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I'm currently attending Full Sail and getting my bachelor's in Game Design and Development... so yes, it is entirely possible, and I plan to make a career as a game programmer (maybe designer, but I doubt it).

Writing music is an art, whether it's for top 40 radio, games, or theater. Most of the time you don't get hired to write music as a permanent job, though there are a few out there. If you want to get into the industry, start writing music and TONS of it. Get some games and re-write the music for them. Make some videos showing the game with your music behind it. Offer to write music for free for ANYONE who is willing. The best way to make money writing music for games is to get known as a game musician.

Another thing to do is learn how to write music on as many different audio apps as possible, as well as with physical instruments like guitar, keyboard, drums, etc. If someone asks you to come in and write music using a Jeskola Buzz Machine http://www.buzzmachines.com/, you need to already know how. You also need to understand mixing and mastering and need to know how to use analog and digital recording equipment. Mixing isn't too difficult but mastering really takes talent and skill.

Basically, he needs to shell out some cash on music equipment and software instead of on a degree. If he insists on going to school, he needs to go to a school like Full Sail http://www.fullsail.com/ that actually offers courses that would be relevant to the field.

That's very interesting. I thought Full Sail had a focus on game design.

Computer Science is bleck. I want to be a programmer, and CS does *not* teach you programming. I'm currently going for my bachelor's in Game Design and Development, which fits perfectly because I want to be a game programmer (not a "software engineer").

I think that could be part of the reason of declining numbers is there being alternatives out there now that will teach you programming as a base and theory secondary, rather than theory first, followed by programmer. I know 2nd and 3rd year CS majors that I could EASILY out-code and I'm only in my 5th month at Full Sail.

At my school, there isn't. There are so many different types of people going to my school, and especially in my program, there's no real "groupthink." Maybe among the instructors, but I doubt it.

Anyways, I go to Full Sail.

I *was* harassed by a FOSS advocate, as I was coming out of Costco.

I'm walking along smiling, say hi to some guy.
Guy: You're having way too much fun.
Me: Eh, I'm a happy guy.
Guy notices my school badge for Full Sail.
Me: Yeah, I'm going for game programming.
Guy: Linux, it's where it's at.
Me: Maybe, but Windows does what I need it to do and besides, most games are made for Windows.
Guy: Not in the future. You should use Linux.
I vainly attempt to move away to my car.
Guy: Knoppix is where it's at. Go to (whatever Knoppix' site is, I forget) and download it. You just put the CD in and it works.
Me: Yeah, I know what Knoppix is, but I use Windows. I don't want Linux.
I was scared I was going to be attacked with Knoppix CDs at this point.
Guy: You should use it. It's free and open source. Don't you like free things?
Me: Fine, I'll check it out. (FLAGRANT LIE)
Guy: Yeah, you should try it.
I slip into my car, lock the doors and get the hell away.

That is how I was accosted by a FOSS pusher outside of a Costco. There are those that take it to the extremes on both sides of FOSS, and neither are good.

Full Sail

If it's anything like those other game schools that don't exist, then sure. You work 70+ hours a week at DP.

For those looking for other programs, the Art Institute offers a Bachelor of Science in Game Art & Design. Full Sail, in Florida, also offers a BS program.

For those looking for other programs, the Art Institute offers a Bachelor of Science in Game Art & Design. Full Sail, in Florida, also offers a BS program.

The article mentioned this presentation took place at Full Sail. Full Sail, the alma mater of Imari Stevenson, a school which also received accolades from the Romero, is also hosting a Phantom promo? Ever notice how everything sucky about the game industry seems to cluster together?

I used to imagine Full Sail as the kind of place that would ask you essay questions like "The President has been kidnapped by ninjas! Are you a bad enough dude to rescue the President?" on its application forms. Then I went here and found out they don't have essays at all.

Even if the artists aren't going the budget route and want to use the big setups that aren't really needed anymore (Bjork does a lot of her work with her laptop) you can rent out studios. In fact, this is exactly what most if not all of the agencies do. The agencies just set up the appointments. It's a few thousand a day to rent these studios (depending on the amount of crew you need and the equiptment you need.) The backstreet boys (or that other big boy band) actually recorded and mixed a number of their tracks at my old school.

Full Sail in Florida (www.fullsail.com) offers a degree in Game Design, It looks quit interesting and I heard there class schedule is quite rushed.

Others wrote to say that a broad, liberal education is preferable, and I agree completely. I talked to these folks (Full Sail) at Siggraph last year and they flooded me with phone calls over the following months, trying to get me to sign up for some courses. It's sad to see that many academic institutions are pandering to some very short-sighted educational goals, enticing bright eyed hopefuls to part with their money. Instead, they should focus on turning out brilliant, adaptable alumni with a broad knowledge base and unbridled creativity. A school is ultimately judged by the quality of it's graduates.