Value of the Game Institute Courses

Question

I'm considering purchasing courses from Game Institute, specifically, the Foundation Studies Package. Has anyone here taken their courses? If so, do you feel they are a good value? If you can, please be specific as to what you benefited from them, and their strengths and weaknesses.

Though I am most interested in reinforcing computer science fundamentals with respect to game development, I would also like to know if the material is relevant to today's technologies.

I'm especially interested in responses from working professionals who have taken their courses or reviewed their materials.

Background: My work week is spent mostly with SQL Server ETL and some C# web forms development. I have ideas for 2D and 3D platformers, but I don't have the skills to build them to completion yet.

TIA!

Answer 1

I'll give my input since I've used their package before (and no, I'm in no way affiliated with them). You may have noticed that they're currently having a sale where for 99$ you get access to most of their content across a lot of different topics. For instance:

• C++ Programming for Game Developers - Module I and II
• Graphics Programming with DirectX 9 - Module I and II
• Game Mathematics and Math Primer
• Artificial Intelligence for Game Developers
• Introduction to Robotics
• Video Game Console Design

I honestly believe that for that price, that's one of the best deals of this kind I've ever come across.

I haven't completed all of the courses yet, but from what I've seen so far, the amount of content and detail packed into each of them is at least as high as most books you could buy for each individual topic. For instance, just the textbook/workbook for the first DX9 Module is over 1000 pages long, and that's not including the actual presentations which also have a full voice recording.

I've also found the content to be very complete and useful. For instance, about 3 years ago, right after working through the first few lessons (including the workbook chapter) of the graphics programming module, I stepped away for a moment and implemented my first basic 3D graphics pipeline from scratch (on an old 2D Javascript Canvas) with the things I had learnt. I think that was probably the first time matrices and transformations really started making sense to me.

To put it shortly, I believe that the value in this case (for the 99$ deal) is ridiculously high for the amount of content you'll get. I've built up quite a large library of game developments books over the course of the past few years, and this package still ranks up there on the list as one of the best investments I've made.

The only drawback I see is that the courses (at least the ones I have) are mostly aimed at beginners, and are a bit outdated in terms of dealing with some more recent techniques. But that's usually the sort of thing you will only learn after reaching a more advanced level anyway, so the courses serve as an excellent starting point from beginner to intermediate level. Although more recent techniques are being researched every day, the basics still apply so in my opinion all of these courses are still very relevant.

Edit

I just noticed the following disclaimer on the site:

Advanced Graphics Programming with DirectX course content (coming 2012)

So I think that will probably address the concerns on my last paragraph.

Answer 2

I haven't taken their courses, nor am I a professional game developer, so take this as it is. I'll try to keep this concise.

Basically, these courses focus on specifics, like graphics, etc. Like my comment mentions, game dev is a whole bunch of stuff -- how to design a game, polish it, play-test it, etc. etc. and you won't learn that from any course.

I'm a believer in trial by fire, i.e. learn by making it; that's the best way to learn all this "other" stuff.

But then again, if you have a specific learning need (like GPU graphics in C++), and you find a course on that, great.

Answer 3

I wouldn't place much emphasis on these courses, I've done them all. It's WAY more beneficial buying the highest rated text books off Amazon or ask for more recommendations and starting to code a game yourself in whatever manner you wish.

Simply put, the courses aren't bad themselves, but they aren't worth the money either.