[game_edu] game_edu Digest, Vol 54, Issue 19
Sean Lynott
SLynott at westwood.edu
Mon Apr 6 18:32:18 EDT 2009
I've been with Westwood for over four year now. I realize we've made some poor commercials in the past, but I stand by my graduates and school because we are always working on improving. If anyone would like to learn more about the school and our grads, feel free to send me an email:
slynott at westwood.edu
Sean Lynott, MBA, CPRW
Career Development Services Advisor
Westwood College - Online Campus
Direct: 720-887-8830
Toll Free: 1-877-817-9525 ext. 11630
Fax: 1-888-270-0413
Email: slynott at westwood.edu
Website: www.westwoodonline.edu
Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.
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Subject: game_edu Digest, Vol 54, Issue 19
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
IGDA Education SIG
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Topics:
1. Videogame Competition Announced for SIGGRAPH 2009 -
Applications Open! (Seth Sivak)
2. Re: game_edu Digest, Vol 54, Issue 18 Tighten Up those
Graphics! (Robertson Holt) (Rob Holt)
3. guidance for students and parents (Roberts, Scott)
4. Re: guidance for students and parents (Darius Kazemi)
5. Re: guidance for students and parents (S. Gold)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 13:28:00 -0400
From: Seth Sivak <sjsivak at gmail.com>
Subject: [game_edu] Videogame Competition Announced for SIGGRAPH 2009
- Applications Open!
To: IGDA Game Education Listserv <game_edu at igda.org>
Message-ID:
<73bf13440904061028t5be09e3dj756960c789cbf187 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Sorry for any cross posting.
SIGGRAPH announces the launch of GameJam!, a new international videogame
competition to be held at SIGGRAPH 2009, the 36th International Conference
and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques.
Teams of three people will compete for 24 consecutive hours to create,
design, and implement their best effort at a comprehensive videogame in the
allotted timeframe. Each team must contain at least one Programmer, Artist,
and Sound Designer. Individuals and teams are welcome to apply. Contestants
will be provided with a pre-designated theme as well as the necessary tools
and software to complete the challenge. All work must take place on site
within the 24-hour period.
"SIGGRAPH's expanded focus into the videogame arena offers a great
opportunity for a competition like GameJam! to bring some experimental
gameplay into the mix," stated Drew Davidson, SIGGRAPH 2009 Director of
Interactive Play from Carnegie Mellon University. "We encourage videogame
developers at all levels from around the globe to submit applications. Our
goal is to make GameJam! one of the most dynamic, international videogame
competitions in the world."
Videogames will be judged by a panel of industry experts with prizes awarded
in several categories including Best Game Play, Best Sound Design, Best
Appearance, Best of Show, Crowd Favorite, and Epic Failure. GameJam! will be
produced in conjunction with The
Sandbox<http://www.siggraph.org/s2009/galleries_experiences/sandbox/index.php>,
an area at SIGGRAPH 2009 focused specifically on the gaming industry.
Those wishing to submit applications to participate in GameJam! can do so on
the SIGGRAPH 2009 web
site<http://www.siggraph.org/s2009/submissions/game_jam/index.php>.
There is a $10 application fee per applicant.
GameJam! was added to the SIGGRAPH 2009 program based upon past success with
FJORG!, the SIGGRAPH iron-animator competition, returning in 2009 for its
third consecutive year.
Complete information on
FJORG!<http://www.siggraph.org/s2009/contests_competitions/fjorg/index.php>as
well as the dynamically evolving SIGGRAPH
2009 program or to download a copy of the SIGGRAPH 2009 Preview
Video<http://www.siggraph.org/s2009/index.php>
More info:
http://www.siggraph.org/s2009/media/releases/release9.php
http://www.siggraph.org/s2009/submissions/game_jam/index.php
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Message: 2
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 17:33:48 -0300
From: Rob Holt <autodot at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [game_edu] game_edu Digest, Vol 54, Issue 18 Tighten Up
those Graphics! (Robertson Holt)
To: game_edu at igda.org
Message-ID: <ab02ab0904061333n38f2b68ere1d4db7788c7fb7 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
A clueless interviewer for a games teaching job once asked me "So,
what do you know about this internet thing?"
Having both higher academic and studio development experience, the
game education scene was initially a big shock.
I feel like most of the time we are selling them something in between
a dream and a blatant lie for a very exorbitant sum of money. Maybe
it's not that different from offering a student a Philosophy Grad
degree, but at least they have some deep thoughts to fall back on
about why no one is returning their calls.
Schools seem to accept anyone that breathes, and then lets them slowly fail out.
Obviously schools need enrollment, but this translates into a row of
kids in the back that play flash games for 2 terms or the like. This
makes it hard on the students who do try, but also a quasi realistic
simulator for how frustrating development can be.
Programs seem to be split into 5 types
1. Programming curriculum's with an XNA course slapped on the end
2. 3D degree that has an exporting class
3. Mod School that only teaches one engine that the industry doesn't use much
4. Comprehensive art, design, sound & programming.
5. Universities that don't really want gaming in their programs
because it is unacademic & tiptoe around it
Do students even want ludology instruction or do they just want to
know how to make big explosions in Unreal. Do they want to learn C++
and concept art? From my experience, they want one or the other.
They should want both, because to me development is not about the
'hard skills' but about communication. And you can't communicate if
you don't speak the languages.
How do we engage all levels of students so that they feel like they
got something for their education. There certainly aren't jobs for all
the students we produce and a term of Photoshop isn't going to cut it
when they try and enter other industries.
We've been using a mini studio model for the last term where there are
project leads, lead artists, etc and the 'less dedicated' do the QA
roles.
Honestly the computers as long as they work and aren't riddled with
viruses don't need to be top of the line. The only students who
actually know what the pixel fill rate of the cards is, aren't going
to be happy with them anyway.
No Ps2 or xbox titles were made with quad cores, & I know students can
be very stunned with stars in their eyes because there is a lab of the
latest shiny whatever but the instruction is what matters & they
typically won't be pushing those machines until the last term anyway.
Better or dual monitors & good chairs are worth more than an extra 512
on your graphics card.
I feel these advertisements sum up many of the problems we face as
game educators, #1 being gross misrepresentation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwlE1aASc4g
http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/11/cheesy-game-designers-tighten-up-the-graphics/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zI-Z0VgQTY&feature=related
better, but the comments are telling
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kxey9-3m9Ws&feature=related
"Step 5. Shell out 50K for an "associates" degree from a school that
has no idea what accreditation is. I feel your pain. "
I wish all programs came with some disclaimers
'If you like playing games, you probably won't like making them'
or
'High school Math & Physics with pictures and frustration'
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 16:44:15 -0500
From: "Roberts, Scott" <sroberts at cim.depaul.edu>
Subject: [game_edu] guidance for students and parents
To: IGDA Game Education Listserv <game_edu at igda.org>
Message-ID:
<6FC69A39E7AED545B86312C4B1639CD2525EBBF7E4 at wagner.cti.depaul.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
All the recent posts on "those" programs and the all the "other" evil schools/administrators are entertaining, but I'm not sure who they're aimed at. Are there members of those schools subscribed to this list? If so, they must have thick skin to take all this venting. (And is it just my imagination, or does this thread happen every year following GDC?)
It doesn't appear that anyone is proposing real, concrete actions to improve the situation. I think it's inappropriate for this group to publish a list of predatory schools, and problematic to list schools that are AOK (the specter of the IGDA stamp of approval). What is appropriate is to present a list of what students and parents should look for: positives and warning signs. Do we have something like this and I've just missed it? I wasn't able to locate it on the SIG site.
Breaking In
I'm embarrassed to say that I just noticed the IGDA Breaking In site: http://www.igda.org/breakingin/ , and I have no idea how old it is. It appears to be meant to encourage students to get into the industry, but there's no real guidance of any kind for choosing a good school (at least that I could find).
Can I propose that we try to add some education advice to this site, and then all work to link to that location from our program sites? That would raise the chances of students finding the site (through a better Google rating based on our traffic) and avoiding some of these predators. FIEA has a list of questions for prospective students to ask: http://www.fiea.ucf.edu/shield/showpage.php?page_id=1007 , and I liked it so much that we made our own version: http://gamedev.depaul.edu/?page_id=38 I'm sure many schools have their own versions.
Maybe something like this could help the situation, and we'll have less to gripe about next year. :)
Scott
Scott Roberts
Associate Professor
School of Cinema & Interactive Media
DePaul University
sroberts at CIM.depaul.edu
http://GameDev.DePaul.edu/
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 17:49:28 -0400
From: Darius Kazemi <darius.kazemi at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [game_edu] guidance for students and parents
To: IGDA Game Education Listserv <game_edu at igda.org>
Message-ID:
<7f9d076a0904061449i75a86bdet7cdaeeedad21a274 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Jeff Ward's article, "Choosing a Game School," is my favorite place to send
students who are asking what kind of school they should go to. It's very
even-handed and the basic thesis is: choose the school that you feel you
will be most successful attending.
http://www.gamecareerguide.com/features/298/choosing_a_.php
-Darius
On Mon, Apr 6, 2009 at 5:44 PM, Roberts, Scott <sroberts at cim.depaul.edu>wrote:
> All the recent posts on "those" programs and the all the "other" evil
> schools/administrators are entertaining, but I'm not sure who they're aimed
> at. Are there members of those schools subscribed to this list? If so,
> they must have thick skin to take all this venting. (And is it just my
> imagination, or does this thread happen every year following GDC?)
>
> It doesn't appear that anyone is proposing real, concrete actions to
> improve the situation. I think it's inappropriate for this group to publish
> a list of predatory schools, and problematic to list schools that are AOK
> (the specter of the IGDA stamp of approval). What is appropriate is to
> present a list of what students and parents should look for: positives and
> warning signs. Do we have something like this and I've just missed it? I
> wasn't able to locate it on the SIG site.
>
> Breaking In
> I'm embarrassed to say that I just noticed the IGDA Breaking In site:
> http://www.igda.org/breakingin/ , and I have no idea how old it is. It
> appears to be meant to encourage students to get into the industry, but
> there's no real guidance of any kind for choosing a good school (at least
> that I could find).
>
> Can I propose that we try to add some education advice to this site, and
> then all work to link to that location from our program sites? That would
> raise the chances of students finding the site (through a better Google
> rating based on our traffic) and avoiding some of these predators. FIEA has
> a list of questions for prospective students to ask:
> http://www.fiea.ucf.edu/shield/showpage.php?page_id=1007 , and I liked it
> so much that we made our own version:
> http://gamedev.depaul.edu/?page_id=38 I'm sure many schools have their
> own versions.
>
> Maybe something like this could help the situation, and we'll have less to
> gripe about next year. :)
>
> Scott
>
>
> Scott Roberts
> Associate Professor
> School of Cinema & Interactive Media
> DePaul University
> sroberts at CIM.depaul.edu
>
> http://GameDev.DePaul.edu/
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> game_edu mailing list
> game_edu at igda.org
> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_edu
>
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Message: 5
Date: Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:25:48 -0700
From: "S. Gold" <goldfile at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [game_edu] guidance for students and parents
To: IGDA Game Education Listserv <game_edu at igda.org>
Message-ID: <C5FFCF7C.1C44F%goldfile at gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
This is a very interesting discussion, because yes, many of them we seem to
go over again and again. In truth there should be some resolve to them and
we should be able to provide these discussions as a resource to all people
in the membership. Which brings me to something I have tried to express, but
here it is in print: Anyone can approach me to start an initiative that
interests them, maybe it is adding those type of things to the The Breaking
in Website, or teaming up with the writers SIG to do a more in-depth
curriculum for the interactive writing area, you name it... I am open to all
of these great ideas. What usually ends up happening is the same thing that
happened at the EdSIG meeting at GDC, great ideas, but no one want to take
on the initiative. Now I have asked several people over the years to take on
the Student Outreach ? they start, it is discussed, it stays the same. Do I
want there to be a change? Do I want someone to work on it? YES, please just
step up and say you?ll do it. The people I have asked have had the best
intentions, it just has not been done. Last year after GDC I tried the IGDA
stamp of approval and that went down in flames. That is fine, but I got an
Ad hoc group together and did not interfere. The response from the committee
was no we are not ready for an IGDA stamp of approval, OK. What other
initiatives do you want to take on? I am sure collectively we can really do
something special. I am sure if you have an idea or resource you want to
work on, the SIG can provide you with the tools. The list can serve as
participants or committee members. I have tried several different
approaches, letting people start new things, the problems have truly been
with the follow through. I can not do everything, I am sorry. The Global
Game Jam is a part of the SIG and it is big enough for me to completely be
at my bandwidth limit. I do need help and am open to any imitative that the
membership feels it needs to explore. The only questions I have would be
included in a proposal:
1. What is the initiative?
2. How does it serve the greater good of the EdSIG membership?
3. Does it fall within the mission of the SIG? ?To create a community
resource that will strengthen the academic membership of the IGDA while
enhancing the education of future and current game developers.?
4. What resources do you need to achieve it?
5. Who will lead it?
6. How many volunteers do you need to accomplish?
Remember we are an all volunteer organization (including me) and we may not
be able to do everything at once, but I would gladly entertain any and all
initiatives. I believe we are able to improve the resources we provide our
memberships.
Areas that interest me:
> * Cultural Pedagogy in Games
> * International Outreach especially for the Curriculum Framework
> * Collaborative Skill Enhancement
> * I think we can really do a lot better when it comes to communication. The
> Writers SIG has developed a quarterly magazine where we will be able to
> publish articles (not papers) that will go out to the entire IGDA membership.
> I think we should have a newsletter. Something that went out at least
> Quarterly? We also will have a new website, we could have a team of folks
> interested in making the website more interesting, useful, etc... Isn?t it
> about time I just posted those CFP?s there and not on the list?
Anyway, write to me offline, online, what have you. I am willing to listen
to all ideas that make us better educators.
Susan
On 06/04/09 2:44 PM, "Roberts, Scott" <sroberts at cim.depaul.edu> wrote:
> All the recent posts on "those" programs and the all the "other" evil
> schools/administrators are entertaining, but I'm not sure who they're aimed
> at. Are there members of those schools subscribed to this list? If so, they
> must have thick skin to take all this venting. (And is it just my
> imagination, or does this thread happen every year following GDC?)
>
> It doesn't appear that anyone is proposing real, concrete actions to improve
> the situation. I think it's inappropriate for this group to publish a list of
> predatory schools, and problematic to list schools that are AOK (the specter
> of the IGDA stamp of approval). What is appropriate is to present a list of
> what students and parents should look for: positives and warning signs. Do we
> have something like this and I've just missed it? I wasn't able to locate it
> on the SIG site.
>
> Breaking In
> I'm embarrassed to say that I just noticed the IGDA Breaking In site:
> http://www.igda.org/breakingin/ , and I have no idea how old it is. It
> appears to be meant to encourage students to get into the industry, but
> there's no real guidance of any kind for choosing a good school (at least that
> I could find).
>
> Can I propose that we try to add some education advice to this site, and then
> all work to link to that location from our program sites? That would raise
> the chances of students finding the site (through a better Google rating based
> on our traffic) and avoiding some of these predators. FIEA has a list of
> questions for prospective students to ask:
> http://www.fiea.ucf.edu/shield/showpage.php?page_id=1007 , and I liked it so
> much that we made our own version: http://gamedev.depaul.edu/?page_id=38 I'm
> sure many schools have their own versions.
>
> Maybe something like this could help the situation, and we'll have less to
> gripe about next year. :)
>
> Scott
>
>
> Scott Roberts
> Associate Professor
> School of Cinema & Interactive Media
> DePaul University
> sroberts at CIM.depaul.edu
>
> http://GameDev.DePaul.edu/
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> game_edu mailing list
> game_edu at igda.org
> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_edu
--
Susan Gold
Skype: tahoegold
"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all."
Oscar Wilde
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