Life Changing Decision -> I'm quiting the Game Developement Course.

[Fsiphskilm]

I've give

[Gypsy]

It's tough when you get burned out doing something you love, I understand. For the record, from what I've seen, you're very talented and I'm sure the garden will not stay locked forever.

Not to sound like a complete Pollyanna, it was worth a shot, right?

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Wow Volt, it sure sounds tough. I hope you can transfer to a class that you enjoy and that doesn't have so many troubles. God Bless, I'll be praying for you mate.

[K. Ayato]

I don't blame you for dropping a course, Volt. Although I never have, my parents always said by all means I could should the course be too much to handle, or some other valid reason.

[Slater]

ouch... hmm... ja, look somewhere else. We here in CA have an awesome place called "Cogswell" which is a college for stuff like digital animation, digitaly generated music, and game development. Pixar pretty much ran out of this place, and many movies have used their blue-screen room to take scenes and stuff.

[Fsiphskilm]

[quote]

[Ashley]

I'm really sorry to hear that Volt. I know the feeling though...I really fell apart this last year physically and mentally as an art major at UH. I was in the honors college with 15 semester hours, a part time job and 50 hours of homework a week. It was insane, and I lost a ton of sleep and all sort of physical problems popped up. I really, really do understand how you feel.

God yanked me out and is sending me on to seminary, and I know He'll provide somewhere for you, too. If you're looking for a different school, you might consider SCAD--the Savannah College of Art and Design. They have some absolutely AMAZING programs and it's one of the top schools in the nation. I don't know if it's right for you or not (wasn't for me), but I figured I'd throw it out there.

[Azier the Swordsman]

I'm glad to hear your nightmare is over. I also wish you good luck where ever God leads you, because I know you'll do well.

In a way, your struggles have helped me... since I was thinking of applying at Full Sail myself.

[Fsiphskilm]

When al

[Fsiphskilm]

There

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

I didn't quit my Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design course and it ran for 3 years. I didn't enjoy much of it at all, found it far too difficult and had trouble keeping up with the work, not to mention I think I've come away with not all that much knowledge of design (not having good memory also wasn't good). I also became quite depressed, not suicidal but probably wasn't much fun to have around. When people would ask how my course was going I would try to avoid the subject, it hurt too much. I often think "why did I do this course?" All that money and time could have been spent more wisely. Maybe God was telling me something too?
Thanks for those encouraging words Volt! They ring true and are very inspirational and its important to let God take the 'wheel' as we travel through life.

God Bless

[Mave]

Your degree doesn't decide your career. By choosing another major, you may be surprised by how much it allows you to pursue something else which you really love on the sideline. I'm in a Food Science/Marketing Research job right now and when I come home, I'm very happy to be able to pursue mangakaing on the side-line without any pressure.

If GOD place game designing in your heart, believe me, HE'll make full use of it. It's just not in the way you and I would necessarily expect. I'm glad you've finally taken that decision to quit and surrender all to God. I was always troubled to hear how much suffering you'll going through.

But I assure you, one day, you'll look back and know that it was all worth it when you find yourself in the new path that GOD has mapped out. My hope is that you'll completely depend on GOD and be open to ANYTHING HE may show you, no matter how outlandish it may be.

*gives Volt a friendly pat on the back* The Lord is near.

[Technomancer]

Wow, I'm sorry to hear all of this. I know how hard you've worked and how much you wanted to do this.

They try to teach you C++ in 20 Days, Calulus, Physics, and Linear Algebra in 6 days each. It's insane, and the education you'll get here will be nothing but [u]watered down,

That simply can't be done, even for the basics in these subjects. There's a reason why these are semester long courses in colleges and universities. You simply have got to have the time to digest the material, and that includes time to mentally relax.

Even if you've given up on Full Sail, don't give up on game development just yet. You can still go to college or university (a better one!) and learn the material from experienced teachers and at a sensible pace. Take a look at what other schools are offering and contrast it with what private technical colleges like Full Sail are doing. For example:
http://gamer.mcmaster.ca/

Take some time to relax and decide what you want to do and what you can do. Think, pray, and do some research on wht your next move will be.

[skynes]

My experience at the Belfast Institute.
In our nice new labs at Millfield were we are teaching Higher National Diplomas in Software Engineering, there are not one but TWO modules on Computer hardare and networks.

Do we provide you the necessary materials to gets hands on experience with this stuff? NO! Do we provide old PC parts so you can actually know what RAM looks like? NO! Do we have PCs that WORK? NO!!!

Yes we expect you to know all the information and theory of building a PC and configuring Networks, yet we won't let you within a mile of the pieces...


No I'm not comparing that to your experience, I have never endured anything close to that.

It's good to hear you're out of that hell-hole. Now you can spend some time resting up and sorting things out. Have a break from all that stuff and look at it again later, though not at Full Sail.

I'll be keeping you in prayer.

[dragonshimmer]

SCAD--the Savannah College of Art and Design. They have some absolutely AMAZING programs and it's one of the top schools in the nation. I don't know if it's right for you or not (wasn't for me), but I figured I'd throw it out there.

Savannah College of Art and Design. Yes. That's only an hour away from where I am.

I CAN tell you...that it's an incredible school with lots of opportunity in a more laid back city with beautiful scenery. The school attracts people from all over the US, and most people I've met from there seem to be really happy with it, Volt.

I'm sorry to hear about this...it's really hard to get burned out on something that you care about. I hope God brings you where you need to be. I'll keep you in my prayers. You should do something relaxing soon, something non stressful that makes Volt happy I wish you the best. Be happy!

[Tommy]

I already know what college I`m going to. It`s a Game Design college in Arizona and I am going Full Sail. -Gulp-

[LorentzForce]

My recommendation is to not to go to such schools, and instead rely entirely on doing everything yourself at your own time. That way you can choose how much you want to do, and is really flexible.

I personally have dreamt of being a game developer since I was a weenie kid of four who first got his console from his loving dad, and even now I still haven't given it up. By 8 I was programming, and this was way before I even knew what the word apple meant (literally, not a single word of English in my vocabulary at that age). Perhaps the young age made it easier, but cramming down random glyphs of alphabet and memorising random commands (remember this was days of CLI, Windows was just released) that I didn't know what they were.

I eventually figured out I'll never be able to stick to any major plans, so I decided to "side-track" and let game development just be another part of my life and not entirely. I made a game development group within highschool among my friends, and learnt many things about group project and management (oh yeah, that cycle of design some funny concept that'll never happen). I learnt in time to code in more languages I can count with my fingers, and all in effort paid off. Now I go to a university studying Software Engineering, even if I failed some subjects in highschol.

Don't give up Volt, gaming industry is not gained through simply by a piece of paper with Certificate on it. Keep trying, and someone will hold open that door to the industry for you. If you still love programming, keep at it, there's probably a reason for it.

[Locke]

Did you chuck the laptop out of the window?

[Danyasaur]

^_^ I love some of your artwork that I've seen scattered about *you made me laugh a great deal with some of your spoofs like, "Resident Troll" and so forth lol*, you have great talent, and I just want to bless you on whatever path God may take you.

[Locke]

^_^ I love some of your artwork that I've seen scattered about *you made me laugh a great deal with some of your spoofs like, "Resident Troll" and so forth lol*, you have great talent, and I just want to bless you on whatever path God may take you.

If Volt made RTroll into a game I would pre-pre-pre-order that in an instant.

[Azier the Swordsman]

I already know what college I`m going to. It`s a Game Design college in Arizona and I am going Full Sail. -Gulp-

You can study everything you need to know about game design from home and be a lot better off. (It's also much cheaper). If you are serious about Game Design, you can study BASIC and C++ in your spare time, and practice with programs like DarkBasic and it's new C++ version. http://www.darkbasic.com

If you want to go to college though, there are better than Full Sail. Last time I checked, ITT Tech has been opening Game Design courses on certain campuses. I have no idea how good the school is though.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

yeah if you get into full sail with pretty much no knowledge in like java or basic or C++.... consider yourself dead

[Link Antilles]

If you want to go to college though, there are better than Full Sail. Last time I checked, ITT Tech has been opening Game Design courses on certain campuses. I have no idea how good the school is though.

I was doing research on that and it's not any better that Full Sail. IT Tech is pretty much a Degree Mill. Then again, it depends on your area.

Anyways, I agree with what a few others said, make your own games at home. There are plenty of resources available. Game makers are looking for experience and talent, not a degree. So, having your own self-made game is a good show off for an interview. It doesn't have to be the best thing in the world, just a fair representation that you know what you’re doing and can do the job.

-Or you can work your way up the latter, by starter out as a QA tester.

[Doubleshadow]

It sounds like you made the best decision. You may have just been doing the right thing at the wrong time or wrong place, resulting in the wrong thing. I'll pray for you. I hope any lasting ailments you may have for this clear up.

[uc pseudonym]

I doubt I have anything to say that will make you feel better, and I can't really commiserate, but I extend my fullest sympathy, for whatever that is worth. I'll be praying for you, and I hope the best for your future.

[Fsiphskilm]

[quote]My

[Tommy]

Maybe I should just be a cartoonist. I`ve been working on my art skills alot and have funny comic strip panel going on.

[GhostPoet]

I've given this much thought...

And I'm not going through with this anymore.

Full Sail's un-experienced staff, and history with Game Developement is just too much for me to bear. This Aug will make it my 1 year anniversary being in the Game Development Course, Class wise I'm only 4 months into the course.

It is too difficult, and I've had nothing but bad luck and signs from God to quit.

==Why I'm Quiting==
I knew the Course was going to be intense, but in reality it is 7X more intense and difficult than i could of imagened.

I've had Stomach Ulsers, Head Aches, Heart Aches, from all the stress, from all the work and all the catching up. No more. I'm done with this Crap.

This school is just not ready to teach Game Design.

==My Mistakes==
Coming here.
Asking God for Help, when I should of Asked God for Direction. I've had nothing but Bad Luck, and spiritual attacks since i got here.

Instead of asking God for Direction I kept asking for help, so i could pass my classes and graduate. Aparently this is not my fate, this is not the path i should be taking.

This is all like a dream to me right now. It's a bit difficult to grasp but I'm glad I'm making this decision, This course has made my life Hell, and aside from the stress and depression, I'm glad I'm dropping out. I'm glad I can finally get my life back. Instead of waking up everyday, scared to death of failing, always being behind, going to the same Torturing classes, struggling to make it... Imagine this everyday for almost 1 year now... I'm surprized I haven't killed myself, If i weren't christian I wouldn't be here. If it weren't for my beleifs I would not be here at all.

==My Advice to You Game Dev Wanna-Be's==
Don't go to Full Sail for Game Development.
80% of the Guys that take the GDev Degree end up quiting or going home. And the 20% left... not all of them Graduate. It's not worth your time or money. Full Sail is still upgrading the course in certain spots, which just goes to show how un-experienced they are at this.

The Staff are many times Unorganized and In-competant. The Teachers Pile Work on your back constantly, and the stress is intense beyond all means.

The Physics, Calculus, and Linear Algebra Teacher is the same guy. Who's foriegn accent is un-translatable even by the most experienced student.

They try to teach you C++ in 20 Days, Calulus, Physics, and Linear Algebra in 6 days each. It's insane, and the education you'll get here will be nothing but watered down, Rushed, undetailed, reviews of information Full Sail expects you to already know. This school sucks so much there was a website FullSailSucks.com filled with COMPLAINTS from Teachers, former Labbies, and Students. Full Sail covered this up buy sewing the guy, and taking the website down.

No worries, http://www.archive.org still has the site archived. You MUST read it if you're considering ever going here for Game Design.

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I just called my Mom and told her, all i can say is I'm glad I'm making this decision. The amount of stress and work involved is insane, my lazy idiot room-mate, the distance from class, all have their share of causing this.

But what amazes me the most is the un-experienced teaching methods, classes that have been in the degree for years, decide to change their course teaching guidelines, changes are made here and there, teachers quit, new ones are highered, EVERY MONTH.

I'm Tired, I'm Stressed out, I LOVE game Design, but I have to start being realistic, and stop lieing to myself. The truth is this: I"M NOT GOING TO MAKE IT IN THIS COURSE. I've Failed over and over. And it's not because I don't understand the material. I've taken PC LOGO, Pascal, Q Basic, and Visual Basic Programing in HighSchool, I passed PG1 with only half the knowledge, but like i said, They don't give you enough time to breath. I have to finish the course in a certain amount of time, You can't take more than 30 months, and according to my current status, I'm nearing that limit. IF i'm having this much trouble 4months into the course, then heh, I'm not going to make it with the other 19 or so months. Time to be reasonable and not passionate. I love Programing, I love game Design, But realisticly It's time to call it quits.

The other courses, are still accelerated but at the end of the day, you go home and relax, With the game design course, you take your work home, on your laptop and you keep working. 70% of your work will be done at home.

SCREW the teachers, they give you a BOOK for all the classes, and you can teach yourself. In my opinion Full Sail's GDev Course sucks waxy donkey ears. And I just want my life, health, and sanity back.

I'm done.

All i want now. is just.. to Transfer into the right course. I'm going to talk to my student advisor tomorrow, I can transfer into Film, Digital Media, Computer Animation. And I want God to lead me to the right one. Aside from the insane amounts of money I've gone through already, I'm just.... very very stressed out. I've had all sorts of physical pain from the stress and intesity that i'm done. No More. Screw Full Sail.

My love for programing has been placed in a Garden, locked away, where love might someday bloom once again. But not this school, not now.

Dang..that work load sounds like my time at the Art Institute..(and what a waste it was)

Actually..I'd say you made the right choice in leaving that department...getting into the gaming field is EXTREMELY hard without already having a lot of contacts in the business. Only a small minority EVER actually make it into any side of gaming.

[Technomancer]

Absolutely Correct.
The Lesson of the story is, Don't Study things at College that involve you teaching yourself. If you can teach yourself, then you don't need some college breathing down your back, setting up impossible milestones and finals. Learning things on your own time, relaxed, not stressed is better.

I'm not sure that I'd give up formal education just yet. Yes, if you can study some things on your own than definately do so. However, this may not always work for more theoretical subjects where having an instructor can be a big plus. Even for the more practical stuff, a single individual may not have access to some of the equipment needed (e.g. graphical modelling software, etc) due to the expense involved. Of course, when it comes to the job interview it is always helpful to have that little piece of paper which shows that you know what you claim to.