Does anyone have an opinion on these colleges

[Anonymous]

Hi,
I applied to courses in the UK in games, and have found myself in the position of being offered several of them. I have narrowed my choices to 3 of the courses and would appreciate some advice.
the courses are:

Computer Games Design (Story Development) in the University of East London

University of Teesside
Computer Games Design

Game Production Management
University of Abertay Dundee

I’m coming from Ballyfermots CGHND course so I favor the design courses but would my employment prospects be improved any from the production management course?

Also has anyone been to any of these college’s and if so what did you think of them?
Thanks

[Anonymous]

What sort of job are you looking at having – Game Designer leading on to Project Manager \ Producer-y role?

[Anonymous]

Yeah I should have elaborated on that, sorry. Yeah a
"Game Designer leading on to Project Manager \ Producer-y role"
is pretty much what I aspire to. I really enjoy design roles but I want to move up and gain more influence in projects as I gain experience. I know this would point towards the course in Dundee, but I was wondering if it would be better to focus on design in college and then aim to work my way up when(IF) I get into the industry? Also I would really like to find out more about the course outside of "official" channels because I know people that have gone to colleges that look great on paper but don’t live up to it.

[Aphra K]

if you search the education threads there will be some discussion on Abertay alright as quite a few have been there.

didn’t know uni of east of london have a game design course but nifty is in Brunel at the moment and he might know more if you PM him. He was in Ballyfermot before he went over to London this year.

Aphra.

[Anonymous]

Yeah I should have elaborated on that, sorry. Yeah a
"Game Designer leading on to Project Manager \ Producer-y role"
is pretty much what I aspire to. I really enjoy design roles but I want to move up and gain more influence in projects as I gain experience. I know this would point towards the course in Dundee, but I was wondering if it would be better to focus on design in college and then aim to work my way up when(IF) I get into the industry? Also I would really like to find out more about the course outside of "official" channels because I know people that have gone to colleges that look great on paper but don’t live up to it.[/quote:73feec4b31]

Its rare designers move into producing roles, in fact almost never is what ive experienced. But i may be wrong.
Typically it goes QA to design then lead designer..

To become a producer its more likely you start as a junior pro, then assistant pro, then head producer\project manager.

Also you can go into project manager from programming (given enough experience and savvy to manage ppl) but your more in charge of managing the programming side of the project as opposed to a producers who has to keep all balls up in the air.

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys,
that helps a lot, I really appreciate it. This is just what I was hoping to find out, and I hope anyone else with anything else to say will help shed some light :D

[Anonymous]

I’d say to go with the production course if that’s what you really want to do. If you want to work as a designer for a while, then go the design course route. I don’t think you’d be restricted moving from a design to a production role but you might aswell go with production if you’re interested in it, especially since it would probably take a while to establish yourself as a game designer.

Alternatively you could study something completely different that takes your fancy but that would also be useful – having a specific design/production qualification is not a pre-requisite, the vast majority of designers and producers in the games industry did not study on these dedicated courses. Just go with the course that you would find most interesting!

[Anonymous]

Promotion to production from design isn’t a easy route to follow, its probably more luck than anything, and if you’re a good designer, will employers want to promote you producer??
I’d go with the producer course in Dundee. However, do some checking on it, it only began the year after I left Abertay, so its still fairly new. On the plus side, Abertay WILL have industry links…

[Anonymous]

Promotion to production from design isn’t a easy route to follow, its probably more luck than anything, and if you’re a good designer, will employers want to promote you producer??
I’d go with the producer course in Dundee. However, do some checking on it, it only began the year after I left Abertay, so its still fairly new. On the plus side, Abertay WILL have industry links…[/quote:30d43f5953]

Again Omen is right here, design to production is almost never possible. Choose carefully what route you go down, because its very hard to change it. I dont know any producers who were formerly designers.

[Anonymous]

I dont know any producers who were formerly designers.[/quote:9238452b50]
I know producers who’ve been coders, artists and straight from uni. Think I know one that came from Testing too actually…

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

I know quite a few art and design staff that have gone into senior production roles.

[Anonymous]

I dont know any producers who were formerly designers.[/quote:912eaeb2b1]
I know producers who’ve been coders, artists and straight from uni. Think I know one that came from Testing too actually…[/quote:912eaeb2b1]

but none that were designers? :P

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone, this really helps. I’m pretty sure I will stick with design, but you know what its like when you come to a decision that may have a huge impact on the rest of your life and you start to question everything! Again I really appreciate everyone taking the time to give me advice.

[Anonymous]

but none that were designers? [/quote:d3f44e7aff]
Exactly :)

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