For a long time now, i have believed that i wanted to be a game programmer, i used to be so dedicated to programming. And recently, because of the extreme homework from the IB programme, i havent been learning or doing programming since maybe last christmas of last August. Now im startiing to have doubts about whether or not that what i want to do. Im not sure if i can get good enough at programming to get to the professional level. I have done some thing like creating terrain and making a couple games, but none of it is that amazing. I have signed up for computer science courses, and i guess i will have to see what happens after im done them to get a clearer picture.

Quote:Original post by krikkit
Are you working too hard?

I want to write music for a living, but my project had me in crunch mode for about 6 weeks. 40+ hour day job, then working on music until the sun came up. Catch an hour sleep and start over.

By the third week, I wanted to just go make photocopies for 10 dollars an hour somewhere, but I was just burned out.

Its just that, the homework is just so stressful that when im finally done, all i want to do is just sit on a couch and watch tv, or play video games. Not read a book on programming or do some programming.

What is the IB program?

You can get good at programming, but you need to put in some work. As with any skill, if you don't put the time into it, you won't get better. But I can definitely relate to coming home and feeling bummed from work and not wanting to do programming. But usually if your can just suck it up for a half hour, you will get into "the zone" where everything focuses and you have no desire to leave.

I have always found Steve Pavlina's Indie Articles motivating when I don't feel like doing work. Read them when you get some time.

Now about your school's CompSci courses, the classroom environment may turn you off to programming completely. It has for many of my friends. So don't let what you learn in school limit what you learn on your own. Ok?

Quote:Original post by skittleo
What is the IB program?

You can get good at programming, but you need to put in some work. As with any skill, if you don't put the time into it, you won't get better. But I can definitely relate to coming home and feeling bummed from work and not wanting to do programming. But usually if your can just suck it up for a half hour, you will get into "the zone" where everything focuses and you have no desire to leave.

I have always found Steve Pavlina's Indie Articles motivating when I don't feel like doing work. Read them when you get some time.

Now about your school's CompSci courses, the classroom environment may turn you off to programming completely. It has for many of my friends. So don't let what you learn in school limit what you learn on your own. Ok?

The IB program is this extensive program thats supposed to not only teach you but also related worldwide. Basicly it just means a lot of homework and a lot of hard work in general.
I probably need to start reading my books. So far i have decent knowledge in C++, and blitz basic. I know a little visual basic, a good amount in java, and some HTML. Except for Java, i learned everything i know from books and the internet. At this point i need to reread all of my books to refresh my memory. The most difficult thing that i have made was a basic terrain with a water cube. I put a little lighting in it as well. I think i need to just take advantage of the vacation because this is probably the only time i will think of doing programming. Really, the classes are the only way to learn more without being tired of doing it. And what your saying is true. Pretty much for me, its just getting started which is the hard part, but once i do, i can go for a good amount of time. I guess ill just have to wait see what its like when i am senior. Even if i dont do programming, i do want to work with computers. May it be computer repair of teaching programming. But i will do what i can to become a programmer.

IF their was courses that were game programming specific then i would be in great shape, but of course, since its high school they only teach the general. Although i know thats what i need, i wish they could extend it to say the entire year perhaps and teach game programming and graphics as well

IB can easily burn you off of any fun activity you want to do that requires work (I laughed in their faces when they asked me to join, and was happy to do that in retrospect after seeing what all of my friends went through.. Yes, I'm lazy unless it pertains to computers.)

There are plenty of programming jobs you can do that don't require extensive knowledge in any one area. Right now I work at a company that does e-Learning and simulations. It pays quite well for being right out of high school.

I don't think you can juggle school and intense programming at the same time. You have to choose one or the other I think. I would choose school and concentrate on my school stuff. If you have some time I guess you could tackle small projects but anything larger is not doable imo. Simply because a larger project requires lot of designing work and that's not as much fun as doing small gfx demos. Those at least will keep you up on the learning and tech curve.

It's tough to do hobby programming when you've got other commitments for school. I did a fair amount in high school, but the past two years, I just haven't had the time with college responsibilities. The worst part is that I'm past the core programming courses, and I've had most theory courses (discrete structures, theory of computing, analysis of algorithms, etc). I really need to start applying some of what I am learning and writing programs on my own, but, like you, I don't really have the motivation to do stuff like that after studying and doing homework in the first place.