Will Calculus get me anywhere in game design?

[Chris-Michael]

I've taken Advance Math this year (pre calculus) and I was wondering if I should take Calculus next year if I ever want to become a game designer... sorry if that's a stupid question. :P

[EvilWall]

Depends, are you going to be programming? If so then it could be quite helpful.

[eswat]

Game Designer? Err... if you mean like you want to be somebody like Hideo Kojima, no, you don't need it. But for programming? Yes, at the very least you will need to learn discrete mathematics and linear algebra (my calculus course went over some of their material).

[Blackwolf]

And honestly, it's next to impossible to be a game designer like Hideo without starting at the bottom. So yes, every little bit of math helps in your favor.

[GH33DA]

To be a good game designer, it's best to learn a little of everything...art, audio, programming. Being able to communicate with artists and programmers using their own language makes you kind of an interepreter. Which reduces confusion and mistakes. If you are interested in the type of math that programmers find essential, here's a book I read on the subject: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159200038X

[Burr]

Even if you don't directly apply calculus to game design, I think it's good to learn math because it helps teach you logic, which in turn gets applied to programming, and even if you aren't a hardcore programmer, it will give you an idea of the limitations you're dealing with as a designer, and how to workaround them.

[Chris-Michael]

I'll take Calculus then. I do have a game idea with a massive story that I'd like to make an actual game one day... but I know the industry won't just accept some random person and make their game. So I guess you could say that I would like to become someone like Kojima. I also know that most of the industry's greatest people like Kojima, Miyamoto (he was actually an artist first but y'know...), and others started out as programmers. I need to get myself SOMEWHERE in the industry first.

My only worry is that I've heard alot that it takes much luck to get into the industry. Oh well, you don't know until you try, right? :)

[AcquiredTarget]

You could always try to get in as an intern/co-op with a game company. Who knows, that just might help you get in.

[Blank]

Don't think you'll get away with doing little to no math in game design. At some level, you're going to have to be able to communicate to the people that are doing the calculations (lead programmer).

[EvilWall]

Math is for fools and everyone knows it Blank. :rolleyes:

[Mr.Wuggles]

You don't need advanced math for game design moron.

Programming, yes

Coding, yes (same as programming)

Design, no

All you need for design is an artistic mind, and a crap-load of money.

You do have great artistic skills though Chris, so sculpting and imagination are the two factors you should focus on.

[Mr.Wuggles]

I'll take Calculus then. I do have a game idea with a massive story that I'd like to make an actual game one day... but I know the industry won't just accept some random person and make their game. So I guess you could say that I would like to become someone like Kojima. I also know that most of the industry's greatest people like Kojima, Miyamoto (he was actually an artist first but y'know...), and others started out as programmers. I need to get myself SOMEWHERE in the industry first.

My only worry is that I've heard alot that it takes much luck to get into the industry. Oh well, you don't know until you try, right? :)


I think the creator of God of War started as a game tester.

[Jimmysdown]

I'll take Calculus then. I do have a game idea with a massive story that I'd like to make an actual game one day... but I know the industry won't just accept some random person and make their game. So I guess you could say that I would like to become someone like Kojima. I also know that most of the industry's greatest people like Kojima, Miyamoto (he was actually an artist first but y'know...), and others started out as programmers. I need to get myself SOMEWHERE in the industry first.

My only worry is that I've heard alot that it takes much luck to get into the industry. Oh well, you don't know until you try, right? :)

It's good to just know it- you can only lose opportunities to learn more by not taking Calculus. but I think your first step into understanding game design is to learn about all the different roles in a development team- and think about what role you want to be in if you join up with a game developer. Just look at the credit list at the end of any game manual to give you an idea of how diverse it is.

[eswat]

but I think your first step into understanding game design is to learn about all the different roles in a development team- and think about what role you want to be in if you join up with a game developer.
This will also help if you do eventually become a game designer. Then you will know how much work each role needs to do for a project, and will stop you from asking ridiculous things from your programmers, artsts, sound engineers, etc.

[Chris-Michael]

Ok... I just talked to my Math teacher (who took Calculus and supposedly failed miserably) and she said they recommended 12 hours per day of studying Calculus. This sounds insane, INHUMAN even to me. That's half a whole day! Can somebody clarify this??? Do I REALLY have to do 12 straight hours PER DAY of Calculus if I want to get an A in the class? If that's really true, then I won't have time for my other subjects, preventing me from taking Calculus...

Say it ain't so...

[Burr]

I didn't "study" any Calculus. Just always did the day's homework in an hour or so max, aced it. Same for multi-variable Calculus. It's really not any different than any other math as far as approach to it. You learn the system for solving each type of problem, keep an eye out for common mistakes, and you have it down.

Of course if all math is a challenge to you, then this won't be any different of a challenge. Just saying it's not really a massive step up that requires a huge commitment. That would be something more like knot theory.

[Blank]

You don't need advanced math for game design moron.

Programming, yes

Coding, yes (same as programming)

Design, no

All you need for design is an artistic mind, and a crap-load of money.

You do have great artistic skills though Chris, so sculpting and imagination are the two factors you should focus on.

No, you don't absolutely need advanced math for game design; but it's a huge plus.

Let's say you're designing an RTS and you need to balance all the various units. You mean to tell me that you can completely hand it off to a programmer to do the calculations? Not so much.

Also, there are a few things I should clear up about becoming a game designer...

If you absolutely, truly, with all your heart want to become a game designer, you have to realize that you have a 1% chance of starting off in that position. Technically, that position doesn't completely exist, but eh. Being the designer is a very long road, meaning you can be absolutely sure you'll be working in another position for a good time. Level designer, artist, programmer, tester (I don't reccomend that), etc. etc. etc.

In other words, it's pretty much required that you excel in one aspect of game development. If you're good at math, learn some programming. If you're an awesome artist, sit down and fool around with Max, Maya, and Photoshop.

I hope that's what you mean by game design.

[GH33DA]

Ok... I just talked to my Math teacher (who took Calculus and supposedly failed miserably) and she said they recommended 12 hours per day of studying Calculus. This sounds insane, INHUMAN even to me. That's half a whole day! Can somebody clarify this??? Do I REALLY have to do 12 straight hours PER DAY of Calculus if I want to get an A in the class? If that's really true, then I won't have time for my other subjects, preventing me from taking Calculus...

Say it ain't so...

Ok...You just said your math teacher failed Calculus?

[Chris-Michael]

Well actually she just said "you don't want to see my grades for calculus" but I guess that tells me it wasn't very good...

No, you don't absolutely need advanced math for game design; but it's a huge plus.

Let's say you're designing an RTS and you need to balance all the various units. You mean to tell me that you can completely hand it off to a programmer to do the calculations? Not so much.

Also, there are a few things I should clear up about becoming a game designer...

If you absolutely, truly, with all your heart want to become a game designer, you have to realize that you have a 1% chance of starting off in that position. Technically, that position doesn't completely exist, but eh. Being the designer is a very long road, meaning you can be absolutely sure you'll be working in another position for a good time. Level designer, artist, programmer, tester (I don't reccomend that), etc. etc. etc.

In other words, it's pretty much required that you excel in one aspect of game development. If you're good at math, learn some programming. If you're an awesome artist, sit down and fool around with Max, Maya, and Photoshop.

I hope that's what you mean by game design.

What exactly do you mean by game designer though? I've always been under the impression that anyone who could do one of the jobs in game development (level designer/programmer/ect.) could be considered a game designer.

BTW, thanks for all the insight guys.

[Blank]

Well actually she just said "you don't want to see my grades for calculus" but I guess that tells me it wasn't very good...



What exactly do you mean by game designer though? I've always been under the impression that anyone who could do one of the jobs in game development (level designer/programmer/ect.) could be considered a game designer.

BTW, thanks for all the insight guys.

Of course, you're absolutely right. I was just assuming you meant that you wanted to become a lead designer. I've heard it so many times before that I thought you meant the same thing. Figured I would clarify it anyway.

[GH33DA]

What exactly do you mean by game designer though? I've always been under the impression that anyone who could do one of the jobs in game development (level designer/programmer/ect.) could be considered a game designer.

http://www.gamasutra.com/features/game_design/19981211/get_started1.htm
(Read the whole thing.)

BTW - Everyone, please refrain from name calling. After all, that only makes JT look right.