Help me, i dont know what to do anymore :/

[Grizzly3D]

Right, first the situation:

Right now im "studying" Multimedia at College, its been five months and i havnt learnt one single thing. Its was below my level, nothing like the course was described. No game design yet, no 3d animation, and about three lessons on photoshop.

None of the tutors know what their doing, im above their level when it comes to experience. So i feel like im wasting my time.

Im thinking about quiting, and here are my options:

- Quit and get a full time job untill i turn 18 (september) and then i can take 3ds max, photoshop and other software courses, you know the ones, that last afew weeks each time.

- Quit, and look for a job to carry be straight into the games industry. I dont know where, im good with design, production, and basic art. Ill test if i have to.

What should i do, im losing out on about 8 thousand pounds to go to college and learn nothing. I need help :/

Thanks people!

[Craig Lewis]

Multimedia covers a broad range of subjects, so the course will cover other stuff than games. If I were in your situation, I'd keep teaching myself, then go on to either University to do a games course if possible, or a college course.

How long left do you have of the course you are on?

Also why is it costing you 8 grand for your course? Is it a specialist college?

[Grizzly3D]

Hi, thanks for the reply. Well, im not keen on going to uni, i dont know why, just doesnt grab me. Im really looking to develop my own company after a few years of industry experience. The college doesnt cost, its just if you think about it, if i had a full time job, on minimum wage, id make about 7-8 thousand a year. Im in the first year, and its a two year course, the lecturers are terrible, and many people in the course are just there because the description had the word "games" in it :/, im always the one to show everyone else, i just feel like im not getting anywhere.

A question...

What would an employer think of software certificates, for 3ds max, maya, photoshop. Would they mean anything to them, logically they should, as it shows you CAN develop in the packages.

Thanks again!

[Talon]

"Multimedia" is a very vague and broad subject. I'm not sure why you expected it to be very 3D animation or Photoshop heavy (let alone containing anything that's specifically game related).

Personally, I'd stick with it for now but look out for opportunities along the way and jump on them if you get the chance. You've nothing to lose, really. Or talk to your head of dept. about being transferred into a more specialised/relevant course? Or apply to university?

You shouldn't really need to go and take 3DS Max or Photoshop courses at all. I think you'll find that 90% of the stuff taught in those is about equal to what you're getting at college. There is more than enough stuff online for free that you can read up on if you just look for it... or just spend some time figuring it out for yourself (which is pretty much the best way to learn this stuff). It will just take lots of practice under your own initiative, there's no course that will just make you fantastic at modeling or texturing just like there's no course that will teach you everything about game art or design.



Aaalllso, college should (unofficially) be a bit of a laugh and a bit relaxed. You should be partying and going out, socialising. Half of college is just enjoying the experience of that :P

[benclark]

I think you can have certificates coming our of your ears from multiple establishments, you're still going to be judged on your work. If you dont have apimping showreel I dont think it matters where you studied

I did a uni course that had nothing much to do with 3d, because I was interested in it, and it gives me somehting to fall back on and gave me a good job straight out of uni. I used the last few years of that course to teach myself game-art. You dont seem to appreciate while you are at uni you have a window of time to get good, its much harder to find the time if you are working an 8hour shift everyday

it also sounds a little bit like you are sitting back and waiting to be taught. You have to drive yourself. I am willing to bet you havent raised these concerns with the head of your course either?

[Craig Lewis]

like Talon said, I'd just stick with it for the time being, and keep your eye open for opportunities. See if you can get some work experience somewhere, or even just work on mods. A multimedia course is probably your best bet for the time being, as there aren't that many colleges which offer games design. It mainly is stuff like multimedia, to give you a bit of a taster to different aspects of the subject, which you then go on to specialise in the certain aspects which interested you at university.

You should at least consider university. There are lots of specialist games courses, and these tutors will also have links with people in the industry, and so could be useful in helping you get a job.



I'm at college at the moment doing a games course, and although I already know a fair bit of the stuff we are taught, there are odds and sods of things I am taught which are useful.

[sarge mat]

Are you doing a BTEC? I myself have around 5 months left of my BTEC in (E-Media ) which covers everything from (Web Design to 3D). For my FMP I have under taken a short GOW single player level. I would say you might as well keep going to get the grade so that you can say you did it.

I have applied to two Uni's for game design but the college I am at ATM is going to run a 2 year HND thing that will cover some of the same stuff I am doing in class now (not sure how much game stuff though). So I think I will most likely do that for two years which gives me time to improve my Level Design and 3D Skills while being able to stay at home. My class is quite small and most of them will be doing it too which is a plus and all the tutors are great.

[Grizzly3D]

it also sounds a little bit like you are sitting back and waiting to be taught. You have to drive yourself. I am willing to bet you havent raised these concerns with the head of your course either?

Thanks Alchemist101, Ive spoken with her, she really didnt have much of a response, im the only one doing anything in the class, getting distinctions for everything. but im getting tired of not learning anything at all.

Aaalllso, college should (unofficially) be a bit of a laugh and a bit relaxed. You should be partying and going out, socialising. Half of college is just enjoying the experience of that :P

Haha, yes i would love to relax, its just i cant, cause im up tight about this course being shite. I really thought it would be more, its all assignments, nothing practical. Im getting tired of finding my learning styles. Which we seem to do every week. Thanks for your point of view on the other stuff though talon, its helping, trust me.

I'm at college at the moment doing a games course, and although I already know a fair bit of the stuff we are taught, there are odds and sods of things I am taught which are useful.

Cheers for the info Craig. Which course are you on, by any chance is it National Diploma in Multimedia (Tier 3), thats what im on, all the teachers there have no connections, or an idea at all, im teaching them things, for example, the engines and tech teacher hadnt heard of the Havok physics engine, and the graphics artist teacher is teaching us social skills, its all messed up :/ im really disappointed with the course, i also dont want to disapoint the parents, as before i started i was REALLY keen on the whole thing.

Cheers all! this is REALLY helping

[Grizzly3D]

Are you doing a BTEC? I myself have around 5 months left of my BTEC in (E-Media ) which covers everything from (Web Design to 3D). For my FMP I have under taken a short GOW single player level. I would say you might as well keep going to get the grade so that you can say you did it.

I have applied to two Uni's for game design but the college I am at ATM is going to run a 2 year HND thing that will cover some of the same stuff I am doing in class now (not sure how much game stuff though). So I think I will most likely do that for two years which gives me time to improve my Level Design and 3D Skills while being able to stay at home. My class is quite small and most of them will be doing it too which is a plus and all the tutors are great.

Sorry, just saw your reply O.o
Im doing BTEC ND in Multimedia (Tier 3), it was meant to cover all of that, however five months in to the 2 year course and we havnt covered any of it. Apart from some, i mean very little photoshop work, which, i already knew.

Thanks again!

[Craig Lewis]

Originally Posted by Grizzly3D

Cheers for the info Craig. Which course are you on, by any chance is it National Diploma in Multimedia (Tier 3), thats what im on, all the teachers there have no connections, or an idea at all, im teaching them things, for example, the engines and tech teacher hadnt heard of the Havok physics engine, and the graphics artist teacher is teaching us social skills, its all messed up :/ im really disappointed with the course, i also dont want to disapoint the parents, as before i started i was REALLY keen on the whole thing.

Cheers all! this is REALLY helping

I'm doing 'BTEC National Diploma in Media (Game Development)' so it mainly specialises in game stuff.

Although I don't learn a great deal at college, the main benefits are that it gives you a lot of time to develop your own work, and also my tutors connections, as I've already had a job at a games outsourcing studio (though I've now quit there), but as you say, your tutors have no games related connections, so it's a bit of an arse.


In all honesty though, I'd stick at it for the time being, and then go onto university.
If University isn't your thing, before you finish your course, send your CV out to a few places and see if you can't get a job, but also sign up to Uni, just as something to fall back on if you can't get a job.