Just a bit of a blab here haha So I recently enrolled into a course doing a diploma of digital interactive games, I haven't started yet but just wondering if anyone has done or is doing something similar? The course isn't super cheap btw, weighing in at $22,500 but meh... You get a fancy Dell netbook though! hahah I think this will be fun and I'll learn some new things, I tried learning this stuff on my own but the information online is kind of a mess. Hopefully they show us how to use Unity or some software like that. It'd be interesting to hear other people's experiences with stuff like this, ie video game development as a uni course. I am doing this part time via distance as I ended up going back to my old job, looks like 2015 will be busy for me haha Linkage: http://careerkickstarter.com.au/cou...ma-of-digital-and-interactive-games-ica50211/
As a course, video game development is a good choice. As a degree or certificate program program though, I think that it is a mistake. You can learn how to make games without spending $20K+ on a piece of paper. I do advocate a computer science or fine arts degree (depending on your preference), as it is infinitely better to have a well-rounded academic background to draw upon, rather than just "learning a trade". It looks like from the link, they will be teaching you UDK, which is ok, but out of date. I don't know how you tried learning before, but having done most of my BS degree online and teaching both online and offline courses, I have to warn you that online courses take a lot of dedication and motivation. You will only be able to get out of the course what you put in and a lot of times, you will have to put in a lot. This is especially true if you are doing team based projects.
Thanks for the info Just be clear, this isn't going to be my only degree I ever do, mostly a starter... Also I have been out of school and working towards a day job career for a few years now, I am mainly doing this degree first because I know I can go back and do others later on. Another thing I forgot to mention, this isn't upfront.
Be careful with that thought, because life (and student loan debt) can grab you quickly and change those plans.
Ugh, course are a big waste of fuckness. Hopefully it leads somewhere for you though, many just end up with debts hanging over them. My sister is in the same position right now.
Just make sure you like this enough to not get bored, then you will succeed and be happy with the knowledge you learn.
You actually paying Dell netbook. They trying to make you feel guilty I suppose. good luck and hope you will succeed with your goals.
Thanks for the reply's guys So just an update. I've been enrolled for a little while now as a distance student and doing bits here and there, it's a 6 month course but you have 12~16 months to complete it. As with most the people who also do this course, I've found the first block of assignments challenging. I think this is to deter bludgers, as the course is both HEX deductible and is classed as a full time education (meaning you can claim welfare)... Some might remember I made a thread a while back about leaving my old job (something about getting a job at ebgames), well I ended up going back to my old job working casual whilst I study. It also turns out that the new guy at work who kind of filled in for me after I left is doing the exact same course.. I hope this pushes my life forward, I'm sort of stuck at the moment, the only thing I have done (education and career wise) is basically graduated high school and started working retail and mobile repairs (which is a wild west industry still to this day). I have a good friend who is almost finished a degree in chemistry (lab stuff) and as I said I finished school and went straight into my current industry, short of opening my own service centre there isn't much further I could go (well in this country anyway).....
Depends which place you went with for this. If it's not recognized, no one will recognize you. Did you still go through with the course that gave you the "free" laptop? The government banned all course which did such a thing because it's illegal.
I never heard anything about it being banned or illegal? Maybe they had to make it clear that you must complete the course to own it.. Yes I did use the one I posted, it's actually Evocca collage.
It was all over the news roughly 3 weeks ago, maybe sooner. Mainly it affected those recruitment based "colleges", like those that give you $500 if you con a friend into doing the course. It was apparently effective straightaway. Also yes, that's how it works you have to complete the course for the laptop, or whatever else they 'give' you. Does this place you study at actually have computer labs? Two of my friends were scammed into a multimedia course at "keystone college" by a 'good friend', which was recruitment based... Anyway long story short, they paid for a "course", which is actually just a shitty alienware laptop with subscriptions to photoshop tutorial site and adobe creative cloud. That's all they've gotten. They don't actually have lectures or anything... I hope yours isn't the same, and actually has meaning of which you'll learn from. Evocca's site looks the same as keystone though, it's like they all use the same template. :\ /rant
Is it a real university or not? I'd never touch a degree by mail, personally. Maybe Open University, as it is well-known, but there are too many dodgy companies out there. At the end of the day, you need EXPERIENCE. A degree can be in anything, and I agree that it's better to have a degree in something that's more universal - maths, English, computer science - than a really focused discipline. And that's always going to be a problem - how do you get experience if nobody will recruit you? However, if it's a credible institution, they may have some kind of program working with a developer, which helps. Here in the UK, there's this: http://gradsingames.com/ Read through the student resources, anyway - very useful. Regardless of country, look through sites for games recruiters like http://www.aswift.com/ - what requirements are needed for the jobs? Do you have them? Can you do something about that NOW?! Or are you going to wait a few years, then realize you need to spend more time (and money) getting those requirements? e.g. If they require AAA experience, you're screwed. If they will accept homebrew experience, that's great... so long as you've actually made some games. If they want specific engine / tool experience, that's no good if your course didn't teach it. If it did, was it worth $22k to get that experience? Would you have been better off in a general C/C++ job, at least getting experience of programming professionally, and gaining experience from books / cheaper online courses in your spare time? If the answer is no, you HAVE to have taken the course, then cool. A lot of these courses are just money makers that don't necessarily help you, though - you have to be careful. Definitely find out if they have work placement opportunities.
To be honest, your probably better off taking a legit computer science course or programming course. Something that can apply to a wide range of situations, and not something specific.
You don't understand how hex fee works do you? The study now pay later crap is only good for one course you do. Once you have that paper from this course, you will not be able to get funding for the next. This is one of many things you're not told about when you go ahead with places like the one you're signed up with. This place appears to be under the same banner as careers australia, or another branch of some sort. Unemployed people are conned into these courses every day. For 22K you could of done a law course and would have cost you 18K roughly at a well known university, one which will be recognised by employers This sounds similar to the place my friends are going to without a computer lab, but their teaching multimedia lol. Sorry to say it LeHam, but you were sucked in from what I can see. I only know about this because I get calls, emails, texts and letters about these fucking places weekly. I'm glad the government banned these places, but it doesn't seem to have stopped them so far. A friend of mine still hasn't got his laptop for the course he's in and it's been a good few months now... Think I'm repeating myself, but anyway, I hope it works out for you. Stay motivated because it's difficult from these places. Can you answer my previous post as well? What's the place like? Like I said it sounds so similar to Keystone which is a fucking nut house ran by snails and unqualified teachers.
My partner has done a few diplomas on hex now It has a limit, about $80K or something like that iirc.. I know what you are saying, it does sound funny.. Oh well, it gives me something to do and I think I'll be more motivated if I pay for something like this (sounds dumb I know haha).. It's a collage with a bunch of campuses all around the country, there are different ones for the different courses (there is one in my city but it's for all business degree's). I I'm not going to pursue a career in game design using just this degree alone, I thought I'd use this as a starting block, so I can cover the basics. I'm planning on doing a "real" course next year, probably like computer science as you suggested. I don't know if I've mentioned but I do currently have skills and am working towards a career in a different industry(I am only working part time for the foreseeable future due to a bad market ATM) . Having said that I don't want to only have one set of skills.. I am planning on doing as many courses as I can, whilst I can, after I turn 25 I can't study and receive student welfare, I don't plan to stop studying after 25 it's just I'm in a situation now where I can study and still pay rent.. Thanks for the info, I'll have a read through it, I'll try and get a copy of all the units I'll be working through and post the list up here.. I hope I gain something from this course, the way it's laid out makes it very easy for noobs new to design and programming and hey people can learn from me and avoid this type of thing if it ends badly haha EDIT: [TABLE="width: 731"] [TR] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="colspan: 5"]Student Study Schedule [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W1 [/TD] [TD]C1 [/TD] [TD]U1 [/TD] [TD]ICAICT419A [/TD] [TD]Work effectively in the digital media industry [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W2 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W3 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W4 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W5 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]U2 [/TD] [TD]BSBOHS402B [/TD] [TD]Contribute to the implementation of the OHS consultation process [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W6 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W7 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W8 [/TD] [TD]C2 [/TD] [TD]U3 [/TD] [TD]ICAPMG501A [/TD] [TD]Manage IT projects [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W9 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W10 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W11 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]U4 [/TD] [TD]ICAGAM523A [/TD] [TD]Collaborate in the design of 3-D game levels and environments [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W12 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W13 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]U5 [/TD] [TD]ICAGAM514A [/TD] [TD]Design and create models for a 3-D and digital effects environment [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W14 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W15 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]U6 [/TD] [TD]ICAGAM515A [/TD] [TD]Design and create advanced particle, fluids and bodies for 3-D digital effects [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W16 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W17 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W18 [/TD] [TD]C3 [/TD] [TD]U7 [/TD] [TD]ICAGAM526A [/TD] [TD]Create complex 3-D characters for games [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W19 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W20 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W21 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W22 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]U8 [/TD] [TD]ICAGAM519A [/TD] [TD]Manage technical art and rigging in 3-D animation [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W23 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W24 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W25 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W26 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]U9 [/TD] [TD]ICAGAM516A [/TD] [TD]Animate a 3-D character for digital games [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W27 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W28 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W29 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W30 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W31 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]U10 [/TD] [TD]ICAGAM517A [/TD] [TD]Produce a digital animation sequence [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W32 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W33 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W34 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W35 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]U11 [/TD] [TD]ICAGAM501A [/TD] [TD]Create design concepts for digital games and 3-D media [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W36 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W37 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W38 [/TD] [TD]C4 [/TD] [TD]U12 [/TD] [TD]ICAGAM511A [/TD] [TD]Manage testing of games and interactive media [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W39 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W40 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W41 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W42 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]U13 [/TD] [TD]ICAPRG501A [/TD] [TD]Apply advanced object-oriented language skills [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W43 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W44 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W45 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W46 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W47 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W48 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W49 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W50 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W51 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W52 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W53 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W54 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]U14 [/TD] [TD]ICAGAM521A [/TD] [TD]Create interactive 3-D environments for digital games [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W55 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W56 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W57 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]U15 [/TD] [TD]ICAGAM528A [/TD] [TD]Create games for mobile devices [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W58 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W59 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W60 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W61 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W62 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W63 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W64 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W65 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD]U16 [/TD] [TD]ICAGAM503A [/TD] [TD]Create a complex 3-D interactive computer game [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W66 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W67 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W68 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W69 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W70 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W71 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]W72 [/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]
I genuinely hope it all works out. For me though, $21K+ is a hard lesson to learn that way. Hopefully the courses end up being more about process and theory and less about tooling. The last thing you want are courses which teach you about very specific software/products, which may or may not go out of date quickly, of which contains methodologies unique to that product that can't be used elsewhere. Also, what was said about money by HEX1GON is pretty accurate. Living from home (including books, learning materials, tuition, etc) I paid at least 40% less than what your paying for now and this was at a well known and accredited college (4 year program with 1 major).
It sounds interesting... but still somewhat dodgy! Why the hell would someone want to run up nearly $100k worth of debt?! What's the interest rate on it, too? Whilst I am all for night courses and such, I think they should be recognized qualifications from recognized institutions. I don't know if you have City & Guilds there, but that sort of thing, or like a BTEC, something like a Microsoft certification etc. And they don't cost the earth - did you say that cost was for 6 months? Ouch. I did a night course computer technician's course and it was £600 per year, 1 night a week. And you got a diploma, PLUS a Microsoft certification. Yup, you could self learn the MS stuff cheaper, but it was good as courses go - get out, meet people, have guidance etc. I appreciate you can't do that for a degree, but in some fields, you don't necessarily need a degree.
