Member Avatar for Natso

Without getting into too much detail about my own history, I'll be a junior in college this fall semester. My Bachelors Degree is "Computer Science" (the other degree offered being "CS - Information Technology" which is a bit more hardware based).

My end goal is to be a programmer (on a development team), preferably for game development. From what I read online, the most valuable thing in the industry is -EXPERIENCE-, and usually a BS in CS (or a related field).

What worries me is this: A friend of mine attends Digipen ("the Nintendo college"), and according to him I have little chance of actually getting anywhere in the game development industry - because I am not getting a degree that is specifically game related.


Now, I'm fairly certain that when it comes to experience, I'll be quite prepared for the entry-level field of programming jobs. I'm just worried that I'm shooting myself in the foot for getting a degree that won't compliment my goals.

Thank you for your help,
- Natso

PS: my strengths lie in engine development, artificial intelligence, encryption, and security.
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This thread centers on the practical question of how to turn a general CS degree into a game‑industry-ready profile. Rather than restating opinions already posted by and , the notes below give concise, actionable steps to build demonstrable experience while you are still in school.

Choose electives to build the right foundations: computer graphics and numerical methods, operating systems and concurrency, compilers/tools, networking, algorithms and data structures, and applied cryptography if you want to touch secure multiplayer or anti‑cheat systems. Each of these maps directly to common engine and tools problems employers actually hire for.

Make a portfolio that proves impact. Ship small, focused projects that highlight one technical strength (a renderer demo, a job system with benchmarks, a pathfinding/AI module, a secure client/server prototype). Use measurable before/after results (fps, memory, latency), put the code and a short writeup on GitHub, and host playable builds on itch.io. Contribute to open engines or libraries (for example Godot Engine) and enter game jams to show rapid iteration and teamwork (see Global Game Jam). Internships and student capstone projects are fast tracks to real responsibilities.

Prepare for hiring screens: know C/C++ well for engine roles, be ready to discuss performance tradeoffs and profiling, and practice concise explanations of technical decisions. Tailor resumes to the role (engine, AI, tools, networking) and quantify your contribution. Use industry networking resources such as the IGDA to find meetups and mentors.

For and others starting out: plan your coursework intentionally, commit to shipping one tangible project per semester, and document measurable impact. That combination — real results plus a CS foundation — is how many developers get their foot in the door.

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Member Avatar for Narue

>I have little chance of actually getting anywhere in the game development
>industry - because I am not getting a degree that is specifically game related.
I'd say your friend is full of it. Ability trumps education every time, and the gaming industry is especially well-known for turning basement coders into millionaires. A degree in CS won't hurt you (it'll probably help more than the specialized degree, but I'll get to that in a moment), and a good portfolio will go much further than a degree from a "game programming college".

Now, the reality is this: game development is very competitive. You'll be going up against some extremely talented people, so unless you're one of them, it's likely that you won't end up with your dream job for a while. In that case, a general CS degree can benefit you more than a game programming degree as you work your way into the field.

Member Avatar for sciwizeh

a general CS degree can benefit you more than a game programming degree as you work your way into the field

i was told that too, so that is what i am doing when i enter college this fall :)

Member Avatar for chaosprime

Game development shops consider 'gaming degrees' a joke. Your friend is blowing sunshine up his own degree program.

Member Avatar for ripsocrates

Imma new comp sci major, this is great news thanks for the help everyone!

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