Self-described "recovering game developer" David Weinstein says, "Any degree focused-education gets you three things. It gets you the opportunity to learn; how much of that you take advantage of is up to you. ... It provides networking opportunities. A theater program in Manhattan offers a lot more networking opportunities than one in Dubuque. Here is where the better game-oriented degree programs (for example, Digipen, Full Sail and the Guild Hall ) have a great deal to offer - all three of those schools have superb contacts throughout the game industry. The third thing the schools offer is a credential. It is a loan of reputation from the school to the graduate."
On the downside, there is some concern that these colleges are too narrow in their focus. The Full Sail program offers two-year degrees in recording arts and film as well as game design. While their website boasts many success stories of their students going on to succeed in their chosen career, the credits students have gained toward their degree are non-transferable to most four-year universities. This means any attempt to build on their education may place them squarely at the freshman level of most colleges.
"I would still strongly advise that you get a traditional CS [computer science] degree from the best school you can get into, and work your ass off," Weinstein says. "Learn everything you can (and not just CS - that makes you one-dimensional and boring). This is your chance to learn from world experts in a whole range of fields; take advantage of it. Get a strong, balanced education, and work on game development skills in class projects when you can, and outside of them when you cannot. And work on those people skills. When you are looking for an entry-level job, the two things that are important are the light behind the eyes, and how well you work with others."
Not all gaming programs are two-year degrees. The Nintendo-affiliated DigiPen Institute of Technology, in Redmond, offers a rigorous four-year degree, along with a Master's degree in computer science. They are working on a Ph.D. program, as well. DigiPen is one of the most popular schools in the field, and the top students have an excellent chance finding a career in gaming.
Dansky cautions, however, that while the degrees may teach you much about game development, the degrees are not a magic bullet into a job in gaming. "A game design degree is no more a pass into a job in the industry than a degree in any other industry. It's just one more thing you can put in your toolkit. ... At this point, experience still trumps any sort of formal degree."
Van Verth worries about the long-term value of the degrees. "The big problem, as I see it, is that the game industry can be a rough place to work. Turnover can be high. Some people just drop out. At one point, you were a veteran if you had worked in the industry for five years. So by signing up for a program that focuses entirely on game development, you're banking your future that that is what you want to do for the rest of your life. If you decide you want to do something more lucrative [in engineering], like write financial or database software, it's going to be tough."
