Best colleges for Computer Gaming major? [CT resident, 3.6 GPA, small environment, with merit based financial aid]

Note that of the upper level electives or requirements offered to general CS majors are ones that those going into game development should know the content of:

  • Operating systems: every program, including a game, interacts with the operating system (or is the operating system), and some concepts are necessary to understand if the game uses the hardware’s full capabilities.
  • Algorithms and complexity: a game, like any other program, cannot take too much time or resources when running.
  • Graphics: obvious applicability to games.
  • Artificial intelligence: games often have computer opponents or third parties.
  • Security: need to protect against cheating.
  • Networking: many games are played over computer networks.
  • Database: many games depend on managing a lot of data.
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Thank you, very useful information

I know that our neighbor went to school decades ago, and has a strong graphics background, but I don’t know much about her CS coursework, other than she said she “lacks experience”. I know she said it is very competitive in gaming.

I’ve been retired since 2014 so my comment may be a bit dated. I did a lot of work on user interfaces and computer graphics, and worked with several people with degrees in either in game design, or who had CS degrees with an emphasis on game development. They had degrees from Sacramento State, San Francisco Academy of Art, and UC Santa Cruz. They were doing the same non-game applications that I was working on. My point is that those kinds of degrees can qualify you for regular CS jobs as well as computer games jobs.

It’s hard to make a good living developing games. So many programmers want to do it that there’s an oversupply, which drives down salaries.

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Champlain College seems like a fitting choice. Nestled in the picturesque college town of Burlington, Vermont, it provides a conducive atmosphere for academic pursuits. The institution is particularly strong in offering writing support, which could be beneficial for his needs. With its small, tight-knit community, Champlain ensures a supportive environment. Moreover, it boasts a diverse range of majors in the gaming and computer science fields, along with comprehensive career guidance. It essentially encompasses all the criteria you’re seeking and is conveniently accessible from Connecticut.

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I appreciate your perspective. Thanks!

Small, supportive environment is important. Thank you for your comments. Are you an alum?

My daughter formed the first pass of her list based on this one:

She ended up applying to 7 schools on this list after more research.

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We did see that. Thanks!

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