Illustration course over game art course?

[Mr Man]

Hey peeps well im getting close to having to decide where I go into the future in terms of learning. I know there are alot of people asking for help and I know you guys cant choose for me. But id very much appreciate a little insight.

Ok Now I really would like to work in the world of computer games and films and do all the concept art stuff you know the deal. Ive recently discovered a course called "computer games art" which is a Ba (hons) for 3 years.
But I have also seen an illustration course which tickles my fancie too.
Now this choice is incredibly hard because at the end of the day I would like to be flexible. With illustration do you think I will have alot more options availible to me and that ill learn to draw as a whole more? Or will the games art be better having the experience with the more digital mediums.
Its a tough choice.

Heres a link to the computer games course if your interested http://www.tees.ac.uk/Undergraduate_courses/Computer_Games/BA_(Hons)_Computer_Games_Art.cfm

Thanks

Rich

[Badger]

Hey Rich, Course looks ok on the website, but then they all do, i can't recommend going and having a look at places highly enough. Also talk to the current students, don't be worried, just ask them what it's like, you are gonna be living somewhere for 3 years and getting into a lot of debt, it better be good.

I'm pretty much a big fan of good quality foundation courses, they really sort you out, there is a big thread on UK art schools here (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=65644) and there are probably a lot more great ones.

-B-

[Mr Man]

Thanks for the info. Ive had ago at emailing the odd student though its incredibly hard to even find students to mail. The only way I mananged to find students is by looking on news to see if any had won prizes..no luck for teeside though.

[Reale]

hey, today fella is your lucky day :P

i am starting my second year in games design (ba hons) three year course :P what ya wanna know, i am willing to tell you what i can about the course :D

[ConCrete]

Mr Man I saw this post and said that dude is on the level. I am currently enrolled at UW parkside, a liberal arts school thats cheap and local. Its got a decent traditional art program and I am the first class in its entirely new digital arts program. I have turned my life up side down trying to figure out a game dev degree in the midwest (Not an art concetrated area, mostly cows) a game dev degree on the west coast, or staying at parkside.

COncerns-
Exposure to the industry - At parkside I have no connecitons or teachers related to the feild and their are 3 students who want to get into game dev industry, maybe, at the schools here in WI for game dev I get half assed exposure that may or may not get me a job in the industry, while the west coast schools have much more abundant connections and real life industry teachers.

Art skills - Digital arts illustration degree at Parkside will be good, I get lots of conventional arts and good fundanmentals. The game dev schools in the mideast are more specialty schools than anything. I end up without a very strong art school and more knowledge on the game industry as far as programs and methods, which has its plus's but is very focused, whichmeans if I dont have the cut I dont get a job ever...

I know I am motivated about my art more than ever in my life, like I dream about art and just deleted all the non art related programs off my computer...hundreds of games and movies....I have never been more serious...And I keep hearing that degrees are unnecessary and that art schools are just a waste of time...I don't want to get to the end of a program at any of these shcools and wish I had chose differently...any info you have Reale Please PLEASE let me me in on it...

Just listne to me, I can;t even write anymore, I am too excited about my future and the possibilities...

[codenothing]

I'd say go with the illustration course, and learn what you can about 3D modeling/texturing on the side. In the game industry today things are getting bigger and better and more departmentalised. It used to be you needed to know 3 different skillsets to get a job, but now more and more companies have full time illustrators. and if you are ever required to do 3D it will be simple model and texture stuff like props. anyone doing next gen characters lives and breaths z-brush and maya. Its a whole other world. If your dream is to do 'concept' work i highly recomend an illustration education. Pluss it will give you jobs in a lot of other areas if you want out of the game industry.

If you get a digree in game development, and you end up not liking it. where are you going to go? Possibly movie FX. but thats about it.

[ConCrete]

So I figured out the degree I need...now do I stay at Parkside...where no one really cares, including the teachers...I mean its a great school but I say concept art and games and they say "whaaa?" Or go to a full art school in chicago, like Columbia or something out in minneapolis like brown or something...where competition between students and 'exposure' to somehting like game dev is more likely...

[Mr Man]

I'd say go with the illustration course, and learn what you can about 3D modeling/texturing on the side. In the game industry today things are getting bigger and better and more departmentalised. It used to be you needed to know 3 different skillsets to get a job, but now more and more companies have full time illustrators. and if you are ever required to do 3D it will be simple model and texture stuff like props. anyone doing next gen characters lives and breaths z-brush and maya. Its a whole other world. If your dream is to do 'concept' work i highly recomend an illustration education. Pluss it will give you jobs in a lot of other areas if you want out of the game industry.

If you get a digree in game development, and you end up not liking it. where are you going to go? Possibly movie FX. but thats about it.

Hey thanks for that, Ive decided to keep on with illustration because as you said I shouldnt limit myself to what I do. some time in the future i may want to pursue book covers or whatever. It makes more sense to be broad than specific.

Thanks

Rich