I have a bit of a dilemma on my hands. I start uni this fall, with a major in Computer Science Games. That just means its a computer science degree but 1/4th to 1/2 of my courses are centered around making video games (not just programming them). That includes character development, scriptwriting in the cinematic arts department, etcetc.
Anyway. This summer I’d like to do at least one of two things. The first is that I’d like to
Learn something useful for my major!
and the second, is that I’d like to
Earn money to buy a tablet PC + 3G iPhone!
Now, I’m a little indecisive at this point, because I don’t know which one I’d like to focus my summer on. I really don’t know.
A tablet PC and some sort of smartphone would go a long way to help me with my organizational problems at school (from what I’ve read anyway). And they’d probably last me a long while.
On the other hand, I could be getting a head start on my education by learning some sort of programming language (I learnt Java from AP Computer Science but its not really worth mentioning - I didn’t do or learn anything outside the basics).
Of course, there’s also the option of, instead of getting a job, I could try to get back into designing. But that would mean I’d finally have to drop tables and learn CSS. And I don’t know if that would end up making any money by the end of summer, which means that the effort was sort of wasted.
I’m just unsure of what to do for the next 3 months.
Uhh… I’m not gonna lie to you your gonna be behind in your classes if you expect to go into the classes not know a bit about programming. Most the classes now-a-days start with XNA for the game development courses with C#. So def make sure you know the basics in that area (my brother took a few of those types of classes).
How much have you saved thus far toward your laptop for college? I mean usually one gets the money for that from their graduation party from cousins ect.
I would spend your time programming if I were you so you don’t find yourself behind on the work (I know for the courses around here they expect one to know the basics of OOP ect…).
For keeping organized a small dated planner will do everything you need just jot down what you have for each class… not extremely difficult to keep organized.
Yeah i agree with templarian. Sounds like option A will really help you out, and option B is just the consumerist in you wanting new shiny stuff. A tablet pc and a 3G phone, shilst nice, are far from essential. Get your *** doing some serious learning.
I too, am at a loss for my summer activities. But since WPI is a pretty penny more expensive than USC (about 50k over 4 years), I’m going to have to work this summer.
Here’s my freshman schedule, too:
Quarter A:
Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering
Calculus IV
Discrete Mathematics I
Numerical Analysis I
Issues in Engineering I
Quarter B:
Linear Algebra
Principles of Physics: Electricity and Magnetism
Discrete Mathematics II
Numerical Analysis II
Issues in Engineering II
Oh nvm I made a silly assumption. I really don’t know anything about USC other than that they have a decent football team. Of course, it doesn’t stand up to the University of Nebraska or WPI, but it comes in a close third.
as most of people said here, learn programming and further if you wnat to, u can read books about maths or physic related to games.
edit : i almost forgot … take also time to have fun during summer cauz once u start u’ll have less time ( i’d even said no life …) @Al: good luck with electric & magnetism class (that is really hell!!!)
Thanks guys. I think I’m going to find someone on Facebook who is a bit further on than I with the same major and ask him what he thinks I should pickup first in terms of programming and game development.
Yeah. I have a friend who is fanatically into video game development and said that he called up some companies to ask who they’d want to hire. Apparently they all said that programmer positions were just for Computer Science majors. No game development or interactive media for the technical positions.
My calculus teacher said most of it was done in Visual Basic. But I’d imagine you’d want to learn C#, VB, C++, and Java for starters. Oh yeah, and I’ve heard WPI teaches a lot of classes in Scheme for some reason.
[QUOTE=Al6200;2327889]Oh yeah, and I’ve heard WPI teaches a lot of classes in Scheme for some reason.[/QUOTE]
From my understanding, a lot of schools do (including MIT). The language contains a lot of fundamental concepts without a huge infrastructure built for you, so you get to learn a lot about how a programming language works.
[QUOTE=Vexir;2327895]Keep in mind I’m already relatively well introduced to programming languages and OOP because of Java.[/QUOTE]
I suspect that might be one reason a lot of schools do it — many kids come in only knowing OOP, and it introduces some programming concepts outside that realm.
You don’t know how true that is man, all the high end computer programmers are not in the video game field they just take the classes for fun. Plus a lot of classes are just theory… like the database courses ect…
Also no course is taught in VB anymore its all C# and XNA for games and C# for application development.
[whisper]when my little bro started uni… he took a 5000 level class his first semester, its the only reason why i know about this… my majors far from CS.[/whisper]
The college you’re going to will give you an outline of what you’ll be taught on their website. I’d check out there if you’re looking for inspiration on what to learn.
i dont think you reaaallly need to get a head start on your courses. The courses are there to teach you, you can learn everything you need to in class i plan on spending my summer traveling and spending time with friends. After summer a lot of them go off to their own schools, so spend time with them! haha
And I don’t know if that would end up making any money by the end of summer, which means that the effort was sort of wasted.
i plan on spending my summer traveling and spending time with friends. After summer a lot of them go off to their own schools, so spend time with them! haha