've got a scholarship that pays about 75 percent of that and I also have a student loan and parental support

Anyways, I came in just wanting to do video games but It looks like I'll leave with the skills to do hollywood sfx, cartoon animation, video post production, storyboarding, and other good skills. It's a good school, I even learned stuff about photoshop and I thought I knew it all, heheh. If you work hard you'll see your work go to Siggraph, heck a student here just got accepted to the Society of Illustrators.

oh yeah... I got rid of all my general education classes at a community college basically for free because of scholarships, this helps you get thru faster. Remember, they raise the tuition every few years so you better hurry.

[ April 26, 2001: Message edited by: Ysg ]