Fork in the road
polycounter lvl 6
Hi everyone, I was wondering if I could get some advice with my graduation coming up here in the UK. I have a two choices coming up which is basically do a 4th year at uni on an MEng course, or just go for it an try to find a job this year.
Normally I might have just gone for the extra year but I'm 26 and really eager to just get on with things. I understand it ultimately comes down to my portfolio but I have a lot of projects due to go in there. Of course there is the Riven project I told some of you about which might allow me to set up another portfolio based on environment art.
I did manage to get some work experience last year. I really still have the bug since then, it was a seriously brilliant experience. In just that week I was able to get the UI done for a 360 game and although I faced are faster than usual deadline I enjoyed every minute of the work.
So maybe some of you have some advice, maybe some of you have been in similar situations in the past? I know that an MEng can be a good thing but as I understand its a load of more dissertation writing, surely that would be time better spent working on practical portfolio projects?
Normally I might have just gone for the extra year but I'm 26 and really eager to just get on with things. I understand it ultimately comes down to my portfolio but I have a lot of projects due to go in there. Of course there is the Riven project I told some of you about which might allow me to set up another portfolio based on environment art.
I did manage to get some work experience last year. I really still have the bug since then, it was a seriously brilliant experience. In just that week I was able to get the UI done for a 360 game and although I faced are faster than usual deadline I enjoyed every minute of the work.
So maybe some of you have some advice, maybe some of you have been in similar situations in the past? I know that an MEng can be a good thing but as I understand its a load of more dissertation writing, surely that would be time better spent working on practical portfolio projects?
Replies
http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=98321
I can't speak for MEng, but some Masters degrees are basically research degrees so unless you really want to explore a research topic in great detail, then there may be no point. As far as I know, most of the actual tuition at post-grad level is on research techniques rather than the subject itself, so you may not actually 'learn' much.
The thing is, you're gonna have to get a job at some point, and if the MEng will put you in better stead (or indeed if it is a compulsory requirement for a certain job) then go for it, but if you think some time spent working on your portfolio will put you in equally good standing to get a job, then maybe that's a better route.
I can't say for certain but I'm pretty sure you're not gonna need an MEng to get any job in the games industry. If you've got an undergrad degree already, I'd have thought that's all you're ever likely to need (even then, it may only help support a visa application should you ever wish to seek work outside of the EU).
It's kind of an odd question though, since you don't really say what you want to do. If you want to work in the engineering industry, then an MEng might be worth it, if you really want to work in games, then not so much.
As for what I want to be, I would love to be a character artist, a vehicle artist or an environment artist. I'v had people say you can only do one or you should only focus on one if you want to be good at something, but I started modelling as a hobby years ago and I love all those forms of art. I find I can't stop feeling passionate about all of them. Maybe it would be better to have separate portfolios.
I'v seen some great portfolios where people have combined their vehicle art with their environment art like Dave Nolan's. Its not just extra projects I want to add to my portfolio in the coming weeks, I'm thinking I should find an alternative to carbonmade and make my own portfolio site, just for a bit more freedom on the presentation.
As far as being a jack of all trades - as long as you don't mind spending the time getting great in all aspects rather than focusing on one - since you are eager to get into the industry I'd say you'll be frustrated by going down that path.
If you want to get in as fast as possible, your building is your strongest piece, so I'd recommend you focus on environments and work on improving your texturing.
Yeah in the UK a full-time Bachelor's degree is 3 years and usually an additional year for a Masters. Part time is usually 5 years undergrad, 2 years post. Unless the course has a job placement as part of it. For example Architecture, which I think is 3 years study, 2 year job placement and then 1 final year study. I guess medical school is similar. A lot of Masters programs are basically just an extended dissertation so it's effectively just an extra year of research.
I don't really see the point in them unless it's an MBA or one wants to be a teacher. If someone is that into research then a PhD seems a better path since you can integrate a Masters and also get paid for doing it.
If you actually got some higher level tuition focusing on more specialism or something it might be useful, but I can't see it changing anytime soon.
Thanks for the feedback on the portfolio so far Justin. I do have a lot of environment projects in the planning which I will support with a tune up of the pub building.
I feel I know so much more now than I did when I made that piece, the problem is, at this stage at uni a vast amount of time is spent report writing and making sure the reports are correct with other various submissions.
I'm really going to have to get my head down on these practical projects after my last hand ins next week.