As I stated in my last post I'm pursuing a degree in game and sim programming. I started my first core class which is GSP110. Basically it is 70% on the history of the gaming industry and 30% on the history of the simulation industry. I was suprised to learn how well one can do in the sim industry and what a huge market it is. It covers everything from crime units using sims to portray crime scenes ( sounds like Condemned ) to sims dealing with airplane trafficking.

So on this first day we discussed influential games. Most of my classmates cited FFVII as one of the most influential games. I disagreed with all of them, sometimes I just like to be different. In honesty though I understand their rationale, it did bring RPGs into the limelight. But I felt the game itself was influenced more by chrono trigger and older RPGs in the series and other nes rpgs like Fire Emblem, Dragon Quest and lets not forget The Legend of Zelda. FFVII was even the best of the series. Other people thought COD 4 was the most influential. I guess because of its current popularity. But without DOOM there would be no COD, and you could even say that without the Medal of Honor series making WWII game popular there would be no COD series, seeing as it's roots are in the WWII era as well.

In all I think this is going to be an easy class. We have to write a topic paper on a current game design company and the models it uses when creating games. I'm going to do mine on the recently, well as of December 2007, formed 2K Marin, who is working on the new BioShock sequel. If you don't know, they basically shipped a bunch of 2K Boston workers to Cali and gave them a studio. Also Ken Levine is rumored to be "in contact" with the team but has no direct input on the title, the new creative director is Jordan Thomas who designed the notorious "Fort Frolic" level in the original BioShock. I think dtoid did a write-up on this, if so thanks in advance for a resource for my paper, don't worry, I'll make sure it's properly cited :).

Let me be your guinea pig. I've been playing games for over 20 years now and finally decided that I'm going to join the industry. Bright eyed and bushy tailed, fully naive to the challenges that await. I couldn't stand living a life of complete and udder insanity working jobs that provide only enough to cash to live while chopping away at my pride.

So after this revelation I went to school. I'm in my second year at DeVry earning my degree in game/simulation programming. I've taken classes in C++, though I wouldn't say I was anything more than a novice. I couldn't draw to save my life. I do however have an imagination the size of imagination land itself. Whether that will be worth anything or not I have yet to find out. So here I am, attempting to get into an industry that's tighter than a prom date and just as ill-tempered. ( I fear mine was more of the latter ).

So I either have huge balls for attempting such a feat or a brain the size of my actual balls.

Right now I'm creating games using gamemaker 7 so I can get the feel for what concepts and methods are used in creating basic games. I'm not ready yet to start writing code. I'm learning, on my own, some basic design techniques so that I can be more adept at the actual drawing of games, though I don't actually want to be an character designer or have anything to do with the drawing side of games, I know that it will benefit me to know at least how to draw some simple sprites for my own games. Nah, or maybe I'll just use SpriteLib.

So if their are any of you out there wanting to get into the game industry and don't know jack, I'll keep you updated on my own progress and what classes are like that teach for this type of degree that I'm probably just throwing a ridiculous amount of dough at for what only will be a small chance at getting into the industry. And if their is anyone out there actually in the game industry, you have my thanks for keeping me entertained between working at a coffee house and sleeping. Also any advice or criticisms are appreciated.