Game Art courses and Schools

[owenrachel7]

Does anybody from the UK have any experience/knowledge of the Train2Game course?

My course at Escape Studios has been cancelled, and I now feel a bit lost. I've recently finished my final year of a Media Production university course, so I'm looking at short courses in Game Art rather than another three-year stint at university.

Thanks in advance!

[Purplemikey]

if you want to stay at home taking courses you might appreciate that one
college LaSalle from Montreal, Quebec, Canada will bring you through the game industry starting by "how it works in the industry" (full of text thats not my favorite part) it will learn you how to model weapons, props, level and characters and there's also some class about level design, game design, visual langage and scenography.

I'm at the end of the first semester and I have to say that I really like how its going right now
class list Online 3D Video Game Training - Detailed Course List - LaSalle College
a bit more info and contact info Video Game 3D Modeling

[Mr-Brett]

I know owen ask over a month ago but I would avoid Train2Game. I've heard a lot of negative reports, they use inadequate resources and software, they lock you into a very expensive contract and in general seem to be borderline con-artists, how they got Tiga approval I have no idea.

[owenrachel7]

Originally Posted by Mr-Brett

I know owen ask over a month ago but I would avoid Train2Game. I've heard a lot of negative reports, they use inadequate resources and software, they lock you into a very expensive contract and in general seem to be borderline con-artists, how they got Tiga approval I have no idea.

Thanks for the reply, I don't think I ever seriously considered them, just saw them mentioned someplace. Looks like I dodged a bullet there then!

[Bellsey]

have you tried looking at the accreditation courses from UK Skillset

Computer Games Industry Accredited Courses - Skillset

there's also Gamer Camp: Gamer Camp : Real Training for a Career in Games

[Amsterdam Hilton Hotel]

I've been attending Champlain College in the relevant major for two years now. I cannot wholeheartedly recommend it. There are some very skilled professors in regards to both concept painting and 3d modeling/animation/texturing, and the head of the art program actively keeps aware of the current state of game art. Additionally you will have experience on around 5 or so completed games by the time you graduate, two in 3d. However, you won't start a 3d class until Sophomore year and you'll have to take many redundant anatomy and perspective drawing and graphic design courses prior to that. I say redundant not because these are useless to study, but because you will literally take multiple sequential classes covering the same things. I cannot help but feel like many of our graduates year after year would have much better placement if they had a whole extra year of 3d instruction.

Additionally, the school is run very much as a for-profit institution (do not believe their status as a non-profit; this only means that no money is kept in the name of the school itself), and as a result the tuition is ludicrously higher than a game artist's salary would make reasonable, and there are many secondary costs. However, the buildings that comprise the campus and dorms are really pretty nice, and, importantly for us, they do keep all their machines up-to-date with total overhauls every two years.

Until the program matures significantly, I would gently recommend against anyone attending this school without seriously considering the cost.

[mechkid]

though the intitue looks convicing but if anyone are intersted in designing a video game you can try the recording arts canada tough i have see tem in a job fair once but never went there Game Design | Recording Arts Canada | Institut d'enregistrement du Canada cuz of meh bein in high school.

[Tairii]

Hey guys! I want to add a little background information to help in my dilemma. I want to be an environment artist for ArenaNet (dream job!), and I have reached the point in my life where I need to choose a path in the road.

More details:

Right now, I am taking an 3d Animation course for 3DS Max (it's a college level course), I've also taken several college level graphic art classes and some light traditional art classes.

ArenaNet uses Maya

I want to go to school in-state, but I'm not ruling out-of-state yet.

-----

I've been accepted to George Mason University's Computer Game Design Course. I've read around for a bit, and someone mentioned that the program is more for a general touch on game design and artists should get a major in art and a minor in the game design program. I am worried that this will not help me in my endeavors. George Mason teaches 3DS Max, and they have little to no work of their students around. The work that is around is basic 2D games that was a senior project. The program has been around for about 3 years, which adds more to my apprehension.

My choices are:

Computer Game Design as a Major: Program: Computer Game Design, BFA - George Mason University - Acalog ACMS?

Art and Visual Technology as a Minor: Program: Art and Visual Technology Minor - George Mason University - Acalog ACMS?

or

Art and Visual Technology as a Major: Program: Art and Visual Technology, BFA - George Mason University - Acalog ACMS?

Computer Game Design as a Minor: Program: Computer Game Design Minor - George Mason University - Acalog ACMS?

Now, it looks like a great program and I don't mind teaching myself Maya while using the skills I learn from Mason, but a student's senior project made me upset. The program seems to be more general game design rather than art and moreso, environment art.

My other two options are Art Institute of Northern Virginia and their Media Arts and Animation program.

Northern Virginia Animation Degree Programs

I am rather impressed, especially with the background I would get in traditional arts, but this would require more work on my part.

An alternative is the Art Institute of Arlington and their Game Art and Animation program.

Arlington Game Art And Design Degree Programs

*Note* - Both Art Institutes teach both Maya and Max

So finally my problem, I don't know which school to go to. The more I read and research, the more I get confused. Could anyone experienced help me with this choice, after all, I am new to choosing a college.

Thank you so much in advance and I hope this wasn't too detailed. :S

[Istanbul]

Hi Tairii,

A couple points.

#1. Whoever said that "artists should get a major in art and a minor in the game design program" gave good advice. The school I went to (ITT Tech) was a general game design program that taught basics of art and modeling. At the time I started, I really didn't know for sure what I would take to more since I didn't do any of this kind of stuff in high school, and started going to college for a career change. (10 years of restaurant management was 11 years too many). However, if I had known that I would enjoy 3d modeling the most, I would certainly have looked for an art focused program instead.

#2. On the whole 3ds Max vs. Maya, at least as far as instructional bases goes, if you can find a school that you like that does teach both, great. Otherwise, from what I've read, if your stuff is good enough and you grew up on 3ds Max, a studio that uses Maya will probably be willing to give you a shot anyways, and give you the time to learn Maya. Not every studio, but a lot of them. After all, if you know the principles of modeling and animation really well, then using a different tool is just about learning the different UI (or lack of UI) as to how to do the things you already know how to do.

If someone wants to post and say I'm wrong about the above points, I would totally stand corrected, but that is how I see things from where I'm at currently.

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