#admin:m

[ask-sgd]

Hey, I just got accepted into Sheridan... Does anyone have any first hand experiences with getting transfer credits they can share?

You can only transfer elective credits unless the courses you did are the same in content/code as Sheridan’s BGD courses. They don’t compare content by default, however, only code. If the credits are able to be transferred without any extra work, it will happen automatically in the system.

You’d probably have to have someone from the OTR look into it for you on a case by case basis if you want other credits transferred. I don’t know if they will or can do this now, though.

In my case, I wasn’t able to transfer any of my previous art credits despite BGD having several of them, because “the content was too different”. I was told because they had different course codes, they couldn’t be compared in terms of content, despite both being Sheridan courses (note: they were animation credits, if it applies to anybody out there. You would think they’d accept those, but apparently not).

M

[ask-sgd]

It says that first and second year game design students can’t add classes online so where do we do it

You cannot add classes to your timetable online regardless of year for BGD, only swap empty elective slots with actual electives (that aren’t full).

If you want to change your timetable, you have to organize it with the OTR. They prefer people to make appointments and come in person, but it’s possible to make changes over email or the phone depending on what you need from them. Also, I believe now they require the program coordinator’s approval on timetable swaps.

M

[ask-sgd]

Heyyo I just had a q about whether it's better to have a game sample made in a short amount of time, or if having the components of a game that are strong samples is better? Eg animation, 3d models, strong digital art, game assets. Is it not better to show best work? Or does it not matter as long as you make a game on a game engine it will weigh more towards better grade? Ty ty

To the asker: apologies for not posting this answer sooner - it was drafted during the college faculty strike.

Definitely put your best foot forward! On the Sheridan website, you can see a sample of the admission and portfolio requirements that will more or less be similar to the one you will be sent after you apply for the program.

In the Portfolio & Rationale part, you’ll see different categories like game mods, design sketches, and art assets. I would recommend choosing the ones you are most comfortable and confident with, instead of forcing yourself to use a game engine you may have less experience with.

-Kristy

Show the work you consider to be the best representation of your abilities. For this purpose, it’s typically better to spend more time with the components you know are good rather than to hastily throw together something complicated or unfamiliar just to try to impress. I would aim for multiple strong pieces to showcase your variety of talents.

Also: there’s a link to the sample portfolio requirements PDF hosted on the Sheridan College website on our F.A.Q. page. It would be best to closely refer to the actual requirements when creating your application portfolio. Good luck!

M

[ask-sgd]

Will Sheridan help me get a decent job after graduation? I've read many negative comments on colleges that offer game development course, most of the graduates Indicated that it wasn't worth the money at all.

Remember that reviews of any sort are always going to be subjective and won’t apply to everybody, so take them with a grain of salt. Also keep in mind that no college can guarantee a job after graduation, since most of the work is done on the student’s part.

In terms of game development courses, it’s likely to be mixed due to this type of education being so new and nobody really knowing what to fully expect. This is especially true since these courses range from 1-year certificate to 4-year degree programs and vary widely in instruction. Sheridan College offers the latter with co-op in the 3rd year, which helps immensely with networking and experience for future job searches. The co-op department is always trying to help their students connect with potential employers, too, but they can’t control who is really serious about trying to get a job and who isn’t. Being part of an art industry that relies heavily on self-promotion, this is a really ‘you get what you give’ scenario, and where you give it counts.

tldr; There are a lot of connections to go around if you talk to the right people, but it’s always going to be the student’s responsibility to secure their own jobs, regardless of what comes their way. In the end, the value and immediacy of doing what you love as a career is always going to be up to you.

[ask-sgd]

Hello there, thanks for having such a fantastic resource here! I graduated a couple years back with a degree in Illustration, but after suffering numerous graphic design jobs I've decided that I'd like to go back to school. I'd love to try out game design, but as I've had almost no training in that aspect, I'm nervous about applying! Do you think it's worth trying, with a bit of hasty research and a decent enough grasp of illustration?

Apologies for not answering this ask sooner - the faculty strike did a number on all of us.

Luckily, this program provides a lot of opportunities to work on skills required on the development side over individual and group work. It’s designed in such a way that prioritizes newcomers to game industry practices, so there isn’t any need to worry about already being the best at anything. If everybody were already a pro, nobody would need education, right?

There are a few of us on this blog who have been in other programs and one who had a similar experience as you did, all before coming to Game Design. Some of us felt as you do about applying, but I believe we can all say for certain that it’s helped us grow in some way. Everybody is nervous about it at first, anyway - you’re definitely not alone. Personally, I believe that diving headfirst into uncertainty is the best way to get acquainted with it, hasty research and all. In the end, you’ll have gained something just by experiencing it, and you might even find that you like it more than you thought.

[ask-sgd]

Hello, On the requirements it lists you must have grade 12 English, and then it lists after "plus" as though a separate category visual arts; math and gives option of "other" credits. Does this mean that math is a must have or its just something they would like, because it also says "or two semesters of post secondary with the required courses." I'm lost 😢

You must have 12U English, in addition to an art and 12U math. The reason those two are separate is because you can supplement the high school credits with 2 full semesters of equivalent post-secondary courses.

Example: You took 2 semesters (1 year) of animation at Sheridan and did 12U English in high school as required, but you never took a 12U math. Now you’ll have to take that math course to get credit, either online or by doing another 2 semesters of post-secondary math. You need to have done all 3 courses to be considered for the program.

Note: Check with admissions before locking yourself into anything to make sure that what you’re taking (or have taken) is indeed equivalent to the course you may be missing.

[ask-sgd]

Hello thank you for running this blog! Roughly how many hours a week are classes usually? Is it possible to have a part time job while going to school for this program? Does the go bus run often to the school or do people who commute have to come super early? Are the professors currently in the field or are they just teachers at the moment? Thank you!

We have six classes per semester and each class is usually 3 hours so you’ll have around 18 hours of class per week.

It is possible to have a part time job. Most people in the program work while studying.

How often the buses run completely depends on what bus you take and if you’re taking Oakville transit, go transit, or even the shuttle bus (or a combination)

Some of the profs are no longer in the field but used to be. Others are still currently making games! One of our profs released a game on the switch recently.

Hope that helps!!!!

-Jen

Keep in mind that even if a professor isn’t currently working in the industry, they still have all the contacts they’ve made during their time in it. Once you’re in, you never truly leave. They may also have ongoing personal projects.

M

[ask-sgd]

How would you say the program holds up to the animation program in terms of working in the industry teachers (current over past) as well as in terms of standards? Could you get a job working at, for example ubisoft when you graduate based on the hard work put into your school learning or, does it strive more towards creating indie game developers?

Ultimately, what you get out of any program totally depends on what you put into it. If you strive to work in a certain field and put effort into landing a specific job, you could definitely get it, regardless of which course you graduated from.

Being a blog about the game design course, let’s stick with that. The program teaches a variety of skills that would be useful to both AAA and indie developers, but everybody has their own opinions about what you should do with them. You could definitely get a job with Ubisoft if you worked hard at it, but the program doesn’t really force you on a path towards it. Because of the varying backgrounds of all the profs we have, students get exposed to many different opinions and nudges in all kinds of directions, some towards AAA, some indie, all depending on the profs’ experiences. I will say that since we learn in spaces surrounded by students, everything feels a little indie. In the end, skills are skills and they translate pretty well when you know your stuff, you just need to know where you want to go with them.

As for standards, it’s hard to compare a new program to a well-established one like you’re asking. Our program’s standards are constantly evolving as we try to pin down exactly where we stand, which I am sure will take years to determine. On a more individual level, every student has their own standard, so it varies … but it’s usually pretty obvious who’s putting more effort into which things (as in every program).

tldr; You can’t compare the two programs on equal footing; yes, you could; and no, it gives you a taste of everything then lets you choose for yourself.