Before I go any further, I know there is no set route to be successful, I'm just looking for suggestions. Oh, and when I talk programming, I mean C++ specifically :o.
Okay so. It's always been my dream to make video games, and as of late, a game programmer. But I'll save the story for my grandkids. I looked into schools such as DigiPen and FullSail. I requested information. I did research. I looked into the areas, and even looked at prices for housing (I live in New Jersey, DigiPen and FullSail are in Washington state and Florida, respectively). Then I realized... what if I don't wanna do this? What if I pay all this money on tuition, and make all these plans to move out and what not, and I just can't handle the work load? (DigiPen is the Harvard of video-game related schools, while FullSail gives you a four-year Bachelor's degree in nearly two.)
So I thought to myself. How about I start slow? I'm not gonna risk it and jump in the deep end of the pool first, and hope to God I can swim. No no, that's stupid. I'll get a broader, well-rounded education, one that's close to home. I decided I'd major in Computer Science. With a better understanding of programming languages and concepts, theory, computer achitecture, as well as classes in other subjects as well, PLUS the benefit of being able to stay home to save money on well, everything, the latter looked like ice-cold lemonade next to warm milk on a hot summer day.
Now, my sister's husband, or my brother-in-law, is studying to be an Oracle DBA, or database administrator. These guys work in the programming language 'SQL'. He's into what I wanna do, and he's trying to help me be successful, which is cool, I like the advice. Today he was telling me how when he worked in the IT department at the company Merril Lynch (dono hao2spel, 2lazy2googel), there was this kid in the cubicle next to him, about 22 years of age. He was a sophomore in college, and he was making ~$80k/year working with Oracle. The point of the story, however, was not that Oracle pays amazingly well at entry-level positions. This kid's father gave him the oppurtunity to learn all these things, with help and on his own, from when he was my age. About 16. The point of the story was that if I really wanted to get into programming in C++ and all that fun stuff, and be successful in the field, a college degree in computer science alone won't cut the cake. I'd have to teach myself, or at least get used to what I'm about to get myself into, from now. Like, right now. Which is brings me to the point of why I made this thread.
What can I do, at this point in time (I'm going on to my senior year of high school in September), to get myself ahead of the game? I mean, it's a given to rent/buy some C++ books, study them, do some free-lance programming myself, etc. But what else can I do to gain experience, specifically in programming games? Is it possible to get into MapleStory's source code and see how it's constructed? Should I start small, or go big? Are there any books some of you might recommend? Websites with free tutorials? Anything to get my feet wet?
I know that's a lot of questions, but I'm kinda lost in the dark as to where to begin with all this. I've taken classes in Visual BASIC last year, so I have at least a single iota of experience in programming something. I love programming, and looking at code that may scare others away catches my attention. I even think about things in code sometimes, LOL.
But where the hell do I start...? :x
Okay so. It's always been my dream to make video games, and as of late, a game programmer. But I'll save the story for my grandkids. I looked into schools such as DigiPen and FullSail. I requested information. I did research. I looked into the areas, and even looked at prices for housing (I live in New Jersey, DigiPen and FullSail are in Washington state and Florida, respectively). Then I realized... what if I don't wanna do this? What if I pay all this money on tuition, and make all these plans to move out and what not, and I just can't handle the work load? (DigiPen is the Harvard of video-game related schools, while FullSail gives you a four-year Bachelor's degree in nearly two.)
So I thought to myself. How about I start slow? I'm not gonna risk it and jump in the deep end of the pool first, and hope to God I can swim. No no, that's stupid. I'll get a broader, well-rounded education, one that's close to home. I decided I'd major in Computer Science. With a better understanding of programming languages and concepts, theory, computer achitecture, as well as classes in other subjects as well, PLUS the benefit of being able to stay home to save money on well, everything, the latter looked like ice-cold lemonade next to warm milk on a hot summer day.
Now, my sister's husband, or my brother-in-law, is studying to be an Oracle DBA, or database administrator. These guys work in the programming language 'SQL'. He's into what I wanna do, and he's trying to help me be successful, which is cool, I like the advice. Today he was telling me how when he worked in the IT department at the company Merril Lynch (dono hao2spel, 2lazy2googel), there was this kid in the cubicle next to him, about 22 years of age. He was a sophomore in college, and he was making ~$80k/year working with Oracle. The point of the story, however, was not that Oracle pays amazingly well at entry-level positions. This kid's father gave him the oppurtunity to learn all these things, with help and on his own, from when he was my age. About 16. The point of the story was that if I really wanted to get into programming in C++ and all that fun stuff, and be successful in the field, a college degree in computer science alone won't cut the cake. I'd have to teach myself, or at least get used to what I'm about to get myself into, from now. Like, right now. Which is brings me to the point of why I made this thread.
What can I do, at this point in time (I'm going on to my senior year of high school in September), to get myself ahead of the game? I mean, it's a given to rent/buy some C++ books, study them, do some free-lance programming myself, etc. But what else can I do to gain experience, specifically in programming games? Is it possible to get into MapleStory's source code and see how it's constructed? Should I start small, or go big? Are there any books some of you might recommend? Websites with free tutorials? Anything to get my feet wet?
I know that's a lot of questions, but I'm kinda lost in the dark as to where to begin with all this. I've taken classes in Visual BASIC last year, so I have at least a single iota of experience in programming something. I love programming, and looking at code that may scare others away catches my attention. I even think about things in code sometimes, LOL.
But where the hell do I start...? :x