Continuing Education Options

[Saffy]

As many of you know, I have recently graduated from university with a degree specialized in Game Design. While I am happy with this degree, I am very interested in continuing my education. In particular, I would love to get into Creative Writing and hopefully at some point combine my two passions.

Would anyone happen to have any advice for such a situation? Should I be attempting to go for a Master's degree, possibly with a minor in Creative Writing? Or should I go down the road of having two Bachelor's degrees? One would be in Game Design and the other in Creative Writing. Should I just hold off for now altogether?

The last year of my life has been spent trying to find work in the game industry which has progressed slowly. While I do believe I could work on my portfolio and eventually get a job, I simply cannot stand this state of nothingness. I've wanted to get into writing for some time and I feel I have an opportunity to do so. Of course there are major issues such as my already pending student loans and the fact I can't afford more. Yet it's probably better to open more options now or even take on more debt now while I'm still young. I don't know.

Also, I'd love to use this opportunity to move to British Columbia.

[Harvest Moon Rac...]

Hmm well since you have student loans and such to pay, I'd hold off on more education until you can get finacialy stable. Of course if you come into some money then I'd suggest getting a Master's in Game Design, and minor in creative writing. You could eventually use the 2 skills together, but I think it might be harder to get recognized as an author rather than getting a job in the gaming industry. Of course it depends on what you'd write, and who you'd write for. Any ideas on things or what you might write for if you began writing?

[Saffy]

I honestly don't know if I'd ever get to the point of becoming a writer. Perhaps in a way it's just a matter of personal fulfillment? I love the possibility of having more career options though. And hey, I could always end up writing games or starting my own company and having more of a creative role. There's a sad truth that many people in the game industry tend to last but a few years; I want more options in life.

I'd rather not get into a Master's degree for Game Design at this time because I haven't had a proper job as it is. To me, that option would make more sense if I wanted to advance further along that career path. You know, if I had a job in the game industry already and wanted a huge promotion?

As for finances, I'm sure arrangements can be made. I also have no objection to being a part-time student and working at the same time. Though, I can't help wonder if this would even be possible. That sounds expensive.

[Harvest Moon Rac...]

Yeah the combining the creative writing and being able to come up with your own ideas would surely help you farther down the road if you make it big in a game desigining. I guess it really depends on your own personal interests on what you do, but I'd advise staying with game design for a while to see more of how jobs are like for it. If you don't really like it then maybe get a bit of education in creative writing, but make sure you don't put yourself in financial debt at a young age.

[Lindstrom]

Don't bother with Creative Writing classes. You'd be better off either seeing the world or taking up some academic field like a science, cuz that way you'd actually have some ideas on what to write about. Creative Writing classes wouldn't teach you anything that would actually get you published or anything. Pretty much only good for people who have no real concept of writing structure.

Aside from continuing focus on the game, I don't think I know your situation well enough to make any other suggestions.

[Saffy]

So you feel taking Creative Writing courses would not be of help? I've actually quite enjoyed the classes on writing I have taken, but I suppose I do see your point: the classes likely did not enhance my writing that much.

There is a university I could apply to for furthering my education in Game Design, but I'm not at all sure if that's what I want to do. It feels to me more an option I should hold off on for now.

The situation as it stands now is that I can either continue my education or look for work. As I understand, submissions must be made before the end of March, leaving me just over a month to apply. Continuing to look for work is what I'd like to do, but I'd hate to end up wasting another year of my life. I need a change.

[Mizukithepanda]

I agree with Lindstrom. Don't bother with Creative Writing classes unless you know that you have no writing ability whatsoever. If writing is something you'd like to do as a hobby, I'd suggest taking a world studies class and some literature courses to give you a better idea of the things out there to write about and different styles of writing.

As for continuing your education, I'd say go for the Master's should the funds become available. Working part time while getting it would probably work in your favor as well, as long as you don't overdo it and give yourself a nervous breakdown.

[Harvest Moon Rac...]

Also if you don't get a job in the gaming industry you always have the option of getting a part time job somewhere. That way you have something to do and you'll atleast be making some money.

[Lindstrom]

If it were me, I'd be working and spending my free time honing the craft by creating games. I know, sounds tedious and less exciting compared to taking new classes and meeting new people, but you can at least pad your resume further, potentially to the point where you can independently develop your own games, while not going bankrupt in the process.

Most gaming companies are losing money so working for a large company might not be the best deal anyway.

[Harvest Moon Rac...]

Yeah what Lindstrom said sounds like a good idea. You guys could start up work on your Earthbound project, and you could even start some more. You could use the people on RS for feedback and such on games you create, and maybe get a better idea on what to make.

[Saffy]

I'm definitely fine with working then creating my own games in my spare time. Padding my resume helps too. That's more or less what I've been doing for the past year.

But I hate being stuck at home with little happening. I really want to move on with my life already. Heck, I'd still be happy to have a crappy job then work on my games in my free time, just so long as I wasn't living at home anymore. I'd really like to move out to Vancouver and then do what I'm doing now. That'd be amazing.

[Lindstrom]

So it's more like you want a good reason to leave home? I often wish I could justify leaving Cape Cod right now, but there's too much for me to be doing here to leave just yet. Take comfort in knowing that most people our age still live at home, even the ones who are in college still have nowhere else to go when they're done.

[Saffy]

When it really comes down to it, yes, I just want to leave home. I'm tired of living here and I feel I'm just completely wasting my life and amounting to nothing living here. I'd love to move to another city or even just move out. At least then I'd feel that while working at a part-time job and on my portfolio that I'd be making progress in life. Perhaps that sounds stupid, but I feel I'm not really living being stuck at home. I understand there's good in my current situation, but being bored out of my mind everyday and unfulfilled completely sucks.

With that said, I am still interested in continuing my education. But I do feel I'm probably more interested in having an excuse and possible means to move to British Columbia.

[Guitar Smasher]

I'd go for a master's, not necessarily in game design though. Once you do get a full time job, you'll get paid better and that will help with your debts. Another bachelor's would take more time, and I don't think you'd be compensated as well. From my perspective, a person with more expertise is more desirable than a person with more 'rounded' abilities. I'm sure your first bachelor gave you enough of a rounded education to get you by.

If you're trying to get into the game industry, I don't think creative writing will benefit you much. You probably are more familiar with the scene, but I imagine they're mostly interested in technical skill and experience. Of course it's probably something worth listing as an interest on your resume.

As an aside, I'd like to say that the game industry needs less 'story' people. Game stories are always bad, and there isn't any 'potential' for improvement in the industry, unless they actually hire real writers.

I understand your feeling of needing to get out, so I want you to apply to something before the deadline. I don't like the idea of you feeling stagnant for a whole new year.

[Saffy]

You raise a good point about a Master's degree being more beneficial from an employer's point of view. Another Bachelor's Degree would likely to serve to only suggest that I'm uncertain of what I want to do with my career. It might give the impression that I could leave soon or lead one to wonder why I'm better than another individual. Attaining a Master's degree has been on my mind, so perhaps I'll just apply and see how that goes.

I can either apply to a university in British Columbia or return to my current university. Pros and cons to each.

Regarding your aside, I definitely agree with you about game stories. Yet strangely there's still a part of me that has always wanted to write the plot for an RPG. I believe that "real" writers (e.g. Shigesato Itoi) would make more interesting games than those already in the game industry.

I have been in talks regarding taking on a Master's degree. Largely, my only concern is funding but I am aware that solutions do exist for it. In the meantime, I am going to apply for some part-time jobs to keep me busy.

[Lindstrom]

With the exception of RPGs, most games don't really need stories at all. The people who throw big crappy plots into an action game, wanting it to be a movie experience, are people who don't really understand games anyway. They just think they're brilliant visionaries. Even if you bring in a professional writer, it's not usually good game design to emphasize story unless the plot is the entire point of the game (RPGs).

[Saffy]

I had a discussion just now with a recruiter from a university out in British Columbia. I am feeling rather confident about pursuing a Master's in Digital Media there. I'll talk it over with my parents shortly :)

I need to put together a lot of documents in a little over a month, but that in itself is exciting I feel. I suddenly have a goal ahead of me and a lot to do. I'm looking forward to the prospect.

[Crystal Talian]

I would maybe just take a Creative Writing class and not go for any degree yet. Just taking the class will let you see if you like it and if it'll be helpful to you. I definitely don't think it would be completely useless. I've never taken a Creative Writing class, but what Mizuki and Lindstrom are describing sounds more like English Composition and not Creative Writing. English Composition is writing structure and grammar, and you've probably already taken it because it's a requirement for almost everything. I think Creative Writing is more of how to get your ideas together and write a good story, because that's what they do not teach in English Comp. I know because I'm taking English Comp right now and fictional story writing is the only thing they do not teach.

Literature classes probably wouldn't hurt either.

[Saffy]

I might be mistaken. but the university I was looking at for Creative Writing seemed to offer individual courses outside of registering into a program. I'm not sure if I'd have to be a student to take those or not though.

[Lindstrom]

Even if that's the case, you'd still be better off broadening your horizons so you have more to write about. Gathering your ideas is nice and all, but to be a successful (that is, profitable) writer you need the knowledge of how to make your work sell. If taking Creative Writing was enough to make you a successful writer then literature wouldn't be a dying industry.