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Dynamix Game Design Course

xxGizmo404xxxxGizmo404xx
edited in General
Hi everyone.

During this year's rAge Expo I stumbled across this Game Design Course offered by Dynamix (http://www.dynamix.co.za/graphic_programmes.htm) .

I'd like your thoughts on this kind of course and whether someone who has done ( or is currently doing ) the program could give me some more insight to the specifications of the course.

Thanks everyone, keep doing what we do best :P

Comments

  • dislekciadislekcia
    edited
    ... I wouldn't touch that course with a barge pole.

    For starters, I wouldn't suggest pursuing a graphics-heavy course being offered by a company whose website looks like that (and whose image editing skills are that haphazard) - either they don't care about how it looks, or they think it looks great, or they don't have time to make it look better. All three of those are not good indicators of how they'll treat you as a learner.

    But, say that someone else did their site and they're just too damn busy teaching or something, fine. I have no idea what that course is supposed to be covering - they're talking about AAA game development and publishers that are based overseas like you'd be able to land jobs with them easily from SA. That's not how the local industry works, so I don't think they're clued up about the state of the industry in general - why is it relevant that big publishers run their own studios? Eh? ... This is supposed to be a game design course and they do talk about some concepts like level design, but there's no mention of anything code-related - which game designers need to understand - besides XNA (which is a dead system now) they don't even mention scripting. That's not a good sign. Chances are that they're trying to run a game graphics course that's been slightly modified to better suit design. OR they don't understand that game design is a very different thing to graphic design. I have no idea what the point of teaching a game designer corel draw is, let alone three modules on it.

    This feels very much like a course they got in a box and are trying to use to make quick money with, given that games are popular. Do you know who's supposed to be teaching it? That's always something you should find out for any course you're keen to go on.

    So no, I wouldn't rate this highly from an external perspective. If anyone's doing the course and could give better info, I'd be keen to hear if they do anything to help you build a portfolio of games, because that's the only way to show off your game design skills.
    Thanked by 1duncanbellsa
  • hermantullekenhermantulleken
    edited
    I was going to say I am always "a bit" skeptical about these small "game dev courses"... But to be really honest, based on the information provided, it's aimed at starry-eyed dreamers with money to throw in the water, and it makes me sad.

    Here are the things that set off my warning lights:
    - The careers listed are bullshit. For example, "application development specialist" with hardly any training in application development, programme manager... with no training in any form of management (not even production!). Under the web course brand designer (!) without any course even teaching what a brand is...
    - They talk of big studios as if their "programme" relates to them, without actually providing course information. I assure you you won't get a job at an EA studio with (only) this behind your back. Moreover, that kind of thinking is irrelevant to the way game development is done in South Africa.
    - I'm always extremely sceptical about programs such as "level design" and "character design"... who are teaching this? What info is their course based on? etc.

    ----
    That said; no reason not to get more info; for all we know it's a gem of a course with an horrific web site. And sometimes even a bad course can have benefits (have you sit down and do something!); (but there are be better ways to spend your money, except if you have an infinite amount).

    ----
    I can't talk so much of the other aspects of game development, but for programming, I'd hire somebody who did a lot of programming courses, preferably as many math courses as possible, and has a nice portfolio of projects. (In fact, the portfolio will overshadow all else). [If I did hire an artist, I will always choose one that can draw and work with color above anyone that can use some program. For game design, history and theoretical knowledge is a nice add-on, but I would only look at projects.]

    ----
    If you are not specifically aiming for a job, but want to improve your skills for your own projects, I would suggest more focused mini-training. For programming, I still think the university is the best place, although I am not sure that you can get something that does not involve a full-fledged degree. There are other ways though - for programming, books are really good. Buy thick books and do all the exercises, and read the classics. (The Art of Computer Programming, Code Complete, etc.) For other aspects of game development, others will have better advice. And of course: make games!

    Edit: Dislekcia answered as I was typing :P
  • konmankonman
    They will however be "Putting you in a class above the rest!" Whether that is on the 2nd floor or the roof remains to be seen.
    Thanked by 1Bensonance
  • ElyaradineElyaradine
    Ew. Their courses seem to be heavily focused on software training rather than core fundamental skills.

    What I did when I was shopping around for game art courses was:
    • Do they say who the lecturer is? If the lecturer has worked professionally in game dev, you can be sure they'd use that in the marketing.
    • Do they showcase previous students' work? If it was any good, you can be sure they'd use it in the marketing.
    • Have they placed previous students in the game industry? If they did, you can be sure they'd use it in the marketing.
    If you're looking at being an artist:
    Noah Bradley: Don't go to art school <-- The argument of cost isn't as strong a one here in SA, but the recommended self-taught routes are VERY strong. Even if you go to an art school, I'd highly recommend supplementing what you learn there with these.
  • duncanbellsaduncanbellsa
    I agree with @dislekcia and @hermantulleken

    One could forgive them for their shoddy website, but it's not clear exactly what you would be learning.
    As a guideline, course's normally outline their syllabus in terms of modules. It looks like they are just blabbering on about the industry, and have no essential information about the course. Simply stating a feature of the course is "Game Developer" means absolutely nothing.

    From my experience of setting up my course, I probably went through about 4 or 5 revisions because there was stuff I included in the syllabus and description that were not needed. Luckily for me I had the opportunity to speak to a couple of guys in the local industry, as well as Gustavo (from Learn3D) to help me outline the course. Everyone had some decent insight into what people would want out of a course (full or part time).

    So yeah, to re-iterate on what has been said, I wouldn't trust the course :P.
  • xxGizmo404xxxxGizmo404xx
    Thanks guys for the great feedback! It's great to have some external perspective from others.

    I find myself to be more inclined towards the programming/logical side of things in any case so I suppose it's good that I give this course a miss. I just find myself at a strange phase at the moment. The more I read about games, the more I want to make and help make them! To dig into the nitty gritty of how the various systems work. I can't however, decide where to begin. I've had 6 months of University C++ this year so I know the basics of programming I'd say, but I still don't find myself any closer to becoming an aspiring game developer/designer/programmer.

    Any advice people? I know the people on MakeGamesSA know what their doing and I'd love your advice on how to get started among the hundreds of tools/tutorials/guides available.

    PS : I also saw this course that looks more promising than the Dynamix one. (http://friendsofdesign.net/full-time-courses/1-year-game-technology-multimedia-entertainment/ ) Any thoughts?

    Thanks again! Gizmo out....for now :P
  • ElyaradineElyaradine
    edited
    A friend of mine studied at FOD, though not that course specifically (which only starts next year; he did a shorter version of it). Based on his feedback, the marketing is BS and way over-sells what they offer (but then pretty much all marketing does, right?), and it's more about software training than core skills, but the lecturer, Lars, apparently has some hands-on game industry experience and "knows his stuff" (my friend's words, not mine). You touch on everything, so that you're somewhat familiar with it, but (imo) you can't do any of them to the point where someone would employ you. I don't think you could expect any more from a 1-year course that tries to do everything though.

    Frankly, if you're already doing a university programming course, and you know that's your focus, why not start making games by... starting making games? Grab Unity or GameMaker, and make something simple.
  • RickyGCRickyGC
    What @Elyaradine says is exactly what someone told me at rAge. I was also making my way to learn3D about a course, asked him if he was working there, but he was just part of makegamessa.com's stand. And it makes perfect sense. Just start making games. If you can't do something, you have the internet and this great community to help you.
  • BensonanceBensonance
    So honestly, even if you go into a course, you should just start making games. I do game design at Wits and I still seek every chance I can to make games (game jams, competitions, etc.).

    If you're looking to do a game dev course the I'd recommend UCT's Computer Science majoring in Game Development course. Which is mainly Computer Science orientated with a little game design (ask @atomicdomb about it, he's doing the course).

    Of course, I also recommend the Wits Game Design course - if nothing else (because I'm biased to hyperbole probably), it's certainly the most holistic and broad education of Game Development you'll find in SA at the moment.

    Thanked by 2duncanbellsa sashabii
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