Gaming Industry: Computer Science VS Computer Eng...?

Hypothetically, if say I wanted to work for a gaming company, say Jagex, as a programmer, what would they look at, or consider over the other?

This is probably mistaken information from what I've read but, Computer Science is just plain programming, and Computer Eng, is programming + hardware.

Would the company hire someone with knowledge of computer science, AND extra knowledge of computer eng/hardware knowledge? Or would they only look at your degree as ONLY a programmer, which is what you've been qualified with.

This sounds confusing but please help.

 

I imagine computer science specifically in the area's they're interested in would be your best choice, but a degree doesn't just open the doors for you so perhaps a few test projects would be a good idea as well to show a potential employer to show them your capabilities.

 

Software engineering would be a better route if you wanted to work as a programmer for someone like Jagex.

 

When you say Software Eng, is that the same as Computer Science?

 

No. As an example, at my university you can undertake a degree in Information Technology (computer science) or Engineering, majoring in Software Engineering.

My university has a big push for the idea that engineering is all about solving problems and finding solutions in any field. The first year engineers are all given projects with no set answer, and have to research, design and ultimately build a working prototype. Software engineering is a lot more than just working with desktop computers and general IT, and a lot of people understood that when they started developing software for microprocessors in first year. Edit: note that they also had to do this working collaboratively with a team of 6 people, so there was also electronics, physics, chemistry to consider. I personally think it would be better than an IT degree because you learn a lot more than just "IT and software", but I am a bit biased.

IT will certainly teach you about computers. As for the content I can't really say, but engineering will actually teach you how to model, design, create and analyse. Think of IT as the application, but of engineering as the actual CREATION of things. I'm tempted to say that you'd be more employable as a software engineer, but I really can't say much about the job market in that regard as my major is chemical engineering.

 

Neither of the majors dictate programming proficiency; most companies that hire for these positions do individual evaluations on one's ability.

Hell, you can self-teach more in a year than you'll learn in a 4-year program.

If you really need to choose one, I would say that Comp. Sci. is more recognized, but I would argue that the type of degree means very little (you just need to have one.)

 

I would actually say the type of the degree matters a lot on a more personal level. On a corporate level you're correct; experience and ability will win every time. However, on a personal level you will take away a different knowledge set etc. as engineering and general sciences, IT and so on are all taught very differently.

At least, that's true at my university. I know people that do dual degrees with engineering and science / IT and they say it's very different.

 

I agree...

I have the ability to do a 3 year course at uni, but then, I can self learn it as he posted above?

Where I am atm, I have an option of doing a 3 month C# course...I may sound like an extreme 'nub', but when it comes to game programming, what more is there?

Sorry if my intellect is very low.

 

Self learning is not generally recognised as much as if you have an actual qualification. Take the university course, and you'll have an official qualification as well as you'll have been taught by people who actually know what they're doing. If you self learn, you would need to back yourself with years of experience anyway before people take you seriously. Might as well just self learn while you're at university and kill two birds with one stone.

You can essentially program a game in any language to be honest. It isn't the language that makes a programmer. C# is a very useful language, but you could also elect to learn Python, C++, Java, even Visual Basic, and each of these languages has their respective advantages.

 

But say, working for jagex, wouldn't they look at programmers who can program java, as runescape is a Java based game? (sorry for being a noob)

Also, is RuneScape written in Java or JavaScript? (I hear its different?)

 

Generally if you were working on game code for Jagex, sure, you would probably want to know Java.

This brings me back to my point that a language doesn't make a programmer though: once you understand different programming paradigms and concepts, and understand generally the advantages and caveats of each programming language, it doesn't really matter which one you learn. I could probably learn a new language in a couple to a few weeks if I wanted to because I in general understand the different paradigms, technologies, and I don't just randomly learn a language without knowing what it does.

A good programmer will know many languages and use each respective one for each respective situation. You can specialise in a particular language, however generally speaking that is severely limiting your job opportunities. As an example, you can do web development in PHP, but you can also do it in Python. Which would you choose? Well, the answer depends on what you're doing and how you're doing it.

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RuneScape is indeed written in Java. Not JavaScript.

JavaScript is a scripting language that is implemented in to a webpage. It is not a language for building programs (technically I wouldn't even call it programming, but scripting). Your webbrowser will load up a page and if you have JavaScript enabled (which most people do) the browser will run the JavaScript code, which can load up different information and tell the webbrowser how to display certain things. Of course, there are other uses for it, but in general that's what it tends to do.

For example, if you write a reply on this forum, you'll notice that there's a text editor that's a bit more than just a textbox. If you click the Bold button, the BBCode for bolding your text will appear. If you click on a smiley, it will insert a smiley and so on. This text editor is made possible by JavaScript.

JAVA on the other hand is an actual programming language for the development of (you guessed it) actual programs. You can implement Java apps in to a webpage, certainly, however Java apps are basically just like regular desktop applications that are fed in to your browser. You can also use Java to make desktop applications and mobile apps. All in all it's a very useful language, but for any serious game development I consider it pretty limited.

Mobile games etc. can be developed in Java, and if you have enough time, experience, a team of coders and a fuckload of cash, yeah, you can make something like RuneScape in Java. However, you will notice that most other desktop games, for example World of Warcraft, Crysis, Battlefield, Starcraft, so on so forth have nothing to do with Java because there are better options available for making those sorts of games.

... Which brings me back to my point of knowing multiple languages: in the gaming industry it will make you a hell of a lot more employable.

 

Javascript is becoming much larger these days. It's invading the server. Its everywhere and it is such an awful language and it needs to die.

If you want to get into game development, just do computer science or software development (or any degree focused on software) and just start writing games in your spare time. I know someone who was out of the blue offered a 6 month internship at a major game studio (made very popular AAA games and he is working on one) because of all the things he had done. And language choice does not matter. Once you have been programming for a number of years you can pick up a new language in a few weeks (few months to really hammer out the quirks and shit).

 

If you want to work for Jagex just develop a superior bot client and shove it down their throats. That's what jacmob did.

 

First year CpE (Computer Engineer) here. I've been asking around because I'm interested in what exactly I can do with my degree. For my school, Michigan Tech. University, they mainly teach Java and a few supplements on the CS side, and the usual EE courses. This being said, I can't imagine being any less qualified for a position at Jagex, but as a back-up, I can go off and do something with the EE portion of my degree.

EDIT:

Literally laughed out loud.

 

SuF, JS isn't an AWFUL language. Though I much prefer working with jQuery and YUI libraries than pure JS.

It serves a purpose and until something can adequately replace it, I'd rather it stuck around else I'd be out of a job.

 

I really think it is. To each his own but typing is nice and error messages that don't suck are nice, and stuff like that. Pretty hacked together language.