i'm gonna go straight to the point im about to go college and was wondering what do i need to study if i was looking to join a gaming company(mainly bethesda) what do i need to study and what courses do i need to take

thanks in advance

Accounting.

Depends on what position you want.

Quantum physics, since you'll need to invent time travel because the most likely course of events is that by the time you're done Bethesda will be defunct.

i was leaning more towards game programmer or level designer

this. then go from there.

oh, well then got to start thinking computer tech classes. Art and Media. Arts. Comp Tech. somewhere in there.

If you want to be programmer, C++, C#, DX10/11 plus other stuff
As artist it depends if you want to do 2D or 3D. 3d Modeling, Concept art and texturing.
Designers need to know a lot of different stuff.


I really can't write much right now, got some animation to do...

well then in a rpg and open world style company

well i got my work cut out for me as programmer is my hope

Just pick Computer Science.

Can't go wrong with that!

Maths, maths and maths.

And start learning how to do games. I would suggest XNA as first programming language, and then advance to C# and C++.

well seems like years of study for me

how good would i have to be at maths i got my hsc's in a week then leaving for college

I swear if they announced a janitorial position was available at BGS I'd be all over it.

Look at their job ads; http://jobs.zenimax.com/index.php?a=info&d=bethesdagamestudios

If you do Computer Science, it varies between colleges, but mine requires Calc 1 & 2, Principles of Physics 1 & 2, Discrete Mathematics, and Intro to Probability and Stats. It also allows technical electives from Numerical anolysis, Matrix Algebra, and Linear Algebra, or other approved math courses.

It depends what you are coding. I'm myself artist/designer so I'm not the best guy to give advice.

But one thing you need to have for working Bethesda or any other large company making AAA-titles is that you have several years of experience on industry,
it might not be requirement, but you sure need it.


I'm not sure if I ever want to work for Bethesda, since they make my favorite games, it would svck to lose the enjoyment of actually playing them.


@Orzorn That should be enough.

what jobs could computer science open for me?

so i would need to work for a smaller company first or just study industry aswell

Yes, and make contacts! Learn to know people!

no bribing im saving money so i can move and rent a block i live in australia so its gonna be costly but its my dream.

edit:and what one were you saying yes to

You lucky bastard. When I was studying I had to go through Linear Algebra 1 & 2, Mathematical anolysis 1 & 2, Elementary Mathematics 1 & 2 (a great misnomer), Multivariable Calculus 1 & 2, Discrete Mathematics, Probability, Algebraic Structures, Numerical anolysis, Ordinary Differential Equations, Vector Spaces, Statistics, Complex anolysis, Set Theory, Methods of Mathematical Physics, and Measures and Integrals before I could take a program specialising in computer science. And even that could hardly have been called specialised because it was loaded with mathematical theory, e.g. Computability Theory.

Programmer, computer architecture designer (ranging from designing CPUs, GPUs, any kind of chip, or what have you), and even computational theory.

CS degrees get an average of 60,000 U.S dollars starting. In addition, the job market is very large and in need of graduates. http://logos.cs.uic.edu/recruit/DegreesVsJobs.jpg


Oh wow, I definitely consider myself lucky.

The way our programs do it, is they sort of work in mathematical concepts and things like computability within CS courses themselves. Tarleton State is a much more "doing" sort of school, as opposed to a "teaching" sort. We learn a lot through actually doing things. We get up on the board often and many programming classes have us making programs throughout the day, every day. I'm not sure if that's how your school does it, but I enjoy it personally.

Yes to this.



Learning how things work on industry is one of the basic things to learn.

Your best bet would be getting into school what teaches game design. We get real professionals from industry to teach us.
Right now there is guy teaching us who was lead animator on Crysis 2.

But if you can make the break to larger companies from the beginning, don't lose it

Sometimes our college gets speakers who worked for video game companies. We got a guy who was an important figure at Ion Storm this year. I didn't get to go, though. Stupid class times.