<p>Hello CC.</p>
<p>Does going to grad school really matter for the video game industry? Or do you just need a good portfolio and skillset regardless of having a master's? (I say master's because I suppose a PhD would be overkill for the industry, but correct me if I'm wrong. I personally have no problem with going all the way up to a PhD).</p>
<p>I'm about to enter college for the fall semester, and I'm majoring in CS, that's for sure. Grad school is for sure too, but CS is such a broad and versatile field that I still don't know what to focus my graduate studies on. I've considered computational sciences, computational biology or medicine, specifically. I've also considered taking enough math courses in order to apply for math grad school too.</p>
<p>I've just started to consider a career in the VG industry, I've always loved gaming since I was 5 and I consider myself a gamer (not hardcore, though). I think a career in this area would offer me a lot of satisfaction and happiness.</p>
<p>My main interest is AI programming, it would be nice to implement concepts from scientific AI such as neural networks and genetic algorithms to a video game. I also have interests in game engine development, physics engines, and real time graphics.</p>
<p>I guess that's all, I tend to write long posts, sorry if that bothers anyone! Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>Definitely check out this program, it could refine your more “general” CS undergrad with a more precise focus on games:</p>
<p>[UCF?s</a> Graduate Video Game Design School ? Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy | FIEA](<a href=“http://www.fiea.ucf.edu/]UCF?s”>http://www.fiea.ucf.edu/)</p>
<p>UCF is a state school, so it’d be much more cost-efficient. And Orlando/Central Florida is becoming a blossoming hi-tech corridor.</p>
<p>I checked the whole website and it seems like it’s an excellent school. The programming and producing tracks seem pretty interesting. And looks like they have pretty decent industry connections, too. I’m definitely gonna keep this as an option, and what you mentioned about costs is also a plus.</p>
<p>Another good website to learn game-creating skills is <a href=“http://www.gameinstitute.com%5B/url%5D”>www.gameinstitute.com</a>. For only 100 dollars you receive a slew of resources. Over 100 hours of lectures and around 20 digital textbooks, not to mention their custom made game engine…</p>
<p>I’m definitely going to order that as soon as I can. Those courses will help me realize if I’m developer material, and if so, I’d get a lot of experience and knowledge from them. Heck, it would even be like the perfect hobby too.</p>
<p>Thanks for the link!</p>
<p>Glad I could help!</p>
<p>Look, you don’t need to go to grad school for developing video games. Just get your CS degree. But while working towards it, take the courses in “gaming” and graphics, if offered. Also, if you can do an internship with a company, do so…</p>
<p>Summer internships at Microsoft or various game developers are available for college students.</p>
<p>Develop a network with your professors, instructors, and fellow students while in school.</p>
<p>BTW, I know what I’m talking about. In one of my previous jobs, I was a senior engineer at a well known game company. I was able to do it even though my college training was in molecular biology.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Regardless of what area you are going into, your first couple of years in CS are not going to be specialized. You are going to learn about everything. So keep in mind that there may be some area you have not yet been exposed to, where you find you are naturally drawn to. Pre-freshman year is not the time to be planning what to specialize in for grad school!</p>
<p>UCF is great. They are part of a complicated partnership with EA, Disney, and NASA. They all benefit from the technology and simulators developed and enriched by one another.</p>
<p>You really don’t need to go to graduate school for game development. Everything you need to know, can be accomplished at the undergraduate level. Most universities have good CS programs that can open doors for you if you network. Also, there are great gaming undergraduate programs at private schools such as:</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.digipen.edu/[/url]”>https://www.digipen.edu/</a></p>
<p>With my background in the gaming industry I have gotten to know many people at companies such as Valve and Disney. And I can tell you to save your money by not going to graduate school, unless you want to get a Ph.D to do research. An MS employee does pretty much the SAME thing as a BS employee…but with more debt.</p>