[game_edu] an undetermined number of reasons NOT to teach game dev

[pawlicki at cs.rochester.edu]

One big reason not to teach "game development" is that "it's hard".

I teach two Freshman classes, one is "Intro Programming" a 'hard' course
for CS majors the other is "video game development" intended to be
a 'fun and easy' course to get people interested in Computer Science.
In the majors class I use Java in the game course I use C#/XNA.
It turns out that there is a lot of complexity with using a sophisticated
game engine. The VS/C#/XNA tools and support are great, but the power
comes with a price. In the regular majors class, I have them do projects
like "pong" or "tetris" or a simple dungeon crawler - which everyone should
program at some time in their lives. The students in the video game
class do more sophisticated projects (customizing a 2D platformer) but
they seem more frustrated because they don't have as deep a
fundamental understanding of how it works. So, video game
development courses may scare students away from CS because of
the difficulty.

The second reason not to teach "game development" is that it's
multidisciplinary.

When I get Freshmen wanting a course in game
development I now tell them that there is no such thing. In order
to develop games you need strong skills in Computer Science, but
also in media studies (which is in our English department), Studio
Art & Art History, Music, and Business. (Wow - just like what we
used to call "a well rounded liberal education" - surprise!).
I help them put together a four year plan that emphasized their
personal strength, but informs them in the other areas. (And of
course, they need to build games as projects.) They wind up as well
prepared for the video game industry as a formal education can get them,
but they also are ready for other career choices. They get a real general
education, not a "game specific" education. So, the second reason not
to teach game development is that it's too narrow a topic for a good
formal education.

Yours,

Ted


Thaddeus F. Pawlicki, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Program Director
Computer Science Dept.      (585) 275-4198
University of Rochester       FAX (585) 273-4556
Rochester, NY  14627-0226   pawlicki at cs.rochester.edu
http://www.cs.rochester.edu/u/pawlicki/


''One of the most difficult tasks men can perform, however much others may
despise it, is the invention of good games and it cannot be done by men out
of touch with their instinctive selves.'' - Carl Jung 1977






> Ian, several on your list are already in the first draft! Not worded in

> quite the same way, but really good to know others are on the same

> wavelength as me!

>

> This is going to be for #altdevblogaday and I normally just write from the

> hip, but my confidence took a beating last post, when I got savaged in the

> comments section. So thanks for the sounding board of suggestions, as I

> feel I'm on the right track. Yes, these lists are generalisations, but

> like all stereotypes the underlying truth often needs airing to be truly

> scrutinised.

>

> Mike

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