@WorldsWithin921 One advantage Digipen has over fullsail is its location, here in the magical land of Microsoft... land. There are a bevvy of game developers in Redmond and the surrounding cities, such as Valve, MGS, Monolith, Popcap, Zombie, and Arenanet just to name a few. Not endorsing the school, but the area isn't a bad place to be if you're looking for work in video games.
@WorldsWithin921 NEITHER. go to a real school. this school will take your money, grind you up, then leave you stuck with a piece of paper that means JACK SHIT. They prey on your childhood dream of one day making games for a living, never mentioning that your chances of getting that job is slim and when you do get it, you soon realize that job is all consuming. IF I CAN KEEP JUST ONE KID FROM GOING TO DIGIPEN I CAN FEEL LIKE A HERO.
Is this one of those educations where you work hard, do all-nighters, graduate, and then get to flip bugers for the rest of your life when you realize you won't get a decent job?
Or is it one of those educations where you work hard, do all nighters, graduate, and then go work for minimum wage at a few companies doing simple, mindless stuff, and then get to flip bugers for the rest of your life when you get older or want a higher salary?
I'm interested in the game design BFA but I'm unsure about the requirements. I know enough C++ to make some simple games and I love writing and philosophy, however I lack much skill in math. Without having flying colors for math grades, but animation 2D talent (I can confidently say mine looks better (smoother, cleaner) than some televised shows) I mean, I've been designing games from the ground up on paper for a long, long time, but does that mean anything without the pre calc classes?
@leseanpayne Accidentally erased some, but basically: Will I get accepted under the above conditions, or is it unlikely by their standards? Is this a college that accepts everyone, only a certain type of person, only people they like, or almost no one?
I'm enrolled in the BFA program and loving it. They just opened their new campus, and I'm pretty sure by now everybody's familiar with the success of Nabacular Drop and Tag-- projects that earned the student teams jobs at Valve. It's work, of course, that scene with the sketchbook kicking your balls off isn't an understatement. But it's teaching you how to reach a professional level of productivity, and it's something I'm glad I'm doing. Best of luck to anybody who's planning on attending.
I just endeavored a very long process of trying to get into Full Sail for the past 2 months now and it is now accurate to say that I am not going after all. The big reason why I am not going is because the school is too expensive. Then, I stumbled upon this school. I still need to do a lot of research but so far, I have heard decent things from this school, which is a good start. The most attractive thing I like is that it is fairly cheap and they are expanding at a steady pace.
@Sasuya Congrats! I heard thats a really hard one lol but anything is possible to achieve as long as you put your mind up to the task. Im gonna be flying over to Redmond for the Accepted Student Open House on April 16th, how about you? Im flying all the way from New Jersey its gonna be pretty crazy!
So are things better there now? I like art/level design but is this place any better? I've been in situations in HS where *I* had to teach my computer art teacher how to use a Mac AND Photoshop, then she has the nerve to give ME failing grades.
I just don't want to go through anything like that again. Either you're a teacher or you're not. You know what you're doing or you don't. That is my view. So if I am going to be PAYING I just wanted to know have they improved at all?
First thing you should note: College is not highschool. Second thing you should note: DigiPen isn't a school for people who aren't willing to work hard.
In my opinion, after conducting a 2 month college search, I found no school with a better reputation than this school.
I was actually considering applying there after I graduate this year. Either that or A.I. of Seattle. Judging from this I guess some people aren't happy there.
I guess I'll see for myself if its worth it. That's life; taking leaps of faith.
Im also between DigiPen and Full Sail.....but for me its even harder to know to wich school to enroll because Im not form USA =( anyway both are very good, but if I not wrong DigiPen is more expensive
I'm a current BFA junior and I can see why Taysrus isn't liking the BFA program. If he graduated last year, then that means he was in the very first BFA class at Digipen. The first BFA class was a bunch of guinea pigs and didn't get the best education they could have. Thanks to their input however, those of us who are currently in the BFA program are enjoying a much better education than our predecessors. I have no complaints about Adam or any of the other 3D faculty.
Well...the classes below us were all without Royal...and I cannot say that they have recieved a better education.
4 years later...things FINALLY seem to be turning around for the school. Besides...school is only 20% of academic education, 80% self education.
Wasn't too horrible of a place in retrospect I guess...had to have played some part in where I am today. However, I would take it with a grain of salt.
@1800TAYSRUS Agreed. There is so much to say to prospective art students. This is probably the biggest, in my book.
DP is for profit and nationally accredited. State schools, which are regionally accredited, will not take credits earned at Digipen. If you decide to leave, or if something like illness forces you to leave, you will be in massive debt and have to start over. The completion rate was about 56% last time I checked, so you are 44% likely to be one of those people. Choose carefully.
I graduated 3 years ago yesterday from DigiPen with a degree in Design. Design and animation are there strong points. Programming...Well, you can find the same education for less money but when companies see DIGIPEN on your Scholarship you can get a job easily. For instance: I currently work at Insomniac. I go the job two weeks after graduating.
This film is awesome and funny. Reminds me of some days when I had to do all-nighter because of so much work.
The school is an excellent place to go to if you want to be an animator. You can't find this kind of motivation anywhere else. Yes its true that the workload is very heavy, but overall, this is a fun school that very talented people can become better and the professors there are very smart.
as a graduate from digipen(game design) ill tell you that that school is more for designers. That's what Ive seen and that's what I've heard.....But all my friends that I had there (4!) got Programming scholarships and went on IMMEDIATLEY to big game companies
(2 to monolith,1 to valve,and 1 to EA/Bioware studio in Texas). Me? I currently work at Insomniac.
It really, really isn't. I don't know why TAYSRUS is on this anti-DigiPen escapade, but to call them wasteful is just downright ignorant. DigiPen has experienced industry veterans as faculty members, a high job placement rate, companies coming down every week to speak with students, and hasn't had a year where they haven't placed another trophy in their display cases. The well-renowned game Portal was even a product of DigiPen students.
I graduated with TAYSRUS and both of us have good jobs now, but we had to put up with A LOT of messed up bullshit along the way that had nothing to do with getting an education, and at times even hindered our progress. You don't know because you weren't there.
Most of what you are talking about has to do with the programming department which is completely separate from the art department.
On the contrary, I am there, and while I'm only a freshmen and have yet to delve into 3D, I'm friends with a handful of upperclassmen and they seem to have no complaints. Every now and then, sure, but not enough to call it a waste. But experiences vary from person to person, and I don't have any right to judge, really, being a first year, so I'll cease with the banter. I have some sketchbook work to do, anyway. (And they are indeed a kick to the nuts.)
UpbeatGasJunkie is on a pro-Digipen escapade. I like how you told us you're a freshmen and you're telling graduates that their opinion of the school is ignorant. Like trist said, the game development / engineer program is fantastic and wins lots of stuff, but the art program was f*cked while we were there and still has very experienced teachers teaching the WRONG classes. I taught myself 90% of what made me succesful.
@UpbeatGasJunkie Can you show me their job placement rate? How about their acceptance rate and drop out rate? for every "trophy" they add to their case there are dozens of kids out several thousands of dollars.
Animation is NOT one of the school's strong points. The art side of things is so beyond messed up right now and the higher ups are doing nothing about it.
I just had a meeting with them yesterday and there is no plans to change the Art programs path to oblivion. The ONLY good thing art wise that school will teach you is character/concept design, drawing, and painting. Their 3d department is almost one of the worst ones out there aside from Suzanne Kaufman, but again; they have GREAT traditional instructors there.
All of these rumors about the art dept being a complete wreck just baffle me, because as far as I can tell, they still have everything together, and I'm still continuing to see impressive work come out of the school, on both campuses. They've had to make some changes after opening the Singapore campus and launching a new degree, but hardly enough to throw the program into disarray.
You, however, are entitled to your opinion, but I'm consistently seeing quality work from the school.
I've definitely been enjoying the traditional stuff so far, and my upperclassmen friends are enjoying 3D stuff. Can you give some examples on why the 3D department is so bad?
@1800TAYSRUS after talking to nintendo, microsoft, bungie, and rockstar, they all said digipen is where to go for a game programmer. i dont know about the art side, but the programmer side is great.
Alrighty... I'm assuming they aren't sketches of whatever pops into your head... what kind of things do they have you draw? (I love drawing... though schoolwork strips me of developing it into anything beyond simple cartoons in my planner.)
And yes, it IS THE school I desparately want to go to (went to 2 summer workshops), but my family (and I) feel that if I -can- get to a good game design school with a scholarship paying most of it off, I should take the offer.
one of my roomates was an animator. HE says that the teacher gives you the basic game design and you work form there. Example: Draw a cowardly man that appears heroish.
Now is this because it's rigorous, like art-marine-corps rigorous, or like, they-just throw-too-much-work-on-you-and-you-don't learn-anything rigorous? If it's difficult I have no problem with a challenge I suppose XD...I really want to go here but I dont wanna get ripped off. Game-Design seems to be the biggest educational rip-off trend subject at the moment...*COUGH*westwoodcollinsdevry*COUGH*
Hoping to get here soon.
Sylverstone14 5 months ago
Which is worse? Digipen or Full Sail?
WorldsWithin921 7 months ago
@WorldsWithin921 One advantage Digipen has over fullsail is its location, here in the magical land of Microsoft... land. There are a bevvy of game developers in Redmond and the surrounding cities, such as Valve, MGS, Monolith, Popcap, Zombie, and Arenanet just to name a few. Not endorsing the school, but the area isn't a bad place to be if you're looking for work in video games.
cynicalcoffee 6 months ago
@cynicalcoffee thats a good point but i live in florida so full sail is much closer...buts its not like i have money to go to either school -___-
ive gotta find a way to make this happen
WorldsWithin921 6 months ago
@WorldsWithin921 NEITHER. go to a real school. this school will take your money, grind you up, then leave you stuck with a piece of paper that means JACK SHIT. They prey on your childhood dream of one day making games for a living, never mentioning that your chances of getting that job is slim and when you do get it, you soon realize that job is all consuming. IF I CAN KEEP JUST ONE KID FROM GOING TO DIGIPEN I CAN FEEL LIKE A HERO.
eromnis 4 months ago
@eromnis then consider yourself a hero
WorldsWithin921 4 months ago
Is this one of those educations where you work hard, do all-nighters, graduate, and then get to flip bugers for the rest of your life when you realize you won't get a decent job?
Or is it one of those educations where you work hard, do all nighters, graduate, and then go work for minimum wage at a few companies doing simple, mindless stuff, and then get to flip bugers for the rest of your life when you get older or want a higher salary?
ploothable 7 months ago
Don't get me wrong, I love art and video game design...
ploothable 7 months ago
I'm interested in the game design BFA but I'm unsure about the requirements. I know enough C++ to make some simple games and I love writing and philosophy, however I lack much skill in math. Without having flying colors for math grades, but animation 2D talent (I can confidently say mine looks better (smoother, cleaner) than some televised shows) I mean, I've been designing games from the ground up on paper for a long, long time, but does that mean anything without the pre calc classes?
leseanpayne 8 months ago
@leseanpayne Accidentally erased some, but basically: Will I get accepted under the above conditions, or is it unlikely by their standards? Is this a college that accepts everyone, only a certain type of person, only people they like, or almost no one?
leseanpayne 8 months ago
@leseanpayne all you need is money and a pulse* *(pulse optional)
eromnis 4 months ago
I'm enrolled in the BFA program and loving it. They just opened their new campus, and I'm pretty sure by now everybody's familiar with the success of Nabacular Drop and Tag-- projects that earned the student teams jobs at Valve. It's work, of course, that scene with the sketchbook kicking your balls off isn't an understatement. But it's teaching you how to reach a professional level of productivity, and it's something I'm glad I'm doing. Best of luck to anybody who's planning on attending.
VisualAsterisk 1 year ago
I just endeavored a very long process of trying to get into Full Sail for the past 2 months now and it is now accurate to say that I am not going after all. The big reason why I am not going is because the school is too expensive. Then, I stumbled upon this school. I still need to do a lot of research but so far, I have heard decent things from this school, which is a good start. The most attractive thing I like is that it is fairly cheap and they are expanding at a steady pace.
MetalShin0bi 1 year ago
I got in 8D
Sasuya 2 years ago
@Sasuya NICE!!! I got into the BAGD and will be enrolling fall 2010, how about you?
makaocloud 1 year ago
@makaocloud
I'll be going into the BFA =)
Sasuya 1 year ago
@Sasuya Congrats! I heard thats a really hard one lol but anything is possible to achieve as long as you put your mind up to the task. Im gonna be flying over to Redmond for the Accepted Student Open House on April 16th, how about you? Im flying all the way from New Jersey its gonna be pretty crazy!
makaocloud 1 year ago
I applied and am really hoping to get in :<
Sasuya 2 years ago
I AM GOING TOO :D
CuteLittleFoxy 2 years ago
I think youre retarded
yeailljake 2 years ago
I'm going there for college!
HardcoreGamer4Ever 2 years ago
i went there 4 a summer course 4 game design it was pretty fun id say
Zava40 2 years ago
Awesome
Dylanjraub 2 years ago
So are things better there now? I like art/level design but is this place any better? I've been in situations in HS where *I* had to teach my computer art teacher how to use a Mac AND Photoshop, then she has the nerve to give ME failing grades.
I just don't want to go through anything like that again. Either you're a teacher or you're not. You know what you're doing or you don't. That is my view. So if I am going to be PAYING I just wanted to know have they improved at all?
digitalimpulse 2 years ago
First thing you should note: College is not highschool. Second thing you should note: DigiPen isn't a school for people who aren't willing to work hard.
In my opinion, after conducting a 2 month college search, I found no school with a better reputation than this school.
CecilSunkure 2 years ago 10
I was actually considering applying there after I graduate this year. Either that or A.I. of Seattle. Judging from this I guess some people aren't happy there.
I guess I'll see for myself if its worth it. That's life; taking leaps of faith.
Samsam2992 2 years ago
are you going there too? i was considering going here too. at first i was going to go to full sail but something seems off about the school.
Logi30001 2 years ago
Im also between DigiPen and Full Sail.....but for me its even harder to know to wich school to enroll because Im not form USA =( anyway both are very good, but if I not wrong DigiPen is more expensive
jose2090 2 years ago
lolsacaust i love going to digipen
hellseige666 2 years ago
That damn sketch book... one of the the reasons I dropped out and went to the Art Institute instead.
3dsMattX 2 years ago
I'm a current BFA junior and I can see why Taysrus isn't liking the BFA program. If he graduated last year, then that means he was in the very first BFA class at Digipen. The first BFA class was a bunch of guinea pigs and didn't get the best education they could have. Thanks to their input however, those of us who are currently in the BFA program are enjoying a much better education than our predecessors. I have no complaints about Adam or any of the other 3D faculty.
brechan 2 years ago
Well...the classes below us were all without Royal...and I cannot say that they have recieved a better education.
4 years later...things FINALLY seem to be turning around for the school. Besides...school is only 20% of academic education, 80% self education.
Wasn't too horrible of a place in retrospect I guess...had to have played some part in where I am today. However, I would take it with a grain of salt.
1800TAYSRUS 2 years ago
@1800TAYSRUS Agreed. There is so much to say to prospective art students. This is probably the biggest, in my book.
DP is for profit and nationally accredited. State schools, which are regionally accredited, will not take credits earned at Digipen. If you decide to leave, or if something like illness forces you to leave, you will be in massive debt and have to start over. The completion rate was about 56% last time I checked, so you are 44% likely to be one of those people. Choose carefully.
cynicalcoffee 6 months ago
This totally tickled my taint, like a cactus tickles my anus. Sexcellent work.
Publicmethod 3 years ago
I would love to go to this school but it is in Washington and I am in Texas plus it is too much money.
jpgarcia6 3 years ago
I'm in Texas and going in 2010.
I have to work for a year though to get some sort of monetary staple.
Lecravian 2 years ago
haha forrest, i remember him!!
SmackThatMoNkEy13 3 years ago
I graduated 3 years ago yesterday from DigiPen with a degree in Design. Design and animation are there strong points. Programming...Well, you can find the same education for less money but when companies see DIGIPEN on your Scholarship you can get a job easily. For instance: I currently work at Insomniac. I go the job two weeks after graduating.
xsvmaster 3 years ago
ASWOME, so u are working on resistance 2?
richieboyland 3 years ago
I graduated from Digipen last year with a degree in programming, and that place is definitely a kick in the nuts...
tryoon 3 years ago
This film is awesome and funny. Reminds me of some days when I had to do all-nighter because of so much work.
The school is an excellent place to go to if you want to be an animator. You can't find this kind of motivation anywhere else. Yes its true that the workload is very heavy, but overall, this is a fun school that very talented people can become better and the professors there are very smart.
akroma696 3 years ago 5
really why?P im sooo scared cuz im studying law school rigch now and i dont know anything about this and i forgot everything elese
richieboyland 3 years ago
I wish I cold go to digipen.
jotalegend 3 years ago
No you don't.
The school really has no direction and is more wasteful than educational.
1800TAYSRUS 3 years ago
wait please tell me more i want to go to digipen cuz i wanna create tell me why not
richieboyland 3 years ago
as a graduate from digipen(game design) ill tell you that that school is more for designers. That's what Ive seen and that's what I've heard.....But all my friends that I had there (4!) got Programming scholarships and went on IMMEDIATLEY to big game companies
(2 to monolith,1 to valve,and 1 to EA/Bioware studio in Texas). Me? I currently work at Insomniac.
xsvmaster 3 years ago
It really, really isn't. I don't know why TAYSRUS is on this anti-DigiPen escapade, but to call them wasteful is just downright ignorant. DigiPen has experienced industry veterans as faculty members, a high job placement rate, companies coming down every week to speak with students, and hasn't had a year where they haven't placed another trophy in their display cases. The well-renowned game Portal was even a product of DigiPen students.
UpbeatGasJunkie 3 years ago
I graduated with TAYSRUS and both of us have good jobs now, but we had to put up with A LOT of messed up bullshit along the way that had nothing to do with getting an education, and at times even hindered our progress. You don't know because you weren't there.
Most of what you are talking about has to do with the programming department which is completely separate from the art department.
tristimulus 3 years ago
On the contrary, I am there, and while I'm only a freshmen and have yet to delve into 3D, I'm friends with a handful of upperclassmen and they seem to have no complaints. Every now and then, sure, but not enough to call it a waste. But experiences vary from person to person, and I don't have any right to judge, really, being a first year, so I'll cease with the banter. I have some sketchbook work to do, anyway. (And they are indeed a kick to the nuts.)
UpbeatGasJunkie 3 years ago
UpbeatGasJunkie is on a pro-Digipen escapade. I like how you told us you're a freshmen and you're telling graduates that their opinion of the school is ignorant. Like trist said, the game development / engineer program is fantastic and wins lots of stuff, but the art program was f*cked while we were there and still has very experienced teachers teaching the WRONG classes. I taught myself 90% of what made me succesful.
extrahoppsy 3 years ago
@UpbeatGasJunkie Can you show me their job placement rate? How about their acceptance rate and drop out rate? for every "trophy" they add to their case there are dozens of kids out several thousands of dollars.
eromnis 4 months ago
@richieboyland You don't need digipen to create.
eromnis 4 months ago
Computer Engineering
Animation
Game Design
Those are there strongpoints. Programming can be found cheaper else where for cheaper prices.
xsvmaster 3 years ago
Animation is NOT one of the school's strong points. The art side of things is so beyond messed up right now and the higher ups are doing nothing about it.
1800TAYSRUS 3 years ago
I just had a meeting with them yesterday and there is no plans to change the Art programs path to oblivion. The ONLY good thing art wise that school will teach you is character/concept design, drawing, and painting. Their 3d department is almost one of the worst ones out there aside from Suzanne Kaufman, but again; they have GREAT traditional instructors there.
1800TAYSRUS 3 years ago
All of these rumors about the art dept being a complete wreck just baffle me, because as far as I can tell, they still have everything together, and I'm still continuing to see impressive work come out of the school, on both campuses. They've had to make some changes after opening the Singapore campus and launching a new degree, but hardly enough to throw the program into disarray.
You, however, are entitled to your opinion, but I'm consistently seeing quality work from the school.
UpbeatGasJunkie 3 years ago
I've definitely been enjoying the traditional stuff so far, and my upperclassmen friends are enjoying 3D stuff. Can you give some examples on why the 3D department is so bad?
kayonakim 2 years ago
@1800TAYSRUS after talking to nintendo, microsoft, bungie, and rockstar, they all said digipen is where to go for a game programmer. i dont know about the art side, but the programmer side is great.
truepridejb 11 months ago
HAHAHAhahahahahahahahahahaa.....ahahah...a.....*fall*
Dugrall 4 years ago
SO true!
teentara 4 years ago
i look at the dp logo and what pops into my head is that Boy George song, "Do you really want to hurt me" It's too much.
3iD0LoN 4 years ago
Ho ho. Oh yes, I remember ol' Abbott well.
Jcolinsol 4 years ago
Ha ha, I heard about that whole thing the second summer session I had at digipen... it's like, 40 sketches a week?
Anyway, does digipen accept any scholarships or not, because I REALLY want to go there...
CleaveTheDragon 4 years ago
40 sketches a week? Ahahaha. Try 50 pages. And that's only first semester; second semester it's 100 pages.
As far as I know, DigiPen does not offer scholarships. It's a great school, though, and if you want to improve you should definitely consider it. :)
LumiHeihou 4 years ago
Alrighty... I'm assuming they aren't sketches of whatever pops into your head... what kind of things do they have you draw? (I love drawing... though schoolwork strips me of developing it into anything beyond simple cartoons in my planner.)
And yes, it IS THE school I desparately want to go to (went to 2 summer workshops), but my family (and I) feel that if I -can- get to a good game design school with a scholarship paying most of it off, I should take the offer.
CleaveTheDragon 4 years ago
one of my roomates was an animator. HE says that the teacher gives you the basic game design and you work form there. Example: Draw a cowardly man that appears heroish.
xsvmaster 3 years ago
That fucking sketchbook.
CleaveTheDragon 4 years ago
Woo! our last year! I can't wait to get out of DP and get like, a jeeeeeeeeoooorb.
MaskedMadHatter 4 years ago
do u mean that digipen is extremely hard?
Qyama 4 years ago
Are you being sarcastic or serious?
MaskedMadHatter 4 years ago
im serious man , why?
Qyama 4 years ago
That year in particular was probably the most hellish! DigiPen will make you crack under the pressure.
MaskedMadHatter 4 years ago
only the BFA program ?
Qyama 4 years ago
Umm, no. Several people drop out in the RTIS as well, especially at the end of the second year.
MaskedMadHatter 4 years ago
Now is this because it's rigorous, like art-marine-corps rigorous, or like, they-just throw-too-much-work-on-you-and-you-don't learn-anything rigorous? If it's difficult I have no problem with a challenge I suppose XD...I really want to go here but I dont wanna get ripped off. Game-Design seems to be the biggest educational rip-off trend subject at the moment...*COUGH*westwoodcollinsdevry*COUGH*
ArcangelZero7 3 years ago
Nice Job!!! Digipen is truly showing its colors... through its students ;^)
namar777 4 years ago
I like how the sketch book looks like "Bill" from School House Rock.And the cartoon version of Forest couldn't be better.Great jarrrrbbbbb.;)
jjjjjjenniebond 4 years ago
I saved this to my pen drive when it showed up in the public folder, and I show it to all the new freshmen I meet. :) I'm going to miss Abbott.
LumiHeihou 4 years ago
damnt I will miss abbott :x
ff7redxiii 4 years ago
Too bad Abbott is leaving... or is that a good thing?
DarkMeasures 4 years ago
I graduated from DigiPen this year. I am gonna continue my Masters too in DIT.
JPH85 4 years ago
Hey! I Know Forrest!! He taught me in progectfun animation level 1!!! He's not THAT crazy...
PWN3GE 4 years ago
Ha ha hee, hoo. Can't wait to go.
mistamustard 4 years ago