Games Development.

[PaulMacC]

Im looking to a career in ICT but Im going to expand on that and I want to go into this profession. I know ICT will help me as I mostly would like to go into building game physics engines or maybe graphics building character models. But yes what would I need. Im thinking of taking ICT for A Level or College and then going to study it further at University. Then maybe going to England and trying to get a job in a company there. What would I be doing, would I be coding etc and what A Levels/Degrees etc would I need.

[Jarkie]

Well to be a gaming coder/development, yes, you need C,B,A or A* GCSES and you'll need to do ICT A-level, and even do certificate in iMedia (games programming) would really help, plus you need a computer science degree. And with all that I am sure you should do fine, also there maybe more, not so sure.

And, you'll need to about know Computer languages well, that will help! ;)

Heres a link I found on google about this subject, enjoy!

http://www.gignews.com/crosby3.htm

[PaulMacC]

Computer Science, doesnt that have nothing to do with programming and stuff?
Im doing Media at GCSE but I dont intend to continue to A Level.

[Jarkie]

Computer Science, doesnt that have nothing to do with programming and stuff?
Im doing Media at GCSE but I dont intend to continue to A Level.

Even though you say your not going to continue... well I think you should, as it will look good on your CV (Curriculum Vitae)

and for computer science it does in a way, you learn like Java and other stuff... is good to have a degree mate, as when you go to a job interview, they would like to know if you've been to uni or not. I'll find out what you do in computer science courses, brb


edit :- there is lots to do with computer gaming coding ect... have a look at the list; (you can click on the ones you like and see a description about that unit)


COMP60012 Future Multi-Core Computing (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP60012&year=2008)
COMP60021 Grid Computing and eScience (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP60021&year=2008)
COMP60032 High Performance Computing in Science and Engineering (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP60032&year=2008)
COMP60041 Low-Power System Design (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP60041&year=2008)
COMP60051 Visualisation for HPC (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP60051&year=2008)
COMP60071 Introduction to Computational Science (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP60071&year=2008)
COMP60081 Fundamentals of High Performance Execution (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP60081&year=2008)
COMP60092 Computational Finite Element Method (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP60092&year=2008)
COMP60112 System Construction Using B (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP60112&year=2008)
COMP60121 Automated Reasoning (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP60121&year=2008)
COMP60161 Knowledge Representation and Reasoning (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP60161&year=2008)
COMP60242 Mobile Computing (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP60242&year=2008)
COMP60302 Introduction to BioHealth Informatics (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP60302&year=2008)
COMP60311 Computational Biology - The Application of Computer Science to the Problems of Post-Genome Biology (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP60311&year=2008)
COMP60321 Computer Animation (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP60321&year=2008)
COMP60361 Advanced Database Management Systems (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP60361&year=2008)
COMP60372 Semi-structured Data and the Web (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP60372&year=2008)
COMP60391 Computer Security (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP60391&year=2008)
COMP60431 Machine Learning (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP60431&year=2008)
COMP60442 Advanced Machine Vision (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP60442&year=2008)
COMP60462 The Semantic Web: Ontologies and OWL (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP60462&year=2008)
COMP60900 MSc Dissertation (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP60900&year=2008)
COMP60990 Research Skills and Professional Issues (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP60990&year=2008)
COMP67011 Foundations of Computing (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP67011&year=2008)
COMP67021 High-Level Programming (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP67021&year=2008)
COMP67032 Building Web Applications (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP67032&year=2008)
COMP67052 Patterns for eBusiness Applications (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP67052&year=2008)
COMP67321 Systems Design and Databases (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP67321&year=2008)
COMP70042 Low-Power System Design (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP70042&year=2008)
COMP70101 Programming in C (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP70101&year=2008)
COMP70111 Introduction to Software Development in Java (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP70111&year=2008)
COMP70180 Object Oriented Analysis and Design with UML (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP70180&year=2008)
COMP70212 Self Timed Logic (Asynchronous Design) (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP70212&year=2008)
COMP70300 Databases and Data Modelling (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=COMP70300&year=2008)
BIOL61061 Introduction to BioInformatics (e-learning) (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=BIOL61061&year=2008)
BMAN60111 IS Strategy and Enterprise Systems (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=BMAN60111&year=2008)
BMAN61051 IT Trends (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=BMAN61051&year=2008)
BMAN61102 Decision Analysis and Decision Support Systems (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=BMAN61102&year=2008)
BMAN70391 Managing Projects (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=BMAN70391&year=2008)
BMAN71621 IT Leadership Forum (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=BMAN71621&year=2008)
BMAN71631 Distributed Systems and Internet Technology (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=BMAN71631&year=2008)
BMAN71642 Human Computer Interaction and Web User Interfaces (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=BMAN71642&year=2008)
BMAN71652 Information and Knowledge Management (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=BMAN71652&year=2008)
BMAN71701 E-Business (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=BMAN71701&year=2008)
BMAN72162 Managing Business IT projects (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=BMAN72162&year=2008)
MEDN60051 Introduction to Human Biology (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=MEDN60051&year=2008)
MEDN70001 Java 1 (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=MEDN70001&year=2008)
MEDN70991 Introduction to Health Informatics (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=MEDN70991&year=2008)
MSEC40001 Entrepreneurial Commercialisation of Knowledge (http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/courseunits/syllabus.php?code=MSEC40001&year=2008)

Found on here, not sure this is right, but hey; heres the link http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/programmes/fulllist/

see, to have all that in your head, it will really impress the interviewer.

[PaulMacC]

Do I need to do A Level Science :S

[Supersam]

Some universities like an A level in a science if you want to do computer science. You will have to check though!

[Jarkie]

Do I need to do A Level Science :S

Well, it would be good to have a A-level in computing (of course)

1) you will get to learn some cool stuff, and some bits that you will learn in uni.
2) it will look good in your interview to your uni
3) also to get into uni, you need at least 3 a-levels/as-levels
4) and you need to get a good grade in uni, I am planning to go to cardiff uni, and for computer science up there you need from a AAB to an BBB in a-level grades!

but for science, not so sure?


Some universities like an A level in a science if you want to do computer science. You will have to check though!

mm, yes and no, it depends what side of the IT areas you want to go into.

[PaulMacC]

Will double science at gcse do?

[scottish]

Over here if you don't have Higher (A Level for you english) computing you won't get into uni i'm sure.

[PaulMacC]

You need A Level english?

[mangle]

No, you need A level English.
He was reffering to us as us English :P

[Immenseman]

The competition is hard Paul, many people want to go down that route. However, someone has to do it and there is no reason why it shouldn't be you, follow your dream :D

[mangle]

I know it's a lot of hard work, i'm not sure how well it pays either. For people like Cliffy B and Jade Raymond, it pays well. But for the low level guys I don't really know.

[PaulMacC]

Work your way up.

[Immenseman]

Exactly, it's like a lot of professions. People on the top of their game will be earning a lot whereas there will be people doing similar jobs for smaller companies and earning next to nothing. Same as Journalists, Footballers etc etc.

[PaulMacC]

Same as any job, put the work in and you get what you work for.

[Immenseman]

Same as any job, put the work in and you get what you work for.
Was that your motto you repeated yourself whilst progressing through the ranks of the RVR department?!

[Angel-Light]

My Computing Science course is mostly based on programming. There are different CS courses.

Currently in my 2nd half of 1st year I am moving onto Java Applications and coding them. With 2 assignments making up to 40%, 10% doing practicals and 50% on a written exam.

As people have said in the previous posts, programming as a career is very hard to get into and in this current climate, slightly worrying. It's best to have a few career options in mind if one doesn't work out as it planned ;)

Edit: Found this on EA website that may be of some use. It has info on different kinds of jobs and also some profiles on people who work there to give you a basic idea :P - https://jobs.ea.com/about/roles/role.aspx?id=1

[jam666]

Here is some useful articles / guides from games industry professionals.

http://www.sloperama.com/advice.html (HIGHLY ADVISED)
http://www.gamecareerguide.com/
http://www.gamedev.net/

These are just a few of the decent sites but i consider these 3 the best.

Hope these will be of use.

[CJW93]

Computer Science, doesnt that have nothing to do with programming and stuff?
Im doing Media at GCSE but I dont intend to continue to A Level.


Same, My teach is ******* FIT

[Andeeh]

Same, My teach is ******* FIT

Lol im doing media. 1st year of it.

what are you doing in it?

Good luck wid the dream btw (Y)

[Jonster]

Had a look into it, and found THIS (http://www.skillset.org/games/careers/article_4727_1.asp).


...A degree in Physics, Maths, or Computer Science is usually a prerequisite for this role, although any degree course with a substantial programming element will suffice. Many new entrants also have a postgraduate qualification as well. All Programmers start in the industry with proven ability to programme in C++ (companies will usually ask for some kind of demo and/or ask candidates to work through a test)...

Read the whole article, has some interesting and useful information.

-- HERE (http://www.skillset.org/games/careers/article_2768_1.asp) is a link to all of the possible jobs within the gaming industry.

[CJW93]

Lol im doing media. 1st year of it.

what are you doing in it?

Good luck wid the dream btw (Y)

My teacher is 25, Canadian yes she would get it up the ****ter anyday. :)

We have done Advertising, Newspapers, Music, Radio and we are about to start Reality Tv. The best subject in school and is pretty easy. The exam is a piece of cake to I'm predicted a B :)

But nearly finished now :(

[Zak]

Computer Science, doesnt that have nothing to do with programming and stuff?
Im doing Media at GCSE but I dont intend to continue to A Level.

yeah computer science has too much programming in it :eusa_wall

[PaulMacC]

I like programming though, I can code basic html and xhtml.
Learning php and stuff in 6th form.

[scottish]

Programming as in Java etc not coding (webpage)

[PaulMacC]

O, I've looked at some codes for a custom-built graphics engine, dont understand one bit of it :D
Eh, i'll have to learn.

[Angel-Light]

The first ever program/applet you will learn to do is "Hello World"

You will be sick of it :P Java is fine but I find it much more interesting than Visual Basic which I did at school :$

[Bren]

Can't stand visual basic, it's ******* ****. My teacher won't shut the **** up either, all she does is moan - mainly at me.