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Each month, industry veteran Tom Sloper provides career guidance to game biz wannabes, newbies, and junior professionals with the goal of helping them break into the industry, and stay in. Submit a question to Tom for developer-oriented advice in this column (IGDA members only).

by Tom Sloper

Which School Should I Go To? (January 2005)

Dear Tom,

I'm currently in community college and am trying to decide which game school to go to after I finish the next semester. I've read all the college FAQs on the IGDA site and your site. I've been collecting opinions on numerous different forums. The problem is it's split 50-50 between [west coast school] and [east coast school]. I'm looking for a vote to shift the balance one way or the other. So what do you say? [West coast school] or [east coast school]?

Confused Student

Dear Confused,

I don't know. Which coast do you live on?

Tom

Dear Tom,

Um, I live on the east coast. But why?

Still Confused

Dear Still,

Okay, then if you live on the east coast, go to [east coast school].

Tom

Dear Tom,

I've been reading this column and I saw your advice to "Confused Student," that he should go to [east coast school]. My situation is exactly like his, but I live on the west coast. I don't want to have to commute all the way across the continent every school break!

Another Student

Dear Another,

Since you live on the west coast, you should go to [west coast school].

Tom

Dear Tom,

Hi, me again (the second guy). I don't get it. The advice you gave "Confused Student" completely contradicts the advice you gave me.

Another Student Again

Dear Another Again,

No contradiction. He lives on the east coast, you live on the west coast. The advice I gave "Confused" was tailored for him, and the advice I gave you is tailored for you.

Tom

Dear Tom,

I saw the advice you gave "Confused Student" and "Another Student" above. I'm in exactly the same boat as those two guys, except -- you guessed it -- I live in the middle, equidistant from the two coasts. I need a way to decide which of those two schools to go to, and the advice you gave those guys doesn't help me at all!

Perplexed Student

Dear Perplexed,

So flip a coin.

Tom

Dear Tom,

I flipped a coin, but it came up tails, which meant I should go to [east coast school], and I don't want to go there! Help!

Perplexed Again

Dear Perplexed Again,

If you don't want to go to [east coast school], then go to [west coast school].

Tom

Dear Tom,

Hi, you may remember me - "Confused"? I'm the one whose letter started off this column. After you advised me to go to [east coast school], you advised two people to go to [west coast school]. Have you changed your mind, is that it? [West coast school] is the right school to go to?

Still Confused After All These Letters

Dear Students,

In honor of the new year, I've just made a new resolution. I hereby resolve to never again let myself get caught up in a "which school should I go to" question. Happy new year, everyone!

Tom

Dear Tom,

We just wanted your advice, and you weren't helpful. Thanks for nothing.

Coalition of All Three Students

Please note that there is no guarantee that Tom will be able to respond to all the questions he receives. It is up to his discretion which questions he uses for this column. For further advice and resources, check out the IGDA's discussion forums, the Breaking In web site and the Students & Newbies Outreach section.

Tom's Bio

Tom Sloper's game biz career began over twenty years ago at Western Technologies, where he designed LCD games and the Vectrex games "Spike" and "Bedlam". There followed stints at Sega Enterprises, Rudell Design, Atari Corporation, and Activision. In 12 years at Activision, Tom produced 36 unique game titles (plus innumerable ports and localizations), designed four games, and won five awards. Tom worked for several months in Activision's Japan operation, in Tokyo. He is perhaps best known for designing, managing and producing Activision's "Shanghai" line. He is currently consulting, writing, speaking, teaching, and developing original games. Find out more at Sloperama.