Video Game Industry or Animation Path

College Majors Visual Arts and Film Majors
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<p>I am not sure if I posted in the right category, so I apologize if I did.</p>

<p>I am an undeclared, sophomore at UCB and I've tried out different classes from Environmental Science, Geography, and architecture. They are interesting but I do not find any passion in them. I've been talking to several counselors and even upperclassmen. I thought of engineering, pre-med, and architecture. From talking to counselors, seems like I am more inclined to art. I am taking a studio for architecture, but I am not having fun with it. I don't like drawing houses (I guess!?) I am at the point of breaking down haha -.-. </p>

<p>I tried avoiding art because my family would not approve of it. But I've been drawing my whole life and i love stories and I love watching people play video games, movies, and cartoons. I seem like a kid, but I would like to be part of making one of them. Currently I am thinking of doing something that will help me build skills for the video game industry. </p>

<p>My RA spent a good hour talking to me about what I should do and suggested to look at majors that could possibly help me get into the video game industry such as CS or the Practice of Art Major. I was wondering if anyone have any opinions on these majors at Cal. Also, my RA suggested that I can transfer to another UC or school for a major in video game design or art. I am about to talk to more counselors and talk to the Practice of Art faculties. There is a game design class at CAL but I don't know how it is. </p>

<p>I hope I gave out enough information.</p>

<p>-thebelovedChild</p>

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<p>There is a lot of hard and dull work in the game industry. THere are tons of folks who want to work, and not so many really creative jobs. That being said, some of the creative jobs do go to folks with backgrounds in art. Unless you already have some background in CS you may finding jumping into a CS degree difficult, so I would suggest at least looking into a Practice of Art degree.</p>

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<p>UCLA has a program in Digital Arts that includes game design. I beleive many of their grads get into the film industry, such as working for Industrial Light and Magic or animating Avatar. That’s varisty stuff. </p>

<p>UW in Seattle has one more focused on experimental media and digital art for art’s sake, but since Nintendo is in Seattle there might be a relationship or internships.</p>

<p>Maybe you can take a game design class at Berkeley first, to see if you like it? My son is the same way, but realizes that much of video game design is coding on computers, which he doesn’t want to do. Still, someone has to design the look, the characters, the levels, the music, and so on.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>Whaa. Yes I was thinking about how the career atmosphere would be like in the game industry. I want to have a fun career, and not hate going to work. And it saddens me that there are not alot of job look outs for the creative jobs.<br>
Mmm…I’ve never taken a cs course before, but it seems so interesting to be able to program an NPC to do what you want it to do.</p>

<p>UCLA would be nice to go to since it would be closer to home and I’d be around my friends. But I am still in the process of figuring out what I can do at Berkeley. I am going to meet with the professor that teaches digital animations and game design. I am just concern that the school doesnt have much support for the Art Department. I am still hesitant on majoring in Practice of Art because people told me that there isnt much that I can use it for. :frowning: I hope things turns out well. </p>

<p>Thank you nemom and baronbvp for your help!</p>

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<p>UC Santa Cruz is the only UC that offers a BS in CS: Computer Game Design. Realize there are other jobs besides Animators (who are more classically trained) like Modelers, Texture Artists, and Compositors. You want to concentrate on Nodal based VFX programs like Nuke more than Layer based like After Effects. Sorry to hear Geography, Arch, and Env Science didn’t grab your attention.</p>

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<p>MARLAKSDGJlDSkfj </p>

<p>So Santa Cruz is an option for me to transfer. I am still thinkin of my options. People at Berkeley said I can make up my own major. Then, I am not sure which skill I want to learn in the industry. I know that I can start off with artistic skills or computational skills, then work my way up. </p>

<p>Thanks kmazza for your advice</p>

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<p>The only problem on transferring in time is not having started down that path from Freshman year. Realize UCSC BS in CS: Computer Game Design is not an easy major to get into and is a competitive field, not for the weak of heart if isn’t your passion. </p>

<p>I realize you mentioned that Geography, Environmental Science, and Architecture aren’t really your passion but understand there is a wide spectrum of opportunity available in those fields. Depending on how many classes you took thus far, a bachelors degree in the geo field these day has very good future prospects. One example if you aren’t into designing buildings you can mixed Geography with Art and Architecture you could become a certified Landscape Architect once earn your bachelors and if are good can make 70 to 100+ grand a year. Those are actually pret cool jobs overall that those who choose seem to find rewarding. </p>

<p>I’ve done 6+ years of the classes you are taking and personally think UCB’s Geography and Architecture classes are a bit too dry form my tastes compared to UCSB’s Geography, Environmental Sciences and Art and Architecture programs which are much larger with more class offerings than Berkeley to tailor such a degree if decide to continue down that route. There are also good paying jobs designing GIS maps, especially if you know your cartography principles, database management, network servers, and scripting. Just a thought but worth working through over the next 6 months depending on your goal.</p>

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<p>belovedChild, </p>

<p>You will have to work out what area of the video game industry you would like to pursue as there are many branches for you at this point. </p>

<p>If you are interested in the coding part of video game design - such as writing graphic engines, wiring up game AI, coding the actual game itself, or other programming related tasks, then UCB’s computer science department is an excellent choice. As I recall there 2 CS degrees, one in engineering and one in math. The math dept degree involves more programming and may offer more in electives for game theory, graphics and other more practical applications of CS. The engineering degree covers a lot more theory and will give you a much stronger theoretical background in CSE, but perhaps be a little less practical for immediate application. It seems like the field of CS has undergone a huge explosion of students in the past decade so it may be a lot harder to transfer into the degree especially in your sophomore year. The math dept CS may be easier to get into. </p>

<p>On the other hand there is the 3D aspect of things, in which a little CS could be helpful, but you will need to develop your artistic skills a lot more, depending on what area of 3D you’d like to go into. Some possibilities include modeling (study figure drawing/sculpture/3d), rigging, texturing, level design, lighting, animation (a whole different beast - study figure/gesture/classical animation).
Studying those skills would be best done in LA if you are from the area, there are a lot more opportunities for learning those skills in the LA area. Whatever you do, unless things have changed, art is not something you would want to major in at UCB. </p>

<p>Then there is the 2D art side. These are the people who will be creating and designing the art that the 3D grunts will be basing their work off of. An art school of some sort would be best, concentrating in something like Industrial Design, Conceptual Art, Illustration, or anything with a strong foundational training. You will need to master traditional drawing, painting, and design to work in any of these jobs. They may include tasks like character design, conceptual design for levels, assets, characters, vehicles, environments, and just about anything that will be going into the game. It can also include graphic design and motion video aspects if there is a lot of signage to go into the game. If there is a strong narrative aspect to the game, they may also employ storyboard artists. </p>

<p>I don’t believe these new degrees in “Game Design” and such would teach you to a sufficient level of mastery in one of these 3 areas. Very likely it will cover all 3 to some degree to offer the flexibility to those who aren’t sure what they want to do. But if you do know and become strong in one of these areas, you should have no trouble finding a job in any of the related fields, Film/TV/Animation/CGI/VFX/Games/etc</p>

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<p>I suggest that you take a hard look at UCLA. When we visited there, we weren’t impressed. The state cutbacks are evident with with peeling paint, older equipment and a general sense of some decay. Compare what you see to that of USC,which looks spanking new or to the equipment at Gnomon with their great chairs and new computers. </p>

<p>I was very underwhelmed by UCLA.</p>

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<p>pumpkinking, that’s a great post.</p>

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<p>:DD I want to thank you all for your posts! I appreciate it so much!</p>

<p>I am busting my butt off to plan out my classes for the next year. I talked with my adviser and the cs adviser. The cs adviser and I planned out my courses for the next few years and it was an overall 9 semesters. Now I am debating what classes to take based on my capabilities… x.x not so great in math and I need to pick up my confidence and work harder</p>

<p>I am interested in CS now because of its many applications, so if coding doesnt go well, I can fall off to other stuff. Hmm… I understand that there are different branches or routes that I can choose from in the game industry and yes I think it is best that I find one particular path that I am great at and show the world what I am made of!! D: I am a bit weak heart-ed right now because I have not taken any CS classes and I hardly took any art classes–i just drew and learned on my own.</p>

<p>The CS adviser also said that I just need to have a set plan if I want to major in the LnS CS. I am not sure about the ECS. </p>

<p>If CS doesnt go well, my adviser said to make up a second plan which i think may be educations/research with geography or science. I am in a class for Cal Teach and I work at a science museum. :smiley: I love seeing the new and interesting science kits made to educate kids about science!</p>

<p>Another thing…i can develop my CS skill/knowledge at Berkeley and if I want to do well in the Game industry I need to be good in creativity too. Although I think that may be too far ahead to think about. I would like to improve my artistic skills…maybe during some other time o.o i dont know X_X gahhhh</p>

<p>As much as I like art…i dont think i want to major in art at berkeley…I was going to take an art class along with a CS class and math class…but i was told it is very demanding o.o so… D: change of plan!</p>

<p>again THANKS!!! I appreciate it sooooo much!!!:D</p>

<p>-thebelovedChild</p>

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<p>ok. so i only really read your first post, but anyways i thought i’d comment about someone i met yesterday. i was a seminar for young achievers by organization of american states, and we were introduced to the guy that was in charge of the special effects (computer animation, etc) in chronicles of narnia. of course he explained to us about all his misfortunes in life, until he found his path and all… and how doing what he loves has led him to where he is now. he’s collaborated in many high budget films (fast and furious 3, devil’s advocate, armageddon, shrek, batman & robin, etc) and is now helping new talents to grow (and actually work with him, as he founded a company). now they work with him in the hollywood films. he loves it, and he showed us a short video with comments from his students and they love it even more. the guy is truly impressive, he’s pretty young too… i was in shock. very fun and entertaining, some can’t imagine doing anything else. good money too. so if you love it, give it a try:) </p>

<p>oh, btw, some of the people he started working with where actually working for something similar in NASA. so if movies don’t work, maybe your skills could be transferred into more “serious” stuff…</p>

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<p>x) haha thanks nerdycris! yeah if i dont feela s though my passion is in entertainment then i will go to where it is more applicable :smiley: gee where deid you take that seminar ?</p>