Gamasutra – Academic Expansion – How Rare Recruits Graduates

On an Article over at Gamasutra, (Thanks Crucifine ) Nick Burton takes an in depth look at the Microsoft Developer Rare, who are UK Based. The Article looks over at Academic Students looking to get into the Industry post graduate, rather than employing people with experience.
(It reminds me I must find a letter that someone from Rare sent me about 6 years ago saying what was a recommended University)

Alot of things have changed in the industry, and its now recognised by Universities to be a course criteria. The Article touches on the courses, and what Rare does when they are looking for New Employee’s.

The interesting and well written Article can be found at the following link:

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3529/academic_expansion__how_rare_.php

Currently my friend is doing a college course that’s similar to a game based course, its Mixed media and Involves game development, which includes Programming I believe, as well as Movie based work and research.

Is this really an advantage to traditional routes? My friend comments on the course not been very organised, a lot of time is used playing games, there’s story development and uses of film making. Now granted this isn’t a specific route for game development, but what about the things its missing.

I’m doing an Art and Design course, where I use different media such as, paint, textile, photography, ceramic and digital mediums (If interested). I benefit from areas that might be more basic to get into the gaming industry, like Life drawing, which can develop characters, Painting (Landscape and Other) can be used for colour development and level design, Ceramics and 3D development, which can be used to create Models of characters, Vehicles, or a Diorama like the one built for Halo 3. 3D flyable version Available HERE

Video of Diorama been made

Overall in My opinion, the gains from working with Traditional Art is probably the best way of getting into the industry, but for specialist roles, a University course for Gaming specifics like Programming and Development is probably the role you should go for.