<p>Hello everyone, I'm a current senior getting ready to apply to college. I wanna get into programming and stuff for video games companies like ubisoft, naughty dog, bungie, etc. If not video games, I would like to work for a company like Google, or Microsoft. I was wondering what the difference between computer science and computer engineering is? And what advice can you give me about programming. Also, what colleges are good for computer science or computer engineering in California? (home state)</p>
<p>“Hello everyone, I’m a current senior getting ready to apply to college. I wanna get into programming and stuff for video games companies like ubisoft, naughty dog, bungie, etc.”</p>
<p>Be prepared to not make it.</p>
<p>“If not video games, I would like to work for a company like Google, or Microsoft.”</p>
<p>Be prepared to not make it.</p>
<p>“I was wondering what the difference between computer science and computer engineering is?”</p>
<p>CS = data handling, software, algorithmics
CE = how to design and build a computer</p>
<p>“And what advice can you give me about programming.”</p>
<p>Program a lot.</p>
<p>“Also, what colleges are good for computer science or computer engineering in California? (home state)”</p>
<p>Stanford, UC-Berkeley, CalTech, USC…</p>
<p>UCLA is another great school with a phenomenal Engineering program (we sent the first messages on ARAPNET, the precursor of the Internet, to Stanford).</p>
<p>@reactor why do you say that?</p>
<p>From a strict scheduling point of view engineering has a set of required courses that you take in sequence so there’s little if any space for electives. with a CS major you can easily add a minor and the requirements are more flexible.</p>
<p>Also how is Cal Poly SLO’s computer science program?</p>
<p>Top 2, “seems to be never searched on and re-hashed 100 times” topics on CC engineering threads:</p>
<p>1) Does the school name matter?
2) Computer Science vs. Computer Engineering</p>
<p>S-E-A-R-C-H</p>
<p>Reactor says that because the video game industry and those top companies you specified are very difficult to get a job in. It is very competitive, so you will need to really devote a lot of time building up skills outside of the classroom if you want a good shot. You need to build a good set of games to show off to companies doing game development, and you would probably want to get involved with graphics and various game engines.</p>
<p>"@reactor why do you say that?"</p>
<p>As aerokid1491 clarified, the aspirations that you’re displaying are probably the same as for most or at least many people studying in the field. Everyone knows the big and prestigious companies or fun industries (the video game industry). You’re competing with a lot of people, and not everyone can make it, because the positions are either non-existent or very limited in quantity, so be prepared to not make it. Or, if you’re smart, figure out some other motivations for studying the subject, so that you won’t be disappointed, when you can’t reach your “dream job”. One can have dreams, but don’t count on reaching them, especially if they’re popular or you don’t happen to be one of those exceptionally talented and hardworking people.</p>
<p>“CE = how to design and build a computer”</p>
<p>Most of the guys who actually design and build our boards are EE’s (for products of complexity similar to an iPhone…)</p>
<p>Many CE’s are ‘systems engineers’ responsible for customer requirements, high level integration, testing, and the such, or for board level programming (Board Support Packages).</p>
<p>Much of the software is done by EE’s and CE’s. </p>
<p>There’s a handful of CS people doing mostly application level programming and user interface (that’s me). </p>
<p>This is for internet enabled consumer electronics products of varying complexity, from basic media player type stuff to multicore Linux based systems…</p>
<p>Okay. Thank you all. Either way, I’m gonna major in CE. Whether I get into the game industry or not. Thanks for the comments, I know most people have my dream, but not all are willing to chase it.</p>
<p>Also, what else should I do if I wanna be able to reach my “dream job”?</p>
<p>Too much negativity; you’ll make it.</p>
<p>@Basic10 I don’t mind the negativity. It makes me want to try harder and and put even more effort in everything I do.</p>
<p>@Basic10 and thank you!</p>
<p>Wouldn’t CS be a much better major for the game industry?</p>
<p>@ulianjay I would believe so. A few posts back I said I was going to major in CE but I meant CS. My mistake. I heard Cal Poly SLO is a good place to start off and they help you to get a job. Can anyone elaborate?</p>
<p>In mobile platforms the programmer needs to be way more aware of the environment the code runs than if it were some array of servers… also the connectivity becomes a big part of the experience in many games and it’s more CE than CS.</p>
<p>Whichever route, be flexible and load up on the basics.</p>