The Gamer's Quarter

dessgeega · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 2:24 am Post subject: i'm going to videogame school.

this school. the ludicrously-named guildhall at southern methodist university. i found out this past week, while i was in california. by the time i got back to new york, my father had an smu shirt. if my father is wearing the shirt, that means i'm going to school.

the school is in dallas. i know nothing about dallas. my cousin and his partner used to live there, though (they live in austen now), and he left my grandmother his card to give to me. they are going to give me the scoop on what is shaking in dallas.

class starts in january. i am going to move. any new yorkers who want to hang out with me should probably get right on that! the school has an arrangement with a few apartment buildings, and i should be able to get a pretty cheap place at one of them. daphny is going to come stay with me for a little after i get settled.

i'm going to videogame school. my focus is in level design. i am scared that my classmates will all be overgrown boys who only play halo.
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seryogin · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 3:04 am Post subject:

Man, that's pretty hardcore, dess. I'd say that I envy you, but I've never had any desire at all to be a videogame designer. A person who bitches about games, yes, a person who makes them now, no. Way out of my leagues.

Perhaps a going away NY TGQ party is in order.
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purplechair · . Joined: 28 Mar 2005 Posts: 378 Location: in my pants

daphaknee · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 11:06 am Post subject:

friday night will be ~~madden~~ WoW night

ryan · . Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 999

that's the attitude!

I'm sure there will be plenty of rad people who play tons of halo and madden there, just as I'm sure there will be snarky people who make snide comments about them, then play some generic platformer with moody music just because they don't. Regardless, it should still be good times. Guildhall tends to get some pretty good speakers. Dallas is also close enough to check out the Game Developers Conference and the Texas Independent Game Conference without too much trouble. Plus there is a good deal of potential for work in the Austin-Dallas area.
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Come to me, Mordel. We shall depart.

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

purplechair · . Joined: 28 Mar 2005 Posts: 378 Location: in my pants

Most importantly, it means you can join us at Quakecon next summer and THROW DOWN some EXTREME NOOB PWNING... TO THE MAAAAAX!!!

purplechair · . Joined: 28 Mar 2005 Posts: 378 Location: in my pants

Jesus... it looks like he's punching himself in his oversized nutsack while jerking off.

Winged Assassins (1984) · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 6:39 pm Post subject:

Kind of like listening to Cacophany then.
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The Great Unwashed · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 9:30 pm Post subject:

Congrats Dess! I've heard some bad things about these "game" universities, so I hope they actually give you a real grounding in coding, graphics and engine theory as well as just teaching you the tools you need to know. Regular updates would be appreciated!
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Harveyjames · the meteor kid Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 3636

We had a games course start up in our university and it really took the heat off us animation students in terms of nerdiness. I didn't even realise that many people liked Mortal Kombat. I saw some of their ideas, they were like 'it's Mortal Kombat crossed with Smackdown Taste The Pain but with bigger, oilier muscles and axes'. When they left their year's work in their form room to be assessed, I used to draw pictures of muscley dudes kissing in their sketchbooks, in their respective styles. Ha ha.

dhex · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 8:53 am Post subject:

deep in the heart of texas!

or not i'm not familiar with texas geography. i know some folks in san antonio though.

anyway, congrats, that sounds pretty cool and the obvious next step.
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SuperWes · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 9:01 am Post subject:

Woah. Congrats dess! From what I understand a majority of the people in these classes are given computer modeling software and immediately begin to model expensive cars. You'll do great because you've actually got some creativity!

I considered going to one of these schools and I still think about it every once in a while. Then I remember that I sort of already know what I need, I'm just to lazy to do anything about it. I still think about it every once in a while though...

Regardless, congrats and good luck! Is this 2 or 4 years?

-Wes
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dessgeega · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 12:09 pm Post subject:

seventeen months.

and i picked this school because it's not an art or programming course in disguise. students choose to focus on either art, coding, or level design, and students with different focuses work in teams. so i can actually learn about making videogames, while one of my teammates handles the art and another handles the coding.
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Harveyjames · the meteor kid Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 3636

Pijaibros · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 2:50 pm Post subject:

i hope this doesn't turn you to hate videogames. please!. we have enough of those people that don't even work in the industry, yet still immerse themselves in the hobby, for a reason i've yet to unravel.

best of luck!

SuperWes · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 3:33 pm Post subject:

Ohh, is this what that Unreal Tournament level editor question was about?

-Wes
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dessgeega · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 3:45 pm Post subject:

yeah, i found out a few weeks after turning in my portfolio that there was a 3d requirement. it was just a technical aptitude exercize, so i made two rooms in unreal tournament, put a hallway between them, and gave them light sources. the description for the technical aptitude part of the portfolio isn't very clear, but it only took me an hour to get the exercize done.
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dessgeega · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 12:53 am Post subject:

so now i'm not sure i've actually been accepted yet? the email the school sent me last week said "we look forward to seeing you on january 7, 2008" but a professor interviewed me via phone tonight. we talked about games journalism and i wish he had asked more about my games. i did volunteer that i'm in the igf this year, because that would look nice on their little page of notes about me. one of the teachers is apparently an igf judge.

the program is apparently very intensive and i'm wondering if it would be a bad idea to have my slut fly out while classes are going on. i could wait until my week-long break between terms - the first one's in march. but that's in march.
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dessgeega · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 4:42 pm Post subject:

helicopterp · . Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 1435 Location: Philadelphia

your terms are strict. i've only ever seen b minus work out you.

(hey congratulations--officially!)
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Like you thought you'd seen copter perverts before. They were nothing compared to this one.

ryan · . Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 999

I'm not sure how they grade - I'd like to hear more about it at some point, actually - but that's pretty strict. You mentioned earlier about flying someone up to see you during a break, but I would bet that you'll have too much work to do anything during that time. The program I'm in allows for one C, the second C gets you called into a meeting where you're told to leave. Despite that, the professors have no problem piling on the work, and I'm thinking you'll find yourself in the same situation.

During this break, I have to finish up a research paper, prepare for a presentation and critique with a group of random people, study for the finals and sift through hundreds of pages of mind-numbing journals. All of this is just after having two tests and a draft. I live with my girlfriend and I barely get to see her. Thankfully the Wii + Random Mario Game tempers her irritation, but a friend of hers almost got a divorce whenever her husband was studying for the CPA. I hope it works out for you, but it's going to be tough either not seeing them or having them in and knowing you can't because you just have too much to do. You're either lonely or out of money and lonely.
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Come to me, Mordel. We shall depart.

dhex · Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 6:34 am Post subject:

it's only 18 months. which can be a long time, sure, but i guess as a veteran of i'll see you in three days when you're done with your paper it doesn't seem all that long.

i feel yer pain ryan i have to write a 3000 word brief on why the fairness doctrine is totally lame and red lion can suck it and interview some saudis about the 2009 elections and do a fucking take home final. i hate take home finals. they're so pointlessly at odds with the whole idea behind finals.
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Cossix · . Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 87

I've had friends in art school and video game schools and they basically have time to go to school. Their basis for social interaction is sitting next to people in computer labs and that's pretty much it for the 2-4 years they're there. It's a lot of work, especially if you want to do it well!

daphaknee · Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 8:05 am Post subject:

heh, this thread got depressing really quick

i guess i'll see you on your breaks, ma'am!

daphaknee · Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 8:37 am Post subject:

well before your classes start first. you have those week-long breaks about as often as we'd be seeing eachother anyway come to think of it

it'll be weird at first not being able to talk to you all the time, but just like text me from time to time and write emails or letters or something and i'll make due! the time will fly for you anyway since you'll be stuffed up the nose with awesome projects

dessgeega · Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 3:24 pm Post subject:

hopefully they'll let me move in right after christmas. then we can spend new year's together.
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daphaknee · Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 6:59 pm Post subject:

i have a window of time from december 28-january 8th off work, hurry up and figure things out so i can get the ticket and make everything FINAL

another countdown will begin!

dizzyjosh · . Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Posts: 64

dess, i'm so happy for you! congratulations Smile

does guildhall end up owning the work you make while you are there, or only the stuff in class? do you get to show anything awesome off?

hahah, +1 for the academy

boojiboy7 · Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 1:48 am Post subject:

Yeah dess, this is good news that everything finalized and such. I have no idea what Dallas is like as my only encounters with Texas were at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport and I got scared shitless. They had a Fox News store. What the hell?

But yeah, I am just in general not good at coding and such, so I would probably be terrible at a game school. My semester of art school kinda sucked but was also fun because I used to go into the building at odd hours and just see who was there.

helicopterp · . Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 1435 Location: Philadelphia

Rud13 · . Joined: 01 Jul 2005 Posts: 130

dessgeega · Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 3:47 pm Post subject:

i have an apartment now. six-thirty-three a month, which is pretty good compared to the cost of living in the city. i have a round bathtub.
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boojiboy7 · Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 4:35 pm Post subject:

dhex · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:27 am Post subject:

boojiboy7 · Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 12:43 am Post subject:

shit, really? Cleveland must be lax on that shit then. They never gave us a warning about it over the PA, that is for sure. I guess if they actually thought someone meant anything by it they would bust em for a joke, but it would still be pretty odd.

Hrm. Scary world, etc.

dhex · Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:09 am Post subject:

well making jokes about bombs in airports while in an airport is a pretty hardcore dickmove.
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daphaknee · Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 7:37 pm Post subject:

yeah i remember my friend got in a whole shitload of trouble over a this bike is a pipe bomb sticker on his binder

he was like 1. its a BAND 2. this isnt a BIKE

but yeah, airports dont fuck around

Redeye · . Joined: 02 Oct 2006 Posts: 986 Location: filth

I was thinking of (not seriously) making an aluminum foil message on construction paper backing. It would be for luggage that would be sent through an x-ray machine.

"If you can read this the terrorists have won."

Juvenile, or at least sophomoric.

I'd like for someone else to try it so I could hear about it in the news.

Terrorists Win!

I don't really mind that much myself.

I just wish it were faster.
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I felt sheer anarchic joy when I ran over my first pedestrian.

daphaknee · Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 11:29 pm Post subject:

goddamnit im going to be flying at the end of december please dont put these ideas in my head as i am easily influenced

dhex · Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2007 3:37 pm Post subject:

http://www.securityedition.com/

this is a good balance between saying something and finding your plans derailed by angry dhs retards.
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Mr. Business · . Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 35

Hey Dessgeega, congrats on getting into Guildhall!

You'll probably be working with a few of my current classmates when you're at the Guildhall. I go to SMU, so there are plenty of people in the computer science program here who are hell-bent on getting into Guildhall's programming track.

I'll definitely be interested to hear your thoughts on and experiences in the level design track, because I hardly know squat about it.

I was in a group with a fellow a few semesters ago who now attends Guildhall. He was the first person from the Comp Sci department here to go to Guildhall. Humorously enough, his goal was, in fact, to get a job with Blizzard working on WoW. He is a nice fellow, and he is a Lunar fan, so he's good people in my book.

dessgeega · Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 10:50 pm Post subject:

we should totally get together after i fly out. i'm sure i'll have lots of questions about the area too.

i should check out that nasher center. i like sculpture.
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daphaknee · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 4:13 pm Post subject:

please work on getting her into movies, jesus

Harveyjames · the meteor kid Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 3636

Yeah, then we could finance a gender-reversal version of Pink Flamingos, starring Daph wearing a big fake moustache and eating dog poop.

daphaknee · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 11:27 pm Post subject:

not that kind of into

dhex · Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 12:43 pm Post subject:

Cossix · . Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 87

Yeah release one that turns their computer into a BOMB

But make sure it turns their computer into a BOMB after you graduate.

Mr. Business · . Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 35

dessgeega · Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 5:28 am Post subject:

i rarely feel comfortable sitting down and spending several hours of my life watching a moving picture. the slut is helping with my belated education, mostly by showing me freddy krueger movies.
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