Firstly. Before I say anything the point I?m about to make is not at the fault of the AIE, the fact that they are trying to support there students in so many ways is commendable. This is a technicality on the banks part.
Last year when I found out that the AIE was now supported by a student loan scheme by the national bank I was rapped, This loan defers payment until the course is completed. if I could get this loan that would mean I?d have more time to spend on the AIE and outside self teaching to assist myself into getting into a video game company at the end of the two year course. Instead of spending three days a week working full time at Coles?
So I went to the bank to enquire about the loan, I?m glad I did because it comes with one condition that can stop so many people in there tracks.
YOU REQUIRE A GARENTOR WHO ?OWNS LAND OR IS PAYING OFF A HOME? AND IS WILLING TO PUT THAT ON THE LINE FOR YOU.
Now..call me crazy.. But I live in a poor circumstance and I know of no one who ones a house.. Tough luck for me.. No land.. No loan. It?s about as clear cut as that.
The point I?m making is.. if applying for a loan like that.. isn?t it safe to assume you might live in a family that doesn?t have much collateral or fianc? to begin with?
I now dub thee loan sir useless oxymoron
what did i do.. more what am i doing.
I'm saving every dollar i earn from coles at the moment. hoping to get around $3000 start up for the AIE course.. then i'll have to get a job on the other 3 days that im not studying at the AIE to pay off the rest.. and beg, borrow and steal form my parents to help in times that my job just wont cut it...but as poor as they are..that wont be alot.[:D]
none the less..it'll sure be an interesting two years [xx(]
Stick at it dude. Seriously if you earn your own way - youll appreciate it alot more, and give it one heck of a shot when your there. Youll also laugh as the % of younger folk whose parents paid for their entry, squander the opportunities, by mucking around and making a merry old time of it, leave half way through, not show up etc etc.
Hats off to you dude. [:)]
quote:Originally posted by tachyon
quote:so its AIE or nothing XD
why is that? (just curious)
Well mate. Many good reasons. Last year I went there to open day and had a look around. The Academy in Melbourne is only a few rooms on a high level of the Atari building but none the less most students there where nice people.. Normal people. And some where very passionate about games and the art for making games.. I consider that a big bonus. The culture there was great.
Secondly.. The AIE (not meaning to sound like a plug) goes out of its way to offer extra things to there students. For one there flexibility of payment options, another being that you could do three months work experience at one of the leading Australian designers while working there and get paid for it as well (but I?m assuming you gotta be really good for that) , for programmers there?s grants and all students get free admission into the AGDC.
Most of all, they evaluate your work and tell you what kind of studio you and the studio would most benefit having to work for. You might think of applying for one but getting a professional second opinion can only help.
From all the places I?ve researched? as far as Melbourne goes. The AIE seems to be the one with the closest ties to the industry.. I mean. If you know somewhere in Melbourne just as good. Please do tell :)
You can blame the government for ditching the old student supplementary loan scheme and watering down Austudy to the point of uselessness. It's not the bank's fault, they're doing business the way they always have and unfortunately that means you can't get a loan without some sort of security.
I worked my ass off in tech support to pay my first year at the AIE (3 months of 70 hour weeks, love that Y2K bug) and I worked my ass off at a few places including Coles to support myself while studying. I'm afraid unless you've got rich parents or a wealthy elderly relative you can knock off without anyone noticing, that's the way the cookie crumbles.
And to be honest, it really doesn't matter where you go to learn your stuff, as long as you learn your stuff. The AIE is good, but so are other institutions. The only real benefit the AIE has over others is free entry to the AGDC, everything else is just window dressing. The important thing is to put the work in both in and out of class, squeeze any industry types you meet for info, get your fingers into as many pies as possible (competitions, mods, whatever) and get involved with the industry community (which is what you're doing here).
Anyway, I'll just add my voice to those saying work your ass off and you'll do fine wherever you go.
quote:Originally posted by Bunny
And to be honest, it really doesn't matter where you go to learn your stuff, as long as you learn your stuff. The AIE is good, but so are other institutions. The only real benefit the AIE has over others is free entry to the AGDC, everything else is just window dressing. The important thing is to put the work in both in and out of class, squeeze any industry types you meet for info, get your fingers into as many pies as possible (competitions, mods, whatever) and get involved with the industry community (which is what you're doing here).
If it's anything.. I'm working as a volentary consept artist in my spare time and designing for a race on the upcoming MMORPG Legands of Aphila Online. i have no idea how seccesfull the game will be but i've worked my ass on it. XD
There are other institutes other than AIE, ya know that offer most of that stuff to.
Hazard you used to go to Qantm? Right.. and last year the qantm students took the award on their first entry in the AGDC independant game dev Awards..
But there is a catch you'd have to like brisbanites:D
Anyway.. If i had a choice to go back to college, i think i would go study at qantm for the oppurtunity to polish up my skills at the bare minimum. its a killer.
Gotta pay ya way somehow...
Anyway, I really envy the students going through places like Qantm and AIE, cause they have courses that i wanted to do, when i went to Uni, but they didnt exist. The oppurtunity's ou youngsters have these days is just fantastic.
I was in the same position as you Caroo, I lived in melb for ages but also wanted to go to AIE. Anyway I followed my partner to brisbane and just got settled in and heard about qantm but they also had the same thing as AIE when it came to payments.
Just recently I checked out the Careers expo here in brisbane and got talking to one of the qantm chicks apprently this coming intake which is in September they are implementing a Fee Help scheme which is basically HECS, im able to study and defer my payment through tax
if you want more info goto [url]http://www.qantmcollege.com.au[/url] and email them, I had the chicks email address to talk to her directly but I lost her card when I find it i'll let ya know.
So if your willing to make friends with queenslanders and risk your life on the roads by all means give qantm a shot
Hey all here is an AIE second year Mel student. I?m studying Game dev Art stream there. I was and still am in the same situation. I couldn't get the loan but hey last year I was working 3 jobs 2 cafes and my own web dev business. Now it?s been tough and but the AIE have been great also if none of the plans suit you can talk to them and organise your own payment plan. Firstly I must say that if you want to get into the game development the AIE would be the best in Mel. I have seen work from student at other Universities specializing in games in there multimedia course and we are miles ahead of them in terms of industry standards. Mind you im 28 this year I have been to uni and completed a cert 4 in multimedia web dev. So choosing AIE was a big decision and one I will never regret. You really find out about the Industry there. I have always wanted to get into games but didn't know how to go about it. So I have done this by myself and yes I appreciate it so much more. I have found that the students that there parents have paid for them aren?t really committed to course, but if your paying for it out of your own pocket then you are 200% committed. Also all your work is done on campus so no homework. This gives you time to work to make up the payments.
Also allot of the students are in your position.
I wouldn't hold back it?s a tough slog but if you really want it go and talk to them and they will work something out for you.
Another note I wanted to enroll at there Canberra institute 4 years ago, but it was the traveling thing I didn?t want to leave melb. The fact that they are situated in a hub of game dev companies is a Plus.
what shitted me during the diploma at qantm was the people that scored a scholarship and then bumed around and did nothing with the course - many comming out with little more than when they went in and some even quitting. i guess since you didnt pay for it it's not much of a loss to just drop it. but there were people that me who had to work crappy jobs all through the course to pay for it, and then put in a bloody good effort - it was an even greater anoyence for me becuase i was shortlisted for the scholarship but missed out, and was later told that i was very close to getting it. to see people jsut throw it away while i struggeled on was bloody irritating. at least some people i know made the most of their scholarships and one at least worked as hard, if not harder than many other people. and his work is looking awsome.
basically, to come to a point with this bitch: if you're not prepared to make the most of these courses then dont waste your time with them. it's fast and hardwork if you want to come out of it with indusrty level skills. and this goes particually to those who might get scholarships - if your nothing going to use them then leave them for someone who will.
quote:Originally posted by LiveWire
what shitted me during the diploma at qantm was the people that scored a scholarship and then bumed around and did nothing with the course - many comming out with little more than when they went in and some even quitting. i guess since you didnt pay for it it's not much of a loss to just drop it. but there were people that me who had to work crappy jobs all through the course to pay for it, and then put in a bloody good effort - it was an even greater anoyence for me becuase i was shortlisted for the scholarship but missed out, and was later told that i was very close to getting it. to see people jsut throw it away while i struggeled on was bloody irritating. at least some people i know made the most of their scholarships and one at least worked as hard, if not harder than many other people. and his work is looking awsome.
basically, to come to a point with this bitch: if you're not prepared to make the most of these courses then dont waste your time with them. it's fast and hardwork if you want to come out of it with indusrty level skills. and this goes particually to those who might get scholarships - if your nothing going to use them then leave them for someone who will.
And you worked hard at it and look at you now. Level moddler for krome studios.
it is true. hard work and determanation will get you places.
I agree 100 % The world is full of these stupid oxymorons.
Another is try getting 100 points of Identification to proove you are who you say you are, when you dont have 100 Points to begin with [;)] The stupid thing is that most of the major contributors to the 100 points, require 100 points of ID to aquire. Go figure.
The real question is, what do you do about it ?