Need help with major decision

College Majors Visual Arts and Film Majors
1

<p>Hey all. As the title says, I need help with a decision. I'll put a little of background info about myself if it helps with responses:</p>

<p>-I'm at UCF right now, heading into my second year.
-I was a Film major up until a few weeks ago, I am now Digital Media with a centralization on Game Design (at UCF you have to choose between a centralization on Game or Web Design when selecting Digital Media as a major, so I chose game)
-I chose to minor in Cinema Studies.
-I tried researching the catalog and bachelor's description from UCF, but it is somewhat hard to decipher, so that is why I'm asking questions here.</p>

<p>Now, here's some questions that I have.</p>

<p>-Do you learn any animation in Game Design? I really would like to be able to do things like character stuff (like making a character jump, dash, performing a "special move", punch, kick, etc.) for primarily video games (or any form of media). I'd also like to be able to learn how to actually create those fictional characters you see all the time in video games and make them "come to life" (for lack of a better phrase).</p>

<p>-Am I wasting my time minoring in Cinema Studies? Truth be told, I only minored in it because I had already taken two classes that were requirements from my original major, so I figured if I already took the classes then why change. I ask if I'm wasting my time because I don't know if I'm really going to need this. As I said, I want to do more along the lines of creating characters, making them perform certain actions, textures, environmental art, editing, story, pretty much everything related to video games (or other media if need be).</p>

<p>-Does Game Design really teach you things like how to make levels/missions, create environments/characters, cutscenes, basically everything you see in a video game? What about special effects (like breathing fire, shooting ice balls, shooting blasts from the hand)? Or does it only focus on programming and coding? </p>

<p>-If Game Design doesn't do these things, what major does?</p>

<p>I know these questions may sound silly, but I am still relatively new to the whole process and I just want to make sure that I'm not wasting my time thinking that I'm doing something I want when in actuality I'm not.</p>

<p>Thank you in advance for your time, and I'm sorry for making such a long post haha.</p>

2

<p>From the little I could dig up on-line it sounds like UCF has different tracks in their game design major one of which is more animation heavy rather than the programming side. Maybe you need to hit the guidance counselor’s office.</p>

3

<p>Yes, it sounds like you need to explore the components of your specific UCF program. </p>

<p>The terms Game Design, Game Art, Interactive Media, Game Development, etc., cover a lot of territory. A good resource is AnimationCareerReview’s website. They cover specific career tracks and employment trends, types of training and education programs, salaries, lots more. </p>

<p>“Becoming a Video Game Designer: If you are interested in becoming a video game designer, there are several education paths to take. A computer science degree with a focus in computer graphics is one path or you can earn a degree in animation, game design, game art, game development, game programming, digital art with a concentration in game design, or even math with a game programming concentration.”
Read more: [Video</a> Game Designer - Career Profile | Animation Career Review](<a href=“http://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/video-game-designer-career-profile]Video”>http://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/video-game-designer-career-profile)</p>

4

<p>Sorry for the late reply. I was pretty busy last night thinking about all this haha.</p>

<p>@gouf78: Yeah, that’s what I thought too. They have several different majors that seem like what I’m liking for, but I really don’t know which one is “the one” haha. I mean, if their game design major is more “animation heavy” than programming as you say (I believe it’s animation that makes video game characters actually move/interact with the environment right? And programming is something along the lines of “press B to punch” or something correct? I could be wrong, but that’s what I thought it is), then I suppose that could be okay, as that sounds more interesting to learn anyway.</p>

<p>@gladiatorbird: Yes, those terms are what I’m talking about haha. I skimmed the undergraduate catalog of majors and I’ve found that UCF offers:</p>

<ul>
<li>Digital Media, (AKA Game Design, BA) <a href=“http://catalog.ucf.edu/content/documents/programs/Digital_Media_BA.pdf[/url]”>http://catalog.ucf.edu/content/documents/programs/Digital_Media_BA.pdf&lt;/a&gt; <– That’s the one I’m doing now.</li>
<li>Art - Visual Arts and Emerging Media (BA) <a href=“http://catalog.ucf.edu/content/documents/programs/Art_Visual_Arts_and_Emerging_Media_Management_Track_BA.pdf[/url]”>http://catalog.ucf.edu/content/documents/programs/Art_Visual_Arts_and_Emerging_Media_Management_Track_BA.pdf&lt;/a&gt; </li>
<li>Art - Emerging Media (BFA) <a href=“http://catalog.ucf.edu/content/documents/programs/Art_Emerging_Media_Track_BFA.pdf[/url]”>http://catalog.ucf.edu/content/documents/programs/Art_Emerging_Media_Track_BFA.pdf&lt;/a&gt; </li>
<li>Computer Science (BS). <a href=“http://catalog.ucf.edu/content/documents/programs/Computer_Science_BS.pdf[/url]”>http://catalog.ucf.edu/content/documents/programs/Computer_Science_BS.pdf&lt;/a&gt; </li>
</ul>

<p>I also read through all of the degree descriptions, but they were all very similar/ identical (with the exception of computer science since it’s not an “art” major) and so weren’t much help. I’ll have to take a look at that website, thanks!</p>

<p>I guess my main concern is if I choose to major in Game Design, will I actually acquire knowledge of a “little of everything” about video games (IE cutscenes, animation, creating characters, programming, coding, textures, environmental art, editing, story, etc.) or would I simply be more focused on programming/coding. Of course I really want to get a “little of everything” and not be too focused on only one aspect of game design [IE programming/coding]. That’s why I’m not majoring in something like Computer Science; from what I understand that’s mainly what you learn.</p>

<p>EDIT: I just checked that link you gave me, and everything looks great! Moving to California after I graduate was a move I had in mind anyway so it’s great knowing that that’s where a majority of the jobs will be. I may even considering getting a masters degree there from a California university. I guess all I need to know now is if I’m doing the right move with my major/minor haha. A possible minor switch to Computer Science may be in order, but I’m hesitant because that would mean a waste of 2 Film classes. :[</p>

5

<p>Here’s an informative thread about the industry, programs, etc., that you might find helpful. </p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1480000-video-game-design-major.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1480000-video-game-design-major.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;