Help! Bsc in Gaming

[IWillSurviv]

I’ll probably get a lambasting here but I’m going to post anyway.

DS trotted off for his first open day yesterday, currently in L6. Subjects include Maths, Economics and Computing. For yrs he wanted to study engineering, but physics got too tough so dropped it after Xmas. He was adamant he wants to study Computing and artificial intelligence. I’ve tried to advise him that AI is a bit too narrow a field and should look at something like Computing in Business but been told firm, No! His short list of Unis so far (subject to change) include, Nottingham, Birmingham, Sheffield, and Sussex, Surrey, Kent.

Went to open day and texted to say he’s thinking about changing his course. excited I text back to ask what is he thinking of? His reply, ‘Gaming and Multimedia’’.

Gaming and multimedia! All I can hear is Mickey 🐭 . Are there enough jobs Inc this field? Will any employer ever take him seriously? I don’t mean the odd employer but really, are they loads of employers crying out for graduates with degree in Gaming? He seems he’ll bent on it.

[Battleax]

Which uni is this at?

[IWillSurviv]

Sussex.

[Battleax]

It’s not my subject, but I’d feel the same as you for the same reasons.

At least it’s a good uni, I suppose, but, yes, eek!

Do they do gaming as part of a joint honours with something broader? “BSc Computing and/with gaming” would be better, I’d think.

[IWillSurviv]

Thanks Battleax - I was hoping to hear I’m worrying about nothing he was just talking gibberish when he got back. It’s not combined with anything suspbstantial it’s just Gaming and multimedia environment. DS just hears ‘Gaming’ and can’t think straight anymore. When I asked him what will you do with it? He just looked at me like I was mad and said, ‘i’ll Be designing games!’

[DrSeuss]

Our local uni does game design. is it possible he meant something like that?

[BadPolicy]

In my experience companies tend to prefer to train people in house for these kind of jobs. It would be good for him to speak to some prospective employers.

[Battleax]

I had a quick peak. Is it this one?

m.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/computer-science-artificial-intelligence-and-digital-media/games-and-multimedia-environments-game-with-an-industrial-placement-year-bsc/2018

It is called “Games and multimedia environments” which sounds a touch broader than I was imagining. The version I’ve linked to is four years inc. a year in industry. A placement year sounds a good idea.

[Battleax]

The thing is, they’re freshly minted adults by the time they go and you can’t actually stop them doing whatever it is they want.

[Userplusnumbers]

To be fair - gaming is a huge industry, plus if he's actually coding as part of it, then that's a hugely valuable skill for the future

[PotteringAlong]

The only person I know who works in this industry has a degree in engineering.

[astoundedgoat]

My (much younger!!) dd wants to be a computer game designer and I think it's a great career. Blizzard alone employs thousands and it's a HUGE industry. It's vocational training for one career, and potentially a little narrow, but I can't imagine the industry will shrink in coming years.

AI is a HUGE and very important field - far from discouraging that one, I'd have been bending over backwards to encourage him there. Probably better prospects than gaming?

But either would be great.

[honeysucklejasmine]

God no. BIL works for an international gaming company and he is sick to the back teeth of fresh graduates clutching gaming degrees. He calls them "jack of all trades" and says he'd much rather have a computer scientist who actually knows one area properly.

Get DS to speak to someone in the industry.

[IWillSurviv]

Battle - Yes that’s the one.

[IWillSurviv]

Honestly I can’t even say it,

What is IWillSurviJnr studying?
Me -Bsc gaming and multimedia en.......
(Cue peels of laughter from all within earshot)

[spinn]

There is a massive massive shortage of good quality employees in the gaming industry and they are paying serious money for people who understand it and can code etc.


There is now a level 3 course to prepare for games at uni (this is industry approved and recommended). There are many uni courses for games but he needs to massively research further now which unis have links with industry and have good employment records, are their facilities up to date, are their modules current. Some of the uni courses are just ticking over, others are game changers and front runners for the industry.


He needs to ensure there is a mix of everything in the course to excel in the industry - history, business, art, programming, graphics, computing, commerce etc, you will struggle to make a mark if you don't understand the bigger picture.

[Battleax]

You know what strikes me (cynical old hag that I am)? There’s about four different versions of that same degree listed there. I expect the University is doing a very brisk and profitable trade. Find though I am of of UoS, I’d take advice from anyone BUT them.

[Battleax]

Peek not peak. Fond not find. Autocorrect hates me 😔

[brizzledrizzle]

Having read the description it doesn't sound that bad TBH. I know what you mean though if you just go by the name.

[IWillSurviv]

“Having read the description it doesn't sound that bad TBH.“

That says it all really doesn’t it.

[hunterbear]

The gaming industry is only going to get bigger.

Some of the richest people in the world developed video games. It would be a fascinating and really rewarding career.

I live in the midlands and there are some huge gaming development companies here. You should see the houses these guys own!

Google The stamper brothers!

[AnyaMumsnet]

Hi everyone,

Just to let you know OP has asked for this thread to be moved to Higher Education, so we'll be moving it there now.

[BubblesBuddy]

These courses are offered by a huge number of universities and colleges. The entry tariffs vary widely. It seems highly improbable that all grads are getting top $ jobs. Very few RG universities are on this particular bandwagon though. Southampton’s course might be worth looking at.

Also, as said above, lots of people work in this industry with other qualifications. Not specific gaming degrees. I notice City University does MSci Computing and Gaming. I imagine looking for the courses that actually get young people into the jobs they want is the way to go. At 98% Sussex looks very high though. As with every industry, it’s only the top tiny % that make the mega bucks. Most employees are foot soldiers. As is the norm everywhere.

[thesandwich]

Look as others have said at employability, salaries on graduation, industry links, placements etc- but it a growing and dynamic industry.
Your friends will not laugh when your ds is earning megabucks doing what they love and their dc with a ba in something* worthy from somewhere red brick is unemployed.....

[heateallthebuns]

I think it's a good idea. Better to study something he loves and get a good degree, most people do a postgrad after anyway.

[UghAgh]

Has he looked at the module choices? Is there a lot of flexibility? Might there be scope for him to change direction once he starts on his degree. One of my kids did comp sci and switched to comp sci and AI once he started and worked out exactly what he wanted.

I don’t know which unis have the biggest and best Comp Sci departments but if he chooses somewhere which is strong across the board for comp sic then he can fine tune his module choices as he goes along.
Do some more general comp sci courses have modules in game design?