Computer Science -> Game Design

[-Dusk-]

Hello everyone,

I'm currently in grade 12, I took grade 11 computer science at school, and I've worked on some mods for various games over the last years. I'm really interested in doing something with game design later in my life. I'm not talking pure 3D modeling, level design or coding, but more of a project leading/gameplay designing approach.
Now, I do realize that in order to get there, you have to work your way up in the industry. And I'm wondering if people here think that going into Computer Science would be a good idea to prepare myself to eventually get there. For your information, the university I'm most interested in is U of Toronto.

However, I'm not that captivated by actual programming. Sure, I like it, but it's not something I would want to do for the rest of my life. My parents have raised concerns that if I decide to go into computer science, it would be too much programming. I do like the idea of going into Artificial Intelligence as well, though, but I fear this would be too much actual programming.

So yeah, some feedback would be awesome! Do you guys think CS is a good basis to later go into Game Design? How much actual programming is involved? Etc.

(PS: I hope I posted this in the right sub-forum. I'm sorry to any admin who might have to move it if I didn't!)

[mirhagk]

Computer science courses will get into the most fearsome and terrifying things you could ever imagine, especially if you are not good with coding, or don't like it. Several universities have an actual game design course, you could consider that (they are usually more general for all aspects, and won't be TOO difficult to program).

[Tony]

Computer Science is mostly math that gets you to be a better programmer. Learning Math in order to get into design is... quite a stretch.

[Raknarg]

I have heard from many programmers these two things:

1. There isn't really much difference between coding a game or an application
2. Taking a course in CS will be much more useful to you than a game programming course. Besides the fact that it'll allow you more variey and flexibility in the jobs you will take, it's just a better idea in general. You get a better understanding of CS itself rather than a small branch of it.

[Tony]

@Raknarg -- you are right on both points, but it seems that OP wants to get into a PM and/or designer role, not development.

[SmokeMonster]

Yes but how do you get into a project management role at a game company without being a programmer (or an artist) and paying your dues for a few years?

CS will have a fair amount of programming but usually it's not the programming heavy courses that are hard it is the math heavy courses. You have to be a decent programmer to get your foot in the door in the game industry. High School programming classes are likely to be quite different from university programming classes so if you had a bad experience in high school that does not necessarily mean the same is going to happen in university.

[[Gandalf]]

SmokeMonster @ 2011-11-01, 10:04 pm wrote:

CS will have a fair amount of programming but usually it's not the programming heavy courses that are hard it is the math heavy courses.

Depends what you mean by hard. Programming courses usually win the 'sleepless days spent completing assignment' hardness battle.

I think it's very possible to get a project manager role without a full CS degree (a CS minor, or some other technical degree might be sufficient?), but I haven't done any research to confirm this. Working with code or math or algorithms isn't a very common project management task...

[Tony]

business school and playing golf with someone in upper management. Competence is not necessary a requirement to get a job.

[ultimatebuster]

Tony @ Wed Nov 02, 2011 8:31 pm wrote:

business school and playing golf with someone in upper management. Competence is not necessary a requirement to get a job.

That was depressing. Faith in humanity: -1

[ProgrammingFun]

ultimatebuster @ Wed Nov 02, 2011 9:12 pm wrote:

Tony @ Wed Nov 02, 2011 8:31 pm wrote:

business school and playing golf with someone in upper management. Competence is not necessary a requirement to get a job.

That was depressing. Faith in humanity: -1

It was completely true though...I'm not gonna go around wasting my life playing golf regardless

On topic: You could just do the PMP certification and some minor in CS or design couldn't you...how about Sheraton's game designing program?

[mirhagk]

And if you plan on skipping the programming jobs to get straight into management, make sure you use linkedin

[md]

Check out Software Engineering. All the practical skills of CS (and some of the theory), plus some management skills and planning. Makes you an excellent manager!

[SmokeMonster]

[quote="[Gandalf] @ Wed Nov 02, 2011 8:25 pm"]

SmokeMonster @ 2011-11-01, 10:04 pm wrote:

CS will have a fair amount of programming but usually it's not the programming heavy courses that are hard it is the math heavy courses.

Depends what you mean by hard. Programming courses usually win the 'sleepless days spent completing assignment' hardness battle.
[/quote]

IMO those time consuming programming courses are hard not because of the conceptual difficulty of the material but more due to the sheer amount of work you have to do. In programming heavy course rarely do I "damn this particular concept is just killing me" and hit a roadblock whereas in mathy courses happens quite frequently.

[mirhagk]

Well with computer science courses if you don't grasp the concepts you can spend literally days on a problem which could've taken an hour or so, so yes it's solvable even if you don't get the material, but the strain from the programming courses and the time spent on it will contribute to failing in other courses.