Art Institute Furs

[xeneros]

:3 I want to go to it or some kind of art school in a year or two
Gotta finish school first >.>

I'd say it really depends on what you want to do. For example... the art institute is the best school for game design in Vancouver period. It's ranked #4 in North America for game design and is the only one in the top ten that isn't a full university, also pretty much all the teachers are working, or have worked in the local industry so you get really good information, especially if you ask your instructors questions. I don't know about the other programs at the school, they seem to have a good fashion program... but yeah... like anyone should do, make sure to research all the different schools for what you want to do.

[Temrin]

in lue of Xeneros' post, yeah. Some courses are better then others at AI. Right now the web design students are kinda getting screwed in some aspects. But most of the Game Design students seem to be liking it. So yeah, depends on what you want. -nodsnods-

All the teacher are working, so yes, they CAN give you good info if you ask the right questions. Theres a few teachers that go above and beyond, but only a few. They really want to help you. Most (in the web design course) seem to act like they are just babysitting you :/

[Amylith]

Okay
Yeah I wanted to do something in drawing like character design or something but I'm not sure what kind of courses there would be for that :/

[Temrin]

There are some at AI as far as i know. I think they are linked to 3D modeling though. I think.

[squashNstretch]

Ah, ya... it's always a bit of a roll of the dice with all the schools. VFS had issues with recent grads teaching the main course back in the day but it's much different now I believe. In the interest of full disclosure I will admit that I have taught at AI and VFS. I was talking with some friends this past weekend about it actually. One of my buddies is currently teaching a lazy group at a "rival school." It's funny when you have a class full of students: Half take it super seriously and make a point of going the extra mile for their assignments, and the other half treat it like an extension of highschool. They half-ass the assignments and generally don't give a damn. They don't seem to realize that they will one day be working with the instructors! Case in point, I had an ex-student come in for an interview at a studio I was at once. Once the interview was over I gave my boss the heads up that he... "wouldn't be my first choice" for a hire. It may seem like a dick move, but I don't think anyone wants to work next to anyone that half-asses it. I could be wrong, but isn't the game industry is 10 times as stressful as tv/film?

On schools, I've heard really good things about Cap lately. Thinktank is decent for games. Lostboys is a wildcard but the owner is one of the who's-who in Vancouver for Visual effects. VanArts is also a wild card; They have some top instructors but I can't honestly say I've ever worked with a VanArts grad. Am I missing any? Anyway... when in doubt, check your instructors IMDB ;)

[Temrin]

also, just to extend a hand to anyone who might be having a rough time.

IF you have problems or complaints, feel free to note me the following info:

Real Name: (if you want us to put your name in the signature of the thing.)
Program(s)/Class(es): classes you have complaints about. (or monetary issues with AI.)
Course: (GAD/WIMF/etc)
Email: gmail, since were using a google doc for the letter writing/collaborating. If you do not have one and do not want to make one. Let me know. I can ask if i can show you guys it VIA a separate file thats open to all. You'd not be able to dynamically add anything though.

not trying to be a debbie downer. Just figure i'd extend a hand to anyone who might be experiencing issues. Not all courses seem to have problems with the classes or teachers. but WIMF students are definitely feeling the brunt end of things.

anyways, continue on :3

[xeneros]

Okay
Yeah I wanted to do something in drawing like character design or something but I'm not sure what kind of courses there would be for that :/

They teach character design in the modeling program. I know a lot of people in that program, it sounds really good if you are really into art. You do a lot of drawing early on and move into more 3D stuff as you move through, as well you do some sculpture, like clay models of monsters and stuff. They make lots of cool stuff and I have had some of those teachers and the one's I have had are awesome.

I've had a little trouble with my scheduel but it's for reasons that are kind of beyond anyone's control... ie flux of ppl coming into the school caused my quarter to be tiny but quarter after to be large and so I have to take a kind of jumble of courses from all over the map because after 2 quarters a lot of people drop... actually it's one of the really good things about the game design programs... people who are there just as an extention of highschool tend to drop out by the end of the 3rd quarter so you usually don't have to deal with unmotivated people.

But yeah... I'm a bit screwed because I only had 8 game design students in my quarter... 3 dropped... 2 are taking a lessened course load... and 2 left for a quarter.... so I'm the only person truely in my quarter. It has it's advantages though as well because it means that I get to take some more advanced stuff first and I might be able to have a bunch of modeling students and animation students during my pre production and production courses and no competition over ideas... but I'll have to see what they do... I'll probably end up either in the quarter ahead or the quarter behind.

[squashNstretch]

Do you guys in game design actually build games? Is there any programming, or is it a lot of design/3d stuff? Is there any business side to the course? (Pitches, getting clients, marketing/promoting projects etc) I'm really curious how things are done 'on the other side'.

[xeneros]

Do you guys in game design actually build games? Is there any programming, or is it a lot of design/3d stuff? Is there any business side to the course? (Pitches, getting clients, marketing/promoting projects etc) I'm really curious how things are done 'on the other side'.

Well... there are like... 4-6 programs under the "Game Design" heading... I am in Game Art and Design and we learn everything. We start with some perspective drawing, modeling, board game design and early programming... we move up to documentation for design, more programming, more modeling and animation, editing, rudimentary audio, and level design... twards the 4th or 5th quarter there's prototyping and then pre-production where you are coming up with the idea for a game and the beginnings of a game. In the production class you get a team of people from the modeling program, animation program and programming program and other game art and design students. If you can fight through bugs, bad management and other such things, then the game should be finished by the time you grad.

[Aster]

Not all courses seem to have problems with the classes or teachers. but WIMF students are definitely feeling the brunt end of things.

Well now, doesn't that just make me look forward to next term... :P

So far I don't have any complaints, but I'm still in fundamentals, so this term is nothing web-specific. Care to clarify on your statement? As an überfreshman, knowing what sort of horrible things might be in store for me could be helpful.

[Temrin]

Well now, doesn't that just make me look forward to next term... :P

So far I don't have any complaints, but I'm still in fundamentals, so this term is nothing web-specific. Care to clarify on your statement? As an überfreshman, knowing what sort of horrible things might be in store for me could be helpful.

Classes that are, "we pay the teacher to babysit us" classes. Classes that could be merged together, topics that are important and were not getting. Money for books and whatnot when we never receive any books what so ever that quarter. Also there are teachers who tell you completely different things then all the rest of the teachers, not to mention against common sense. Classes where the teacher is the only one available to teach it and doesn't know anything about it. You get forced into classes you don't have the per-requesits for. etc.

This doesn't happen every quarter. But the further in you get, the more fucked up your schedule gets because of less students, teachers and classroom schedules being convoluted, etc. Its not as bad as i'm making it sound above. But its good to be prepared so you can deal with them when they come.

[Aster]

Well, I'll definitely keep my eyes peeled to see if any of those problems surface. Like I said, since I'm still in fundamentals this term, there's no problems, really; but seeing as there is a grand total of three WIMF students, I wouldn't be surprised if there were problems down the line. :P

[Temrin]

Well, I'll definitely keep my eyes peeled to see if any of those problems surface. Like I said, since I'm still in fundamentals this term, there's no problems, really; but seeing as there is a grand total of three WIMF students, I wouldn't be surprised if there were problems down the line. :P

More will come in the following terms, and thats what gets things all turned around. Accommodation those students and costing the school as less money as possible (so making you guys shuffle your courses around) Theres also students who do not take fundamentals courses, so you might get a few more in with you guys next quarter. Never know.

[xeneros]

More will come in the following terms, and thats what gets things all turned around. Accommodation those students and costing the school as less money as possible (so making you guys shuffle your courses around) Theres also students who do not take fundamentals courses, so you might get a few more in with you guys next quarter. Never know.

What program you guys in again?

[Temrin]

Web Design