译者序：这篇文章是Jeff Ward 2006贴在网路上的文章，内容虽然并不是很有用，适用的 地方也应该在美国，但是其中提到的一些勉励还蛮有趣的，希望分享给大家。 学习游戏开发从选校开始 Choosing a School Jeff Ward http://www.gamecareerguide.com/features/298/choosing_a_.php One of the questions game developers receive frequently is which college or university a student should select when interested in pursuing a career in game development. And who can blame them? There are probably millions of different schools out there, with different strengths and weaknesses, not to mention the hundreds of new majors and certificates in game design, game art, game programming, 3d modeling, graphics programming, entertainment technology, media theory, and any of the other majors there may be out there related to computer games and game technology. How is a young high school (or returning college grad) to make sense of it all? This article is an attempt to address some of these questions and hopefully present some of the tools that students should seriously consider when selecting the institution where they may spend four years of their life. 一个游戏开发者常常被问到的问题之一就是一个有兴趣在游戏开发谋职的学生该选择哪间 学校。可能有百万间这样的学校，而且他们各有擅场。更不用说涵盖游戏设计，游戏美术 ，游戏程式，三维绘图，电脑图学程式，娱乐科技，媒体理论，以及其他跟电脑游戏与科 技相关的数百种主修与执照。这篇文章尝试发掘这些问题，希望能提出一些方法让学生选 择机构时认真思考该花费他们人生的四年在哪里。 I have presented this article in a few simple rules, starting with a rule that is very frequently forgotten by lots of students looking for an education, guidance councilors looking to place students in prestigious schools, and even developers looking to get trained students. 我会从一个最容易被遗忘的方向(rule)开始。这些思考方向针对的对象是那些正在决定学 校的学生，正在帮学生找出路的谘询顾问，以及正在找人才的游戏开发者。而且常常被忽 略。 Rule 1: There is not right college, only the right college for you. 没有绝对优的学校，只有对你有帮助的学校。 There are a lot of things you should consider when choosing a school, especially if you are going to invest a lot of time (usually about 2 to 4 years) and money (anywhere from $30k to $120k) into a school. You should make sure you make a good decision, and this is not something other people can, or even should, help you with. This should be your decision. That said, there are a lot of things we can recommend that will help you make the right decision. 我们要认真思考挑选学校的原因是这（入学）将会花费我们一段不短的时间（二到四年） 与不少的钱（三万美金到十二万美金）。这该自己作决定，而非其他人告诉你该怎麽做。 我们只能建议并帮助你做出正确决定。（译按：这讲废话吧） First, you should think about the type of school you want to go to, and the decision is not as simple as trade school versus "traditional" four year college or university, though this is possibly the biggest debate between developers, educators and students. However, from everything I've heard, everyone I've talked to, and from personal experience, I am now firmly of the opinion that the choice, in the long run, does not matter. You will hear arguments on both sides of the fence, from the biggest industry name to the smallest community college professor about why you should select one type of university over the other, but, generally, in the long run the choice probably won't matter. 首先认清学校的种类，这里是说不只是分清职训学校(译按：trade school应该比较接近 高职专科训练的学校)与传统四年的大学。会这麽强调的原因是我从个人经验，每个谘询 对象，以及我所听到的事实了解到，只是分这两种并没触碰到重点。 I know you didn't want to hear that, and I know those of you that put lots of money, time, and energy into a particular type of school don't want to hear it either. But the truth of the matter is that part of what makes a good game developer is wrapped around a psychological model that revolves around a penchant for hard work, talent, and passionate dedication. Furthermore, a person with those qualities will do well regardless of which school they eventually attend. 恐怕很难相信我这种说法。但我的理由是一个好的游戏开发者是有一种包含努力工作，天 份，热情付出所组合而成的人格特质（psychological model）（译按：而非能由学校训 练而来）。所以不管去哪间学校，有这种人格特质的人都会变成一个好的游戏开发者。（ 译按：又是废话） Unless, of course, that person is completely miserable while attempting to get their education. And, believe it or not, a simple thing like learning style can make a huge difference in how happy you are at a school. 除非这个人在学习上无法接受正统的教导（译按：就是不受教的那种类型）。 For example, when I went looking for colleges, I knew that I wanted a broader based education. I'm interested in a very wide variety of things, including percussion, religion, spirituality, ethics, practical and experimental science, fine art appreciation, theater, and marching band. I wanted a college that would encourage, even require, me to participate in these subjects, and to try new and different things. Learning lots of different things definitely matched what I wanted to accomplish in college. Going to a liberal arts school fit me and my personality. 举例来说，若是我找学校的话，我要找的就是通才教育。意思是对很多事情都有兴趣，像 是打击乐器，宗教，灵魂学，伦理学，应用及实验科学，美术监赏，电影以及乐团。我甚 至希望这间学校可以鼓励甚至强迫我去参与这些领域，尝试新的东西。这样的学习铁定满 足我的需求。因此一间自由的艺术学校就是好的选择。 Another student, on the other hand, although interested in just as many subjects and extra curricular activities, may not be as interested in taking them as required courses. They may want courses that are directly related to games in every subject, and may get bored in their classes otherwise. This person would be miserable at a school that required 30 credits of liberal arts and a gym class. As a result, their course work, even those classes related to games, would suffer. 另一种学生在另一方面，虽然对很多题目有兴趣，但是只希望适度的选修。它可能希望更 贴近游戏的课程，否则很快就会失去热情。这种学生如果放在一间需要三十学分的艺术与 体育班可能就十分痛苦。即便前面提到的课程都跟游戏领域有某种程度的相关联，依然是 一种折磨。 So, are you going to be more successful at a school offering a broad based education, or are you going to be happier at a school that is strictly focused on your games education? Or are you somewhere in between? If you've already completed a B.S., B.A. or B.F.A. at another school, you're probably not looking to take the general education classes again right? This is the first question you have to ask yourself before even beginning to look for a college. In fact, it's the next rule of selecting a college for game development. 所以到底是希望自由的各方涉猎还是专心在游戏教育上，或是有某种折衷的方式？假如你 已经完成了大学，你恐怕不希望再进行一次通才的教育。因此这个问题就是你第一个应该 回答自己的问题。那麽，让我们进广告。 Rule 2: Choose a school that fits your style of learning. 选择适合自己学习风格的学校 If you choose a school that fits your style of learning, you will be happier and more productive, and you will be able to absorb more of what the professors are offering. Forget what employers and your parents want for the time being, and just think where you would be happier. It's your life, after all, not any potential employer's. 找到符合自己学习风格的学校，你会比较有兴趣且有产值，也更能够吸收教材。请忘记未 来雇主与家长的期待，先想想怎样会更快乐。毕竟这是自己的人生，而非雇主的。 If you understand the type of school you want to go to, start searching for programs in your particular field of study. However, when searching, you want to make sure to get as many schools as possible into your search, so you can make a more informed decision. Start with a large list, and whittle it down as you learn more about the schools. That brings us to Rule 3. 可以从你想学的领域开始搜寻课程。然而，最好尽可能把最多的学校都纳入搜寻范围。从 一个大量的清单来消去。消去的依据是由於你对那些学校更加了解了。 Rule 3: When searching for programs to join, do not just search for game programs. 不要只选那些游戏的课程 Though game programs are becoming more and more prevalent, and better and better schools are creating some great programs, you want to make sure you start with as large a list as possible. Some great art schools with great 3D modeling and digital art programs will never come up if you do a search on "game art" or "computer art." Some great programming schools will also elude your grasp if you search just for "game programming." 虽然游戏的课程很广泛，你还是必须先确认你的课程清单涵盖尽量够多。因为有些课程是 属於艺术的范畴，容易被忽略。不要只找游戏程式的课。 Once you have a (very large) list of possible schools, then you can start to eliminate some of them based off of many criteria, including class size / school size, whether it fits your style of learning, and whether it looks like it has any majors or schools you'd be interested in. What exactly should you do to do this? Well, I'm glad you asked, because that brings us to Rule 4; 然後开始用消去法。其中一个方法是依据课程的长度与学校的规模的比值。以及哪间学校 有你最多有兴趣的课程。 Rule 4: The rules your high school guidance councilor gave you for selecting and eliminating colleges still stand. 高等教育谘询师给你的建议依然有效 Don't think that just because you're going into game development, that you can disregard the whole "select two safety schools, two reach schools, and to medium schools" rule. Other rules also stand. Make sure you research potential schools fully. Visit the school. Ask professors, tour guides or department heads about all the programs you're interested in. Make sure you like the campus, that it has the facilities and extracurriculars you want, that it's in a rural or city area (depending on your preferences) and that you like the people, both the professors and your potential classmates. Sit in on some classes if you can. Go out into the middle of campus when there are lots of people wandering by. Generally absorb the atmosphere. If you have one, make sure to ask your guidance councilor about the school and its reputation. Remember that this is part of their job and they'll be able to answer many of your questions far better than any forum troll. 联考（或基测）选学校的法则依然在选游戏开发的学校有帮助：在自己能力上下找一个安 全落点。那麽接下来就是参观一下学校，谘询那些教授，甚至系所的快速介绍。确保课程 内与课余的环境以及未来的学习环境（包含人与地）都令你满意。如果能旁听一些课程更 好。感觉一下那间学校的气氛。询问高等教育谘询师的意见，这就是他该提供的服务。 During this search, you're going to be asking the same questions everyone else looking for a school is going to be asking: Is this the school that will look good on a resume and get me a job right out of college? This question is usually phrased on forums as "Is this school / program any good?" That's just as vague as asking "What school should I go to?" What you're really asking is whether people in the industry have hired good people from that school, and would be willing to accept others. However, past performance is not a guarantee of future performance, and no one knows this better than game developers. 每个人都会问这个问题：这间学校是否能让我找到一个工作。这个问题也一直出现在线上 论坛中，但是答案是很模糊的。因为游戏公司未来是否会因此雇用这些学校出来的毕业生 也是很不确定的答案。然而过去的经验（应届就业率）依然是很好的参考。 Yes, some schools may "look better" than others, but if you play your cards right, doing well at any school, along with proper networking, can look just as good as the "right school" This brings up the next rule. 当然有些学校会更好，但是不会比自己真的用心向学来得好。 Rule 5: The prestige of the school should not be the reason you go there. 不要追求名校 Though the prestige of a school, and its programs (game development or otherwise) may help you land a job, there are a lot of other factors that are just as important. If you let prestige be the biggest or only factor, you're more likely to be miserable at the school, which will make you do poorly, which looks bad no matter what the name of the school is. 除了学校的名声，课程可以让你找到工作之外，还有其他的要素也同样重要。假如过於注 重名声，可能会学的很痛苦（译按：吊车尾）。在好学校吊车尾还是吊车尾。 What will really stand out to employers isn't necessarily the school you went to, but the amount of additional effort you put in towards areas both inside and outside your field of study. This doesn't mean you can ignore game related side projects and development, but it does mean that if you're at a school specifically centered on game development, you should seriously think about keeping up with your trombone playing and table magic tricks. However, it also means that if you're at a school that doesn't specifically teach you game development, you need to make sure that you're always keeping up to date on new technologies and participating in some game-related side projects. Either way, the combination of work inside and outside the field of game development will be impressive. 帮助你在面试的时候脱颖而出的那些东西（技术）并非选择学校的必要条件。也就是说虽 然你在一间游戏学校学习，不代表你不能学管乐器与魔术表演。反过来说假如这间学校不 是游戏专门的学校，你就自己跟上游戏领域最新技术。是否学到游戏领域的课程都会让你 获益良多。 That said, you don't want to lose sight of the big picture. 意思就是，不要太过分看重技术的分量。 Rule 6: Keep your eventual goals in mind. 随时记住你的理想 If all you ever want to be is a programmer, then feel free to go to a school that is specifically centered on programming and only programming. If you want to do other things, make sure you get an education in those things. If you want to run your own company, you'd better make sure you take a few business classes. If you want to be a game designer, think about taking classes in creative writing, religion, media, or anything else you might find interesting. 假如你想成为程式设计师，那麽程式设计课程就要修；假如想要创业，那麽就选商业管理 的课程；假如目标是一个游戏设计师，那麽你该修一些创意写作，宗教，媒体等课程。 Also, be sure to listen to the developers that inspire you or that you would one day like to work for. Many developers have spoken on this issue in the past, and their opinions are sure to offer insight into which school you should choose. Remember, though, that the decision is ultimately yours. Any advice from others should be coupled with your own experience and options in order to find the best school to match your learning style and career goals. 仔细聆听那些游戏开发者曾经所给的建言，因为有一天你可能会跟他一起工作。不过那些 建议最终都必须跟你自身的经验验证，这才自己的东西。 Finally, onto my favorite rules. 然後是我最喜欢的。 Rule 7: No matter where you go, learn all you can. 尽可能多学一些 This does not mean pay attention in class (let's face it, some classes are much more boring than others), it means be alert to what's going on in the industry and educate yourself on all of it. When it comes time to network and look for a job, your potential employers will be impressed that you went the extra mile to be educated on things outside the classroom setting. 意思是保持敏锐，跟着那些新知跑，面试时雇主才能监别出你与其它只学课堂知识的学生 。 With all of this said, however, remember that college is also a time to have fun, so while doing all this hard work, remember to expand yourself socially and learn new things, whether you take classes or not. You never know when knowing how to swing dance, juggle, play jazz guitar, talk gourmet wine, or just talk up a crowd will get you the all important contact into the industry, or just a new friend. This brings me to the last, yet most important rule. 除了努力学习之外，也不要忘记社交，跳舞，耍宝，弹吉他，品酒，甚至演讲。与这个产 业保持联系，或是结交新朋友。 Rule 8: No matter where you go, have lots of fun. 不要忘记活的快乐 You really are only going to be in college once (maybe twice), and there's really nothing else like it. It would be a real shame (for you, and the industry) for you to miss out on all of your potential, just because you were spending too much time doing all of your work. 大学学习可能一生只有一次到两次，希望你不要错过那些有趣的事情，只因为你花太多时 间做作业。 Lastly, I have just a few final thoughts that I think are important. They are most easily summed up in Rule Zero, which is the overarching theme of this whole article. 总结 Fun is subjective. 乐趣是很主观的 Rule Zero: Being happy at your school is paramount. If you are happy, everything else can fall into place through hard work and planning. 保持快乐是很重要的，快乐的时候即便是辛苦的工作都能顺利走过。 And, remember, you're more likely to want and be able to put in that hard work and planning if you're happy. As I said in the summary of Rule 1, you shouldn't let anyone else make this decision for you, because they will likely choose the school that's right for them, not you. That said, don't be afraid to ask people's opinions on various schools, just realize that people's learning styles are different, and some people may not like a school you'd be very happy at. 如同第一个建议说的，不要让别人替你做决定，因为别人是选适合他们的学校，而非适合 你的。这是说不要羞於询问其他的人意见，但是也不要把其他人的经验原封不动地套到自 己身上。 Now, hopefully, armed with this knowledge you will be able to select the school that will be best for you: one that will challenge you intellectually and socially. So what are you waiting for? Get out there, get to school, and change the industry. We're waiting for you. 希望这间学校会挑战你的知识与社交。最终你能挑战这个产业。 Jeff Ward is a 2004 alumni of James Madison University's schools of Computer Science and Media Arts and Design. He is currently employed as an Associate Programmer at Bethesda Game Studios, and is credited for his work on The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion. Jeff Ward六年前毕业於James Madison University的资讯与媒体设计系。曾经是 Bethesda Game Studios的程式设计员。开发过上谷卷轴4等游戏。目前在Fire Hose Games担任程式设计师 Bethesda Game Studios的着名产品有Rage, Fallout, Quake Live等。 Jeff On Games http://www.jeffongames.com/ FuzzyBinary - Somewhere logical http://www.fuzzybinary.com/ -- "May the Balance be with U"(愿平衡与你同在) 视窗介面游戏设计教学，讨论，分享。欢迎来信。 视窗程式设计（Windows CLR Form）游戏架构设计（Game Application Framework） 游戏工具设计（Game App. Tool Design ） 电脑图学架构及研究（Computer Graphics） --

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