[game_edu] Brenda Braithwaite's game_edu rant at GDC

[Dan]

I think some of the disagreement between how much programming is needed is
to some degree based on what each of us interprets as "knowing programming."
Brenda calls for a Foundation of Code. What foundation is needed for a
designer, for an artist, and for a CIT graduate is undoubtedly very
different.  I just watched the link from Escapist, I don't see a big
disconnect from that advice and Brenda's. According to the video, designers
need (among others skills) solid Logic skills, a good understanding of
Advanced Algebra, a basic understanding of Computer Technology, and basic
Scripting and Programming abilities.

 

I'd argue that anyone who has a solid understanding of logic and algebra,
and can program at a basic ability, has a solid enough foundation to create
a functional prototype of their game, especially with all the tools we have
today. The better the grasp on programming, the easier it would be and
better optimized, of course, but a fundamental understanding of programming
does not seem unrealistic. Note that she derides Intro to Programming or
Java 101 as the sole exposure to programming; I'm curious as to exactly what
exposure she would feel is an adequate amount (though since she's admittedly
just now learning programming I doubt she'd feel comfortable defining a
criteria yet.) But her larger point about designers needing to have some
foundation in programming I think is a good one.

 

--Dan Carreker

 

 

  _____  

From: Mike Sellers [mailto:mike at onlinealchemy.com] 
Sent: Friday, March 04, 2011 8:18 AM
To: IGDA Game Education Listserv
Subject: Re: [game_edu] Brenda Braithwaite's game_edu rant at GDC

 

I started my career as a software engineer: I was on the first team outside
of AT&T to use C++.  I've programmed professionally in Fortran, C,
Smalltalk, LISP, C++, Pascal, Java, ActionScript, Python, and other
languages I'm sure I've forgotten.

 

I've also designed games professionally for over 15 years: MMOs, social
games, and other online games.

 

So with that as context, IMO telling students "to be a designer you have to
know how to program:" is doing them a grave disservice in putting
programming in a position of primacy above other skills (and I think is
perhaps "the zeal of the recently converted" in Brenda's case, as she's only
recently begun to learn programming).

 

I would of course agree with the more moderate statement that knowing a bit
about programming and understanding technical realities is extremely helpful
for designers (and maybe necessary for senior designers) -- as is, say,
having a grasp of UX principles for programmers.  But we don't tell our
graphics engine programmers they have to spend a year doing usability
studies either.

 

Being a game designer necessarily means being something of a generalist.
This includes being able to draw from psychology, art, theater,
anthropology, statistics, combinatorics, and other disciplines.  There's a
lot of advice on what it takes to be a designer out there; IMO one of the
best pieces is that from the Escapist last year (see
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2443-So-You-Want-t
o-be-a-Game-Designer).  

 

IMO, while rants may be cleansing for the soul, setting expectations like
this does a disservice to the still fast-developing understanding of how to
best educate future game designers.  

 

 

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