| You’d get to use the very latest techniques | | | | before they’ve even been introduced to the |
| available – and in computer game | | | | syllabus. A home-based study, on the other hand, |
| development, as in other areas of computer | | | | can be updated far more easily, keeping you |
| animation and design, new ideas and techniques | | | | abreast of developments as they happen. |
| are becoming available all the time. When Andrew | | | | Another big advantage of home-based game |
| Adamson directed the 2005 movie of The Lion, | | | | courses is, if you choose the right one, it will be |
| the Witch and the Wardrobe, he said he was | | | | put together by games developers for future |
| using techniques simply not available just a few | | | | games developers. In other words, it will have |
| years before. The same is true of computer | | | | been designed by people who have been trained |
| game design. Every year, games are more | | | | up in the industry and know exactly what games |
| realistic, more innovative, more gripping to play. | | | | companies are looking for. |
| You might love to play computer games but | | | | Good course providers, again, will be fully |
| never imagined you could design them. After all, | | | | recognised and accredited by the key games |
| playing games takes no special skills, but | | | | industry bodies. They will give you access to |
| developing them surely takes many skills and lots | | | | trained professional tutors, who will guide you, |
| of know-how, right? True; but you can acquire | | | | assess you and help you at every stage as you |
| those skills through distance learning. | | | | progress to an industry-recognised exam in |
| With distance learning, you can take game | | | | computer game development. |
| courses from the comfort of your own home. | | | | And there are no formal entry requirements; you |
| That’s a lot easier, and a lot cheaper, than | | | | don’t have to have qualifications in maths, |
| attending a college to study computer game | | | | science or computer design, for instance. All you |
| development. | | | | need is a real love of your subject, a willingness |
| It’s also likely to be more use to you. | | | | to learn – and that sense of wonder. |
| Because it is such a fast-moving industry, | | | | That’s what makes playing computer games |
| conventional college courses can be at a real | | | | lots of fun – and makes being games |
| disadvantage. They can be effectively out of date | | | | developers even more fun! |