Ai vs GNWC (Vancouver, Canada)
Hi there. Ill be graduating soon and I want to know which school (if anyone has an idea) would be better for me to go to? (with money being not an issue)
I want to get into the Video Game Industry(Obviously).
Art Institute
3D Modeling for Animation & Games
or
GNWC (Great Northern Way Campus) http://mdm.gnwc.ca/
Masters of Digital Media Program
*requires portfolio*
I want to know what the other can offer than the other can't.
Thanks in advance ^^
I want to get into the Video Game Industry(Obviously).
Art Institute
3D Modeling for Animation & Games
or
GNWC (Great Northern Way Campus) http://mdm.gnwc.ca/
Masters of Digital Media Program
*requires portfolio*
I want to know what the other can offer than the other can't.
Thanks in advance ^^
Replies
If I have the time later, I'll try and put together something for you to give you an idea of what to expect out of the curriculum, and whether or not it will prepare you for the industry following graduation. (The short story is usually no, you'll have to supplement all your work with personal projects in order to ensure you're ready out the door.)
They won't help you get a job as an artist. The games industry is a balance of 'it's what you know, and who you know', rather than the phrase's polarized cousin. Make sure you're comfortable getting in on your own merit before you think about relying on a PR employee doing the unspeakable, and getting you an interview for an artist position.
Yeah i need to think more deeper into this. If you want any information for GNWC
heres the link. I also put it into my first post.
http://mdm.gnwc.ca/
chek out their student portoflios.. theyre amazing.
make what you will of that
you just have to be able to find the highest quality standard of work and hit it, without making excuses. if you can do that.... you might not need school.
thats my opinion.
Just make sure you really know what you want to do (or try and narrow the scope a bit) and make sure you're a person who loves to work their ass off, cause it'll show in your work.
Be careful of all this advertisement too... its called propaganda for a reason :P
Make sure you can do some interviews with these schools as well, even more then 1 would be good because my first interview with my school was cool... but I think I would have gotten a better feel if I did a second and third one.
Also try and meet up or talk to people that are going to be in your year (class) and see where their minds are, because if you're grouped up with a bunch of morons, shit ain't gonna be fun. I think thats what I like about my course (Game Dev) is the classmates are like family now, and they actually work hard for something.
Again though... be careful, make sure this is what you want, and MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. These schools aren't here to like... make you into a super artist in 3 - 2 years (it just doesn't work... its what you do after classes that counts man), they are a business of course, and whatever brings in money is a good thing (this is what I've experience anyways).
If I had a chance to choose my school over again, I would do so differently. I know a fair amount of good students have come out of VFS... never heard of your other school (the video was cheesy as shit, but it must be legit because the dudes were wearing cool hats... aug!).
Good luck man, you is gonna need it!
I'll second, or third or fourth the thoughts on Ai. Though, for me it's just all second hand information. The general consensus is that it's "not great" though I do know a few instructors there personally and have heard they've made improvements in the past few years.
I've never even heard of this GNWC before and if it's fairly new I'd expect that the school will have a LOT of kinks in the system that will only end up hurting you. If you're going to waste a shit load of money on one of the many schools around here, you might as well go to a place that has a reputation of some kind like Ai, Think Tank or VFS.
<Personal opinion, don't take this heart, I just like to rant sometimes>
I'm pretty jaded about my schooling and am one of "those people" who honestly think your money is better spent on equipment to use at home. I'm pretty much self taught (thanks to places like Polycount) I've NEVER been asked about any of my schooling at any of the interviews I've had at the various companies I've worked for in the city. Other than the few prodigy students who went to VFS, practically every one I've talked to about their school experience is never happy. Don't go there expecting you'll get the same level of education you'd get at UBC or SFU but in video game art. It just won't happen. These schools hire people either a) with little experience or b) people in the industry with very little spare time to devote to students (obviously, there are exceptions to the rule, but this is the general feeling I have and many others share.) You'll get a brief introduction into a few popular programs, probably a generalized "traditional art" program...maybe do some sort of project to justify what you've learned like a game md or something...but to be honest with you, unless you're some kind of freak, the quality of this work isn't going to be enough to get a job into the industry. Like Uly said, you'll be spending lots of time working at home to supplement your actual school work.
Anyways, yeah, like mentioned before, the general feeling I have / have heard is that "you get what you put in." In my mind, there are more than enogh online resources and a VERY receptive community of game artists and mod groups to help you learn the ropes. I think all schools, like you mentioned about Ai, will let you in if you have money...of course they will, they're a business. Have you seen their commercials? :P
Don't buy into the idea of having to go to school just because "everyone else is." The schools aren''t structured the same and, possibly, an industry like this is more relevant to something like acting or writing where your portfolio and connections get you work...not a framed piece of paper you keep in your desk
Whatever your choice is, make sure you know what you're getting into before you sign on. Talk to people, especially students, about what they think. Faculty at the school will always tell you the good side of things, try to get the opinion of someone getting an education there.
Cheers,
Gav
Not trying to stop you from going to school but thing is it's what you can really fill in terms of needs in the industry and exposure is what will get you in. It's how I sort of made my way in to my employer.
Even if you made a nice worthwhile portfolio once out of school, a lot of times people would rather look at what you have been doing lately or else you'd get pushed to the back end of the bus. For artists it is not a good time.
If you have to, I might suggest putting in some money for 2d foundation training at Emiliy Carr.
Sorry Pliang, ECIAD has a wicked reputation, but is absolutely horrid for teaching (and none of your teaching will be to build skill, its to write artistic manifestos on deconstuction of modernity.
It is however useful to get an actual degree, and have the freedom to work in the states. (It adds a LOT to your prospective job stability).
If you are hardcore into going to school, I'd recommend VFS, just based more on the quality of work that comes from there, and the quality of alumni I've had the pleasure of working with.
Anyways, yuhmee, if you are able to get into and want to go the full way for the Masters (it'll take a bit longer) I'd say definitely go in that direction. We had an intern from there and I know a few of the people involved in other bits of the program. From what I've seen it's very well put together. The students are getting real, valuable experience, and they've been doing great at placing them for internships and such.
If you aren't into taking a bit longer to get the full Masters of course there are other options. Among the other stuff mentioned here I'd also say that Think Tank is a good choice. My girlfriend just got out of there, and I work with a couple of other graduates. From what I can tell it is a pretty damn solid school, with nice small classes and some quality teachers.
Anyway, if you're learning 3d skills, as someone who went to VFS, taught at VFS and a few other schools in town the best bang for your buck is Think Tank.
VFS, while a solid course and a good history has over blown tuitions for what your actually getting from it, where as Think Tank is a smaller school and still has some more things to work out has a really similiar education to VFS for less and the grads I see coming out of there are solid if they put in the work.
Also smaller classrooms = more hands on time, something VFS has been lacking for years now as they pack in 30+ a class with a skeleton staff.
"going to school is what you get out of it..."
"you will not be handed a job because you have a piece of paper..."
"your portfolio is all that matters..."
"go to an art school with a focus on fine arts..."
"learn 3D by forum trolling and picking up tutorials..."
"the industry changes every few years, and the real meat of what you learn in school will be out dated..."
"there are countless different ways to get into the industry...do the research and pick the one that suits your learning style..."
...the list goes on.
Can we get a sticky about this? ><
I vote for:
"What Polycount Thinks About Art Schools"
"Polycount: An Art School Compendium"
Of course, I've never heard of any type of "higher learning" institute that isn't ran like absolute dogshit so nothing is guaranteed. Actually, considering it's got contributors from every major university around here can only be a bad thing. Too many cooks spoil the brew especially when all the cooks are idiots. And because it's way more expensive than other places around here I would expect it to be filled with rich Taiwanese kids sent over by their parents rather than people actually interested in art (not to say that rich taiwanese people can't be great artists too - I've met some and maybe you are one yourself! - but most I've met have had "BUSINESS BUSINESS BUSINESS" hammered into their head from birth and no passion for anything they do which doesn't make for a great working environment).
I've been going to the School of Interactive Arts and Technology at SFU for a few years and it's really just an excuse to spend time building up my own skills. They do very little in terms of actual teaching and what they do teach is very basic. I think that's really applicable anywhere you go. No one can teach you to be amazing, right? That's built up through practice. Use assignments as an opportunity to spend time practicing, and any "place of learning" will be useful for you. Heck, I just got a game I did on my own in 6 weeks into Time Magazine's Top 10 Games of 2008. SFU didn't teach me to do that, but I took advantage of the time SFU gave me to do it.
Don't just contact the guys you think were awesome, look at the not-so superstars as well, see if they felt they got their money's worth.
And if I may use a bit of a blanket statement, from my observations from my own program that I went through in Ottawa, superstars of programs are almost always awesome artists to begin with, they don't find themselves in a 2-3 year program, they already have clear goals and just want the last bit of guidance to make themselves even better.
I doubt this really will move you either way, but it's just what I feel I've gotten out of the last little bit. If you want to work in the industry it isn't hard, just don't be lazy.