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How to Get A Degree in Games Design and Animation
New Straits Times
KNOWLEDGE of computer languages such as C/C++ and Java is essential for programmers and experience of particular tools is essential for designers.
Knowledge and skills in other areas such as mathematics, object physics, gaming console architecture and gaming aesthetics and genres are also necessary.
Besides computer science, geography and urban planning are associated with in-game landscape, building and community recreation; engineering and physics are essential to the realistic simulation of vehicles; history is useful for accurate re-creations of events, characters and societies; the arts for character development, and music for sound effects.
Computer games are increasingly used to support teaching and learning, so games designers should have skills in curriculum design and pedagogy as well.
Games design involves many disciplines of knowledge, skill and competency. Graphic design is one of them. Someone with graphic design qualifications may be able to support in terms of 3D models and animation, visual communication, narrative, user interface design and human-computer interaction.
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FutureElements
about 1 year ago
28 comments
I would like to add to this article by saying there are a lot of schools out there now that offer game design as a program. You do need to decide what area of the game you want to specialize in so that will help determine what school you choose. Seeing that this is an Art site I would think that most of you would be into designing Characters, Environments and vehicles. So I have a few recommendations that offer some great programs from getting a degree to to just taking a few classes. I would start with Gnomon which is located in Hollywood California and they offer classes from 3d to Concept design. They also offer several DVD's that include instructions from some of the top game designers out there. They have lots of stuff to offer on their website so it is worth a look if you haven't seen it yet http://www.gnomonschool.com/. Then there is Art Center College of design in Pasadena California, which is really strong in the concept area of game design ie, character, environment and vehicle design. There is the Art Institute which specializes in several aspects of game design and they have campuses all over. Then there are several that offer online courses and some of the schools are listed on www.CGsociety.org . If you are looking for experience there are several non payed teams online that people have put together just to make video games to try to sell to the big guys. It might not make you rich but it gives you experience. One of the success stories of a group of people getting together and creating a game is called Project Offset www.projectoffset.com. They assembled a team of people and really took off. It shows the quality level that the game industry is looking for and can give you an idea of what it takes. I can speak from experience that this is one of my favorite things to do as far as design. I love designing the vehicles and environments and you can really let you imagination go wild because you can deviate from real world technology. Just thought I would add my two cents to the article. Some other great websites for for resources on this would be
www.cgsociety.org
www.conceptart.org
www.futureelements.net
www.drawthrough.com
www.designstudiopress.com
www.deviantart.com