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MProf in Game Dev @Abertay VS. MS in Comp Sci/IT @SHU
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appledaveon is in Mississippi
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I have been accepted to two good Masters programs and can't decide which would best fit me and my prospects.

Professional Masters in Games Development - Abertay University

Masters in Science in Comp Sci. and IT - Sacred Heart University

I enjoy game design/development but worry about the boom-or-bust nature of the industry, and my post-graduate salary; I'm in my thirties and would like to secure a stable source of income. Possibly hitting the $80 - 100k salary range in the next 4 - 5 years, if possible. I know CS is undoubtedly more profitable/stable in this regard, but worry the field may not be as good a fit for me.

I have taken assessment testing and scored high in structural-visualization and analytical reasoning, which I'm told is very beneficial for comp-related fields. That said, my interests don't line-up as well; though I can program well-enough, I find it tedious. I also scored very high in visual-assessments, and was told I should definitely consider fields involving design, or some sort of visual-element to the work. This fits my interests better, as I enjoy the visual-aspect of working in a game engine like Unity or Unreal. I like designing a program (the structure, look, layout, flow etc. of UX) but feel scripting is something I more tolerate than enjoy.

I enrolled in a state school for game design and immediately felt the program would not lead to successful work; I was placed with the freshman-class despite being a postgrad, learned very little practical skills and the majority of my work was ultimately left without any instructor-feedback, sometimes left totally-ungraded.

While I am interested in the idea of a game-development program, and hear Abertay is one of the best-around (9th best in the world), I am worried about being burned again. I would like be able to work in games full-time, but not at the cost of constantly worrying about where my next paycheck is coming from.

I was wondering if anyone here has any information on, or has graduated from, either program, and can give me more insight into the universities or (once again) touch on the whole 'Game Focused Education VS. General CS Education' debate.

Thanks.

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7 years ago