After hard thinking, 2 canceled appointments with school adviser, I think I want to build from the ground up and take the advice from some who advised I discipline myself and learn game art design on my own. I perhaps will try to find some related courses at community colleges. Reason being you ask, I've run into a few folks -some of which I met here, via my last post- who encouraged me to teach myself this the science. I'll be staying clear of the programming side of things unless necessary. I'm considering looking into the text books used in the various schools or the ones referred by you all. For right now, I've concluded that I have a great idea for a game; I know how to draw -I recently brought some art supplies to begin work- plus I'm willing and I believe competent to learn the artistic side of game design. However, Ladies and gents,I honestly don't know exactly where to begin. But I figure if I'm gonna invest anything it will be into books, software, and Community college/Technical school classes. I don't have the time, energy, motivation, or funding to return to school to work towards another 4 year degree in this pathetic economy that's getting worse by the minute. I respect all honest opinions so please feel free to share thanks

Sonny, whoever advised you against art school was NOT doing you a favor. If you can go to art school, you should. Community college as a starting point is just great. Go to school!

BTW, I got into a heated discussion about schools at igda.org this week. Go to http://www.igda.org/Forums/, the Breaking In forum - thread titled "tsloper, re: USC"

(Note: I said go to "art school," not "game school," but Community College is even better as your starting point, I know I just repeated myself.)

EDIT: Oh wait, did you say "another 4 year degree"? You already have a degree? Then you don't need another full degree, necessarily - but like the other guy said, the more education the better. See the manifesto I posted on igda.org today. Game school is fine for you, if you can afford it.

Yeah, I already hold a BA in philosophy/Religion and began graduate work in theology. I want to take all my knowledge in the field and fuse it into games. Now I'm open to online schools that are feasible but haven't really found a school yet. I was looking at the Game Institute advertised here but don't know enough yet. Guidance, please.

Your existing qualifications are a good basis, but I'm not clear on exactly what it is you want to go into. Do you want to be an artist - responsible for the way a game looks, or moves, but nothing more - or do you want to be a designer - responsible for the way a game plays and behaves?

Quote:Original post by Chrono1081
I have to agree that anyone who tells you not to go to school seriously has no idea what they are talking about. Really they don't. You will have a hard time getting a game programming/design job without a degree.

I heard this from certain persons online and couple of guys I met at various Game Stop stores. One person went so far as to suggest that, although school is beneficial most of what game designing entails could be self-taught. To the poster inquiring about what it is exactly I want to do, well here it is. I want to start my own video game company. By that I mean start a business; hire would-be talents out of school, and produce games. Perhaps not distribute games but produce them. I see myself as the visionary behind a whole new genre of games. I considered school because I want to have a hands on approach to daily operations. Another words, as much as I am behind the marketing, campaigning, so forth, I am an artist, so I can see and design what I want. The programming I prefer to leave that to the experts I find willing to join the team. How is this at all possible, I really don't know yet. But having talked with a few folks, the ideas of have for games are novel, daring, compelling, and unique. That gives me an impetus to pursue this dream. I was strongly considering school but to be quite honest, I have two toddlers and a wife to feed and fend for, the focus, creativity and passion would be stifled at school. Case and point it might be a waste of money I'll be left having to pay. Finding community colleges that offer individual courses in related areas: photoshop, 3D modeling, Intro to Video game design are few and far apart. Thus, I come here to get some ideas as to where I should start. My heart hasn't ruled out college but logic is telling me, don't accrue more debt, especially if you're not interested in working for a game company. Perhaps, I'm being unrealistic -considering the industry standard- and if so please wake me up to reality.

Thanks again
------------------------------------------------

The unexamined life is not worth living.
-Socrates

Quote:Original post by sonnyb
I want to start my own video game company. By that I mean start a business;

Then you do want more schooling - you should get an MBA. And stop listening to free bad advice in GameStop. (~_^)

since we're on the subject of my goals, here's another route I'm also considering: I wondering about just writing the stories, creating characters and testing my chances of selling my game idea to various publishing companies. what do you guys think.