Worried About My Future in Programming
First of all, let me introduce myself, since I just joined this forum a couple of hours ago. I'm a student studying in LUCT (Limkokwing), taking Bsc (Hons) in Games Technology. Currently in Semester 2. Hopefully, this forum welcomes students, since I've checked a lot of posts in this forum, and most of the users here are already working in the game industry. 
Obviously, I'm a game programmer, and I'm quite happy to know that most of the users here are game programmers. I'm also interested with games art (love drawing), but I totally suck at games design.
On to the topic.
I fell in love with programming and games development 3 years ago, when I was still in Form 4. Ever since that day, I've been learning programming by myself, relying on online resources and books. But the learning progress was really slow, and I often gave up due to lack of motivation and resources. But since I love games development, I decided to go for a formal education in games programming. And for some reason, I chose to go to Limkokwing.
After studying in Limkokwing for almost 2 years now, I noticed something that the game programming course that the university offers is very weak. The learning progress is slow, and quite repetitive. The previous lecturers totally failed at teaching the students to understand programming. Our current programming lecturer is great, but because most of my classmates don't have a clue on how to program, he had to downgrade the module syllabus. Basically, we're learning everything that we've learned last semester all over again. And this will eventually goes on from semester to semester. From what I see now, the progress of the course is slower than learning by myself. To tell you the truth, I haven't learned anything new about programming ever since I started my study here, and I don't even know much about progamming. "^_^
So, I'm really worried whether I will survive in the future after graduating, because I don't think my skill set will be enough to actually get a job in the industry. I don't think it's even possible to rely on self-thaught programming knowledge (maybe I'm wrong?). Plus, I'm really shy (extremely), I can barely talk to a stranger, and my social skill is probably the worst anyone could have, which is my weakness. What should I do? Go to a better university (the chance of this ever happening is very slim)? Or go hardcore on self-thought programming?
P.s. I just realized that my current programming lecturer is a moderator in this forum... O.o
Hi fishcake,
The solution for your dilemma is actually quite straight forward if you're willing to work for it. If you're into programming I suggest you spend your time actually working on a small game while you're completing your studies. You will pick up alot of skills as well as self confidence in yourself to become a better programmer. Being at Lim Kok Wing also gives you the advantage of networking with potential future team mates for your games projects. Start small learn as much as you can. Then continue on towards your next project. Before you know it, you will realize that your fears are unfounded. Theres only one way to build self confidence in your skills and that is by practice and more practice.
You know, the old timers didn't have schools to go to, and the skills were mostly self taught. Do some small games as portfolio, you will learn quite a lot and stand out when applying for jobs.
Hi Fishcakedev,
You seem to be worried that what you learn is limited by what your lecturer teaches in class. Try going beyond your syllabus.
Class syllabus will always be geared to the average level of the students in class. Craft the content for A-grade students, for example, then the course becomes to difficult and the lecturer will have a lot of Fs in his hands. So if you're a fast learner, you WILL find an average class kinda slow. What you can do is approach your lecturer and ask him what else you can do to improve yourself. If he knows your level (if he's grading your work, he'll know), he can recommend something that he believes you have the ability to learn.
Once you have done so, you have started in doing something beyond what's required. Keep it up. Form the habit of always taking what you know one step further. The constant practice is what will make you good.
If you need guidance, find peers to give you advice. You indicated you're not confident in speaking to strangers, but I see you can communicate well in written English and have the guts to pose a question in a forum of strangers. Keep it up. Find forums relevant to your interests, and ask, ask, ask. Find things you can learn on your own, apply them, and then find what more you can do.
It's your ability to solve the problems your encounter that'll make you valuable to the industry, and this is already a good start.
Good luck!
Originally posted by fishcakedev
So, I'm really worried whether I will survive in the future after graduating, because I don't think my skill set will be enough to actually get a job in the industry."
My response would be, you don't have to worry about that, as companies would probably be offering you jobs even before you graduate as you have the potential to be a great game programmer, if you keep improving from what you are now.
*To guys from the industry, keep an eye for this young chap. He is that good.
Regarding whether taking formal education is a mistake or not. My response would be, no. Simply because formal education provides the necessary environment for you to grow as a person, team player and developer. Like a good friend of mine once told me, he paid for his degree not because the amount of lectures he can learn from, it is for the environment where he can meet his peers who have the same interest and share similar dream.
Like the others have mentioned, get involved with non-school project as much as you can, if possible get into projects where there are 3-5 team members and at least another programmer.
Thumbs up for the post.
Originally posted by Hilmyrahim
and have the guts to pose a question in a forum of strangers.
It's actually easier to pose a question in a forum of strangers than in a forum of people that I personally know. It doesn't matter if I posted some really stupid questions, and people start flaming me, because I don't know them and they don't know me either. :P
Originally posted by heterosapiens
Regarding whether taking formal education is a mistake or not. My response would be, no. Simply because formal education provides the necessary environment for you to grow as a person, team player and developer. Like a good friend of mine once told me, he paid for his degree not because the amount of lectures he can learn from, it is for the environment where he can meet his peers who have the same interest and share similar dream.
I never actually thought about that. It's just that I feel dissapointed with the theory syllabus. I was hoping to learn some cool stuff like compiler theory, algorithm analysis, computer organization, etc, which are difficult to learn by myself (still trying very hard) and what did I learn? Basic stuff like "What is a computer?", "What is the Internet", and craps like "How do you change your Internet homepage?" O.o. I don't mind learning those in Foundation, but they actually thaught us the same thing in Degree, and even some of the lecture slides are the same. -___-
Originally posted by fishcakedev
It's just that I feel dissapointed with the theory syllabus. I was hoping to learn some cool stuff like compiler theory, algorithm analysis, computer organization, etc, which are difficult to learn by myself (still trying very hard) and what did I learn? Basic stuff like "What is a computer?", "What is the Internet", and craps like "How do you change your Internet homepage?" O.o. I don't mind learning those in Foundation, but they actually thaught us the same thing in Degree, and even some of the lecture slides are the same. -___-
Try http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Electrical-Engineering-and-Computer-Science/index.htm. You can check out slides, lecture notes and some lecture videos, free from MIT.
Stanford has some stuff as well at http://cslibrary.stanford.edu/.
Originally posted by heterosapiens
Regarding whether taking formal education is a mistake or not. My response would be, no. Simply because formal education provides the necessary environment for you to grow as a person, team player and developer.
I disagree. Your statement implies that those who did not have the "necessary" environment could not grow as a person, team player and developer? The academic environment IS a good thing for this generation for all the reasons already stated, but it is hardly "necessary" to make it in the games industry. Just look at the previous generation.
Back on topic though, fishcakedev, a good education does NOT a good developer make. And, all the potential in the world does NOT guarantee you a job. Schools will have you believe that of course. But ultimately, it boils down to you. At the end of the day, it's still a business, so you need to have skills. Not just the 'potential' of having skill. If your school is not giving the skills you need, then get some on top of it.
So here's my opinion. Stop complaining about your school, and take those steps already suggested here. To answer your questions specifically, going to another school will be the same problem, especially in Malaysia. And as for your social skills, you just have to work on it. I mean really work on it, because, game development is a team job and that means constantly communicating with people you may or may not even like. If communicating is a problem for you than you need to fix it as well. I have not seen any team that communicates solely by text to make a game.
fishcakedev, if you are shy, perhaps you would consider working as a freelance game programmer working online and communicating mainly via e-mail. We might need one when you graduate but if not, I can probably recommend you to people. All you need to do is to show your skill. Drop me an e-mail for more info.
When I studied at APIIT, there was no game development module so I had to do my own game programming studies. I found reading Andre Lamothe's series of books extremely useful and I joined and paid for courses at http://gameinstitute.com/ while posting a lot at http://gamedev.net IMHO, you really can't rely on your university to teach you the technical details as game technology is progressing faster than they keep up with so in order for you to keep up, you have to self-study. This also applies when you are working. So, university prepares you for this environment by keeping you busy while you constantly upgrade yourself, as you would need to do when you graduate anyway. Hope this helps! ^_^
i`ll advise u to take up accounts or something, lol. seriously if you are doing game development now while in school, i assume you are 16. after a degree, you should be 22-23, which is about 7 years down the road, by that time what ever language or tool you are using to develop the game will be obsolete therefore there isnt much point in doing so, unless if it is purely for fun as you will not retain the develop skills down the road due to obsolete-ion.
Hi fishcakedev, welcome to the forum.
I think you already took a better step by recognizing the problem. Why don't you talk to your current lecturer? I know he's more than happy to help those interested to improve themselves. He'd been in the trenches before and can give you some pointers on this.
In the working environment, you might not need be a superb orator, but you do need to be able to get your idea across. And to get a job, you probably need to impress your prospective employer in interviews as well. You probably worry too much on what other people perceive of you. The fact is, you can't totally control what other people think of you, so you might as well just do and talk the best you can, as you can't please everybody, even if you want to.