so i have been think about my life lately. i don't know if the path i chosen is the right one for me. should i stray from this path and go on a different path? school hasn't been on my mind either. i feel i'm wasting my parent's money,but i want to go back and finish my first college. i'm running out of options and time. i still haven't found a career i want to get into. what should i do? stay on this path and eventually finish college or stray and do something else.

Do research first, n if you find something that super amazing like holy shit i wanna do this no matter how much i have to learn, go back to college. If not, get some degree that is useable in almost any job

well i want to go into video game design, but my parents are against it. it's something i want to do for awhile

>>3 No one else should have any real say in what you want to do. If you were gay, would you turn straight just because your parents were against the idea?

Don't do video game design, just because you want to. Get a stable career, or at least options for one, and then learn it on the side as a hobby.

For one thing, it's harder than it looks. For another thing, it takes more effort than one would expect. For a third thing, generally 90% of the people that "want to go into video game design" find that they really don't, shortly after committing.

Want to code games? Go into computer science.
Want to make graphics? Go into graphic design.
Want to write plots and characters? Take writing courses.

Never just take "video game design" unless you are 100% certain you know what you're getting into. And no, don't assume you do, either - chances are, you don't.

>>5 I have to agree with this actually. I've been studying to become a programmer and it has started to become a real hassle because it takes a lot of dedication just to keep up with the lessons once you get to the higher classes. I had to change my major to finance due to the constant headaches I was getting. If you truly wish to design games, then the best of luck to you, but if you have doubts, then I'd suggest looking at other possibilities first.

>> Neku
I think were having the same problem, but Im not in college yet Im a senior and dont know what to do. I tell everyone Im going to college, but I just dont know. My sister says im not going to do anything with my life and that makes me upset. But this is what i think of your problem you should finish college not just leave i mean your already there and from there thik of what to do then. good luck and i hope you slove your problem. And I hope I solve mine.

>>1
I personally think,Neku, that you should continue your college career, for now but if another career pops up in your life that you really enjoy then i say, Go for it!!! but whatever you choose, don't have any regrets!!! you only live life once!!

why should i not go into video games. it's something i want to do.

Look at it this way: You're in no rush. Why jump into something you have very little understanding of when you have perfectly viable options and backup plans laid out in front of you already?

Take it easy. Don't throw everything into a gamble if you don't have to - you can easily build the foundation for becoming a video game designer over time. There's no reason to narrow your options due to a feeling.

This is the same with other fields, like art. Would you decide to become an artist when you haven't ever drawn a picture in your life? You might start taking classes, but would you restrict yourself to something you don't even know you want to do?

I'll say this again, and believe me when I say it isn't just condescension.

You do not know what the video game industry entails.

The general image people get is, a guy sits in front of his computer, tablet in hand, designing and coming up with characters, plots, and game aspects, maybe with a team of developers in a room. The job is fun, and whenever they get an idea, they implement it immediately.

This is wrong.

In the video game industry, unless you're an indie developer, working for a company means you do grunt work. Only the higher-up employees of the company have any say in the creative aspect of it, and most of the employees are tasked with debugging code and making things work right - like fixing the UI, or tweaking minor bits of the animations.

And if you're an indie game developer, chances are, you did not start off as a video game designer. Even the most prolific indie game developers have/had some kind of real job, in case their game didn't take off - it would be conceited to do otherwise. In fact, most indie games started off as side projects in the first place. I don't think any of them were made with the 100% certainty that it would be able to sustain the creator as a full-time job.

This is something you should think about rationally.

I agree with the others. You already spent some time in college, but I feel that you have been very closed minded about the concentration you are in. Rather, finish up your GEs and take a few upper division courses to really get the "taste" of your major. Just give it a chance. If it is really something you hated from the get-go, then change. But I wouldn't advise just jumping into "video game designs." Rather change into something more practical like business, health-sciences, computer science, engineering, etc. And then take on "video game design" as a side job. Getting a stable career will help fund your interest at heart.

I've been in your shoes. I was really upset when my parents wouldn't let me go directly into fashion & design school. I gave biology & biochemistry a shot. Now, I really do enjoy this subject and cannot picture myself in another field. It's a frustrating subject to some - but it is really interesting (even fun) to me. However, in the future, I still plan on doing some design/fashion on the side - just to keep my hobbies alive.

it's either video games or become a cop. as much as i want to protect the citizen in my town i don't know if i can pull the trigger. maybe i should try to going back to music... maybe

now im thinking about giving up on college. i messed up at my last college. i try my best and get the concept in my classes, but i never kicks in outside of school or during testing. it sucks because it's been like that since 3rd grade. i feel worthless and so stupid at trying to do something i can't do.