Train2Game distance-learning courses open to all, with Tiga to aid in course development
UK games industry group Tiga is set to become the awarding and examination body for Train2Game’s distance-learning courses.
The two current Train2Game (T2G) courses – covering the areas of programming and game design – are intended to provide necessary training for those who want to enter the games industry specifically if they have no related university qualifications.
Tiga will now contribute to the development of the courses, while some of the body’s members have the opportunity to give guest lectures for students. Tiga will be giving input on examination content, as well as award a Tiga-accredited diploma to individuals who successfully pass the exams.
“The best trade associations award their own qualifications and provide training to help meet their members’ needs and to improve skills in their respective industries,” said Tiga CEO Richard Wilson.
“The T2G courses are designed by the industry for the industry and are relevant to current industry needs,” he added. “Individuals who take the qualifications and pass the exams should be fit to work in a developers’ studio.”
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“By working with T2G, will be taking practical action to help deal with the skills shortages that hold back the UK games industry.”
The courses are not easy and, like all qualifications, don’t guarantee employment. They are however open to anyone, and allow students to study in their own time from home. Enrolling will cost around £4,960. A third T2G course, covering the field of art design, will arrive by March next year.
Brilliant!
All Train2game have to do now is actually respond to enquiries about their courses.
Go to: forum.train2game.com
they are fast in answering stuff and can a response to you quickly
This looks like a cynical attempt to make money by TIGA. Raising people’s aspirations of a career in the games industry, If you think this is a bit harsh check this quote from the Train2Game web site …..
“So, if I'm not a programmer, if I can't draw and don't know anything about 3D modeling and if I can't write the music, what can I do?”. The answer is: you create! You are the source that gives all other team members the bases to the process of creating a game.”
I’m used to seeing this **** spouted by tin pot universities desperate to get on the games education bandwagon, but seeing it from a TIGA backed course in unbelievable. Skillset have spent years developing a rigorous accreditation process and then TIGA give their backing to this commercial outfit without even looking at the website as far as I can see. I hope the money they are getting is worth it, because this can’t do their reputation as an organization who is promoting the games industry any good.
What's interesting is the FAOs TIGA has put up on its website. "Opportunities abound", apparently. Given that TIGA is MEANT To speak for the UK games industry, that's not REALLY true. And if you do the Train2Game course you're up against people from the likes of Teeside and Abertay.
Seems like a money making exercise to me.
I scheduled a meeting with t2g representatives and they sent someone to my house who had obviously never played a game in his life and practically rifled my pockets for cash on the spot! He left me feeling violated! I'm sure the course is useful but the strong-arm tactics ought to put anyone off! Be wary!!
I had the same. The guy was rude, even admitted he didn't know what he was talking about, kept confusing C++ and C#, was constantly trying to read from the handouts and he never listened or kept cutting me off answering his questions.
The course itself seems ok, but I asked this sales rep "why should I do this course instead of studying at home by myself?" and he couldn't answer it.
This is my entire thinking. The course seems ok as it fills in the fundamentals of game design but any decent game design book like Schreiber and Braithwaite's Challenges for Games Designers or Fullerton's Game Design Workshop will also teach you these skills and for only £50 for both not the £5,000 price tag that this course comes with. The other skills that they teach i.e. using level editors, 3D modelling, digital prototyping can all be learned via free internet tutorials and the software is also free. So what is the point?
I also asked which games companies accept this new accredited diploma and again he couldn't answer it. If this course is really worth it TIGA should really check that the people that Train2Game actually send round are credible because they're not doing a good job filling prospective candidates with confidence.
Lastly, despite stating that they have links with OPM, on the trial DVD I was shown the OPM rep doesn’t guarantee that you will get a job in the games industry after all this money and time. You could just end up working in the same job that you were doing alongside the course.
As I asked earlier (and am still waiting for an answer), why should I do this course instead of studying at home by myself?
Kayleigh, to be fair to OPM no-one can guarantee a job after ANY course.
At the same time though, I think the course is being presented as something that's being run with the support of the games industry, and it's not - it's too new for that. I actually first heard about it from a client, who was asking what it was all about. They'd only just heard of it themselves, no-one had approached them about it, about the content or about providing external examiners etc. And they are one of the biggest developers in the country.
If you do this course, you're still competing against people from Abertay and Teeside, among others - and the fact is they'll almost certainly get first dibs as their courses are established.
In their FAQs TIGA say that "opportunities abound" for graduates of this course. Given that they're MEANT to represent the UK development scene, then that statement is utter *******s - there are already too many junior designers leaving uni and not getting into the industry - this will just add more.
I wouldn't do it - can't imagine it'd teach me anything I couldn't learn with some books and involvement in a decent mod team. And I'd save £5k.
Lastly, remember this: until January, the company behind Train2Game had Jane Telensky as a director: the same guy (Jan Telensky) behind SkillsTrain:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2008/10/the_skills_training_thats_off.html" onclick="window.open ( this.href ); return false;" class="comment_url" >http://www.bbc.co.....html
Shame on TIGA - they obviously haven't thought this through.
I'm glad I found this, they tookmy details but i haven't paid or signed anything I might give it a go for a month or two to see if it's genuine. I'm gonna ask if there is a cancellation fee the only thing that sounds good about tis course is the direct connection to the games industry but what is the alternative, college, uni
hi iam from cyprus and i want to ask to send me information about this courses PLEASE answer me in my email thank you very much
If you are concerned about the business practices of these companies there is a petition here :-
petitions. number10. gov. uk Skillstrain
Had a rep around today after filling in the deatils on thier website, had expected an info pack so was kind of left reeling, she seemed to know what she was on about but i was kind of put on the spot at the end, that i had to sign up there and now no chance to think about it. I gave in and sigend up but i had forgotten that i cant afford thier monthly payement scheme as i forgot about an expenditure. Now im going to have to cancel and i feel real bad about it.
responding to a add in the local paper,i thought my future was suddenly looking brighter. a rep came to my home and started giving me hope of a decent career,then the pressure to sihgn on the dotted line came,it all sounded fantastic untill i ran past my dad,end of story,i had told the rep i was unnemployed this did not put him off,still the pressure,when he had left i realised that i had sighned a loan aggrement for over £4,ooo and had to repay it at £136.00 over 36 months, i only recieve £49.00 a week unemployment. i thuoght that i may be eligible for a govermet grant but the firm are not registered with the l.e.a. so that was a dead end.my advice is be very wary and go for a open university course which offers better qualifacations and probably better job prospects,thease people are wolves in sheeps clothing,as my dad put it.
Hmm is It a Scam? Is it not a Scam? can anybody give an answer?? Has anybody any proof??... Nope didn't think so!
I have very recently joined T2G on the game designer course and am still feeling a little bit uneasy about it but also very excited. The sales rep was a complete nonce couldn't answer many of my questions, but luckily for me there where 2 of them, one advisor for me and the other guy was supervising the noncey sales rep and the 2nd guy new more about the course then the rep he was as straight as an arrow and was a genuine fellow, while the rep sounded well... like a rep, i mean what do you expect from a salesmen.
But, i am a big boy and old enough to make my own decisions, (it is definitely advised to have someone with you when they come a knockin though).
Anyway when i get started with the course ill start recording some sort of diary blog thing! Maybe T2G is good, maybes its bad, who knows? I'm gonna take the risk, but i think its way to early for anyone to know much about the company at this point. I will keep people informed about my course. And then hopefully i can answer some questions. At the mean time check out you tube and the T2G Forum to see what some of the T2G students have to say about it.
Cheers.
just spoke with them, they came, 2 of them, one gave me stuff the other spoke with me and they were well cool! no hassle friendly, knew about games, IM READY TO START THIS THING!
They didn't force my mum to pay, they asked if she's willing. :) Maybe the guy/s you lot had were just grumpy, IM READY TO START THIS THING! :D
Train full of Cowboys if you ask me.
Dont understand how they havnt lost their Trading Licence after what happened with Skilltrain.
Beep Beep! All aboard!
Fucking Heist.
Train2game students are more like hostages from what I've heard.
Good luck all.
In the last 7 months I have requested information on courses 3 times from train2game for some of our staff as yet still waiting a response, we had one of the prospective students try to call them, still we have received no response, to be honest even if the company in question had replied with an apology and stated they are booked solid would have been something but alas no.
