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[cowtrix]

Hey there everyone. I've come to a bit of a fork in the road when it comes to my university degree and I'd really appreciate some advice. I've just started my 2nd year at Deakin University, Australia.

I'm currently doing a Bachelor of Information Technology, with a major in Game Design. From what I've heard, this is seen as a 'soft' major even in the industry and I would be better served doing a Computer Science major.

Changing to Computer Science at this point would involve a bit of extra work, and would mean I would have to abandon the more artistic and creative elements of my current degree. Unfortunatly, those are the bits I enjoy the most.

As far as I can see it, I have 3 options:

1. Keep my major as it is. Would I be at an immediate disadvantage over other job applicants to a games company?
2. Change to Computer Science, have less fun in my degree, it may take a bit longer to finish, but I will have more to fall back on.
3. Graduate without a major, which would require no change in my course, nor any catchup subjects. Would a plain BIT be better than one with the Game Design major attached?

Any insight into this problem would be greatly appreciated.

[Zaphos]

I don't think tigsource is necessarily the best place to ask for advice about getting a job in the games industry.  Why not look for better-informed opinions locally?  For example: Have you tried asking the companies you're thinking of applying to?  Or asking your school if they have some data on the jobs people get after graduating?  Check if there's a salary survey or similar for the games program.  Also try talking to graduating seniors from the game design and cs majors; at this point in the semester they should have already gone through the process of applying for jobs and can tell you how it went.

[eigenbom]

If you're looking to get a programming type job, then I'd highly recommend doing a computer science degree. You'll learn a tonne of very specific technical skills and problem solving techniques. All the other stuff, software process, working with specific creative tools, can be learned on the job as you go.

I'm always wary of game oriented degrees. That Game Design course has a few strange subjects that will be a waste of your time and money ... Introduction to Database Design? Introduction to Web Development? Information Technology Professional Skills? Are they all core units? You'd be much better off doing compsci and choosing things like ai, operating systems, algorithms and data structures, ...

fyi - I've got a BaCompSci(hons) and PhD from Monash Uni just down the road and have never worked in the games industry.

[Zaphos]

That Game Design course has a few strange subjects that will be a waste of your time and money ... Introduction to Database Design? Introduction to Web Development? Information Technology Professional Skills? Are they all core units? You'd be much better off doing compsci

fwiw his school's comp sci major appears to also require those courses

[eigenbom]

Oh I see. The homogenisation of first year units is happening at Monash too. Lowest common denominator and all that.

But as you're 2nd year I guess you've done those already? And examining the game dev course in more detail, if you choose the more technical compsci subjects as your electives, then it may balance out anyway..

[eigenbom]

Hey dude, I asked a mate of mine who worked as a game developer at Blue Tongue in Melbourne for a few years (they don't exist anymore.) Hope this helps..

"Gamedev oriented degrees were not very favored (maybe 1 in 10 or twenty?). applicants with comp sci/soft eng degree were always preferred as their general understanding means they learn new things faster and are more flexible with what you give them to do. Not sure if anything has changed in the last few years, but when I was there it was considered not very highly.
Solid degrees > gamedev courses "

[MeshGearFox]

I got a degree in CS and I work as a software tester on a government project and make like 54k annually. If I was working as a software test for a game company I'd probably be making minimum wage.

If you want to make games, you don't need to be part of a game company to do that, either.

[dota_mtdew]

not an expert by any means but i have always read for those kind of jobs portfolio > degree

[cowtrix]

Hey dude, I asked a mate of mine who worked as a game developer at Blue Tongue in Melbourne for a few years (they don't exist anymore.) Hope this helps..

"Gamedev oriented degrees were not very favored (maybe 1 in 10 or twenty?). applicants with comp sci/soft eng degree were always preferred as their general understanding means they learn new things faster and are more flexible with what you give them to do. Not sure if anything has changed in the last few years, but when I was there it was considered not very highly.
Solid degrees > gamedev courses "

Thank you for the effort you went to, eigenbom. I really appreciate that. And thank you Zaphos.

I'm still not entirely sure what to do, but you've given me a lot to think about.