Csu Chico Game Design Revie

I've just been accepted to CSU Chico in computer animation and game development, but I'm not so sure how good this major is in this school. Could anyone from CSU chico and especially in this major tell me about how good this major is in this school?

level 1

Someone I went to high school with just graduated from Chico State with a degree in animation and just got hired working for Sony PlayStation

level 1

I know people who had this major while at Chico, and now work for 343 (moved from Telltale) and Naughty Dog.

The combination of a good school and an amazing social atmosphere will put you above others your competing against for a job (according to my friends).

Just make sure to socialize, join clubs and branch out - the networking at this school is what helped them (and myself) land a job. It's all about who you know.

level 1

I was born and raised in Chico and bartended at a restaurant downtown. You more than likely would take several classes from professor Jon Pozzi. He is a great dude who cares about his students and their future. 10/10 would recommend.

level 1

Stay away from Butte Hall.

level 1

I recently graduated with a degree in Nutrition and Food Science. Obviously my major was completely different compared to yours. My point is my major was not a prominent major at Chico State. We maybe 100 or so students in the entire major, but that has not hindered my success post-grad. Smaller majors are almost better in a sense as they give you more one-on-one time with professors and create a much different student-teacher relationship compared to larger majors such as Business.

Hope this helps - let me know if you have more questions.

level 2

Thx for the comment, this helps.

level 1

A friend did a minor in this program while debating whether he wanted it to be a major. He was happy with the quality of the classes and what he learned, but ultimately decided not to go into game development. In addition to the classes it has to be something you're super passionate about and spend a lot of your free time doing as well to build up a portfolio. He enjoyed it but had read enough horror stories on Reddit and elsewhere that he didn't want to try breaking into that industry.

level 2

Also untrue. While everyone like to think of Chico as a party school, your success is ultimately determined by yourself as a person and ones work ethic.

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Comment deleted by user · 4y

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I could not disagree more. Chico State has supported me in so many different and unique ways.

In my experience those who have a negative view against Chico state were either not ready for the transition or were unable to keep up with coursework IMO.

level 2

I would also like to hear more about what makes you say this.

level 2

Can you be more specific about this issue? I don't understand how they screw their students. Just out of better understanding.

level 1

I would ask this in r/CSUC, you'll probably get more info. From what I understand it's a great program though, one of my good friends graduated from the program around 2009 and now he's working as a freelance animator down in LA. He's going to have a credit it Infinity War.

level 1

I have heard from someone within the major that game development is in a tough spot because it is housed under the computer science department and when CS needed to make cuts on its budget they cut heavily into the game development classes, reducing the number of classes and professors.

level 2

Do not blame the CS department. The college administration did not hire enough new faculty for better part of two decades. As people retired, the CS department shriveled from 25+ faculty in the early 2000's to only 9 today.

Today, CGAD is a separate department. It has one tenured professor and many lecturers.

level 2

This, this so much. We had an up and coming major with 30-70 students and it was cut in the middle of many of those students degrees. Many had to change their entire area of study in order to finish an undergrad degree. If your major hasn't been around for a couple of decades, I'd be really, really cautious.