Video Games vs Animation

[GStreakT]

Just to enlighten myself--

I'll be joining SCAD in the fall and during application, I had to choose 3 realms of art I would be interested in (according to preference). I know I've said this before but I went animations, illustration and video game development. Will I have classes related to all 3? Also, is animations a better choice over video game development in terms of courses in SCAD? I hope to be a good animator either way (and also a concept artist). Is a career in either one more rewarding or more competitive? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

P.S.- I know it's kinda vague, but just tell me whatever you can.

[Seedling]

There are many jobs involved in making games, including animation. Unless you are interested in game design, 3D modeling/texturing, or another non-animation job in the games industry, then you will want to study animation exclusively. If you are serious about concept art, then you will want to study illustration exclusively. If you study a little of each, you are most likely to end up as a game designer, which is an awesome career (and it is what I do), but it means you won't be making art or animating.

There is a link in my sig to info on the games industry.

[GStreakT]

Thanks for the insight, Seedline. I also heard that animators are usually struggling artists and that the industry is having their ups and downs (as in animated movies aren't doing as well as they used to so the craze is kinda dying). Although I know the same could hold true with video games (and anything technology related), are game designers paid well?

[Seedling]

We're paid about as well as the animators who are also employed at our company. :P Really, don't pick a career based on pay. Pick a career based on what you love doing and on what sort of grunt work you are going to tolerate best. (I.E. if you love working with horses but couldn't tolerate mucking out stalls, then don't pick a career that involves both horses and mucking out stalls.)