Yes another thing related to QANTM and schooling and such.
Anyways, the QANTM reviews I've seen here don't really come from Melbourne (I've seen maybe 2 at most?).
My mate went to their open days and she said the QANTM in melbourne without a doubt had better facilities compared to the one in sydney and that the teachers at melbourne qantm seemed like they cared for their student's education to her (but this is only from an open day).
Anyways, I was wondering whether I can get some feedback from people who went to QANTM in Melbourne and also those who went to RMIT.
For QANTM, the course I'm looking at is the Bachelor of Interactive Entertainment (with a major in Animation)
For RMIT, the courses I'm looking at are Animation and Interactive Media – Bachelor of Arts or Games Graphics Design – Bachelor of Arts [EDIT] or Digital Art - Bachelor of Arts
[EDIT] I want to become a 3D artist in either the film or gaming industry (it doesn't matter too much since the creation process isn't too greatly different between the two).
Any feedback will be much appreciated :)
These questions might help:
What were the teachers like?
Did they seem to care about your education?
Did they try and keep pushing you to become better?
Did they seem like they knew what they were talking about?
Were you happy with your course at the end?
Did they have the proper equipment to fit your needs?
Add in any additional information you want, the more the better.
Also do you think employers will take the qualifications from one place more seriously over the other?
Future thanks to you guys
Cheers :)
No one from RMIT?
Is there really nobody in this forum that has come from RMIT? I can't find much feedback from their "animation & interactive media" course or their "games graphic design" course :| Do you guys know another australian entertainment forum I can ask this question to at least?
Hey Tipatlong, I did the RMIT
Hey Tipatlong,
I did the RMIT course - Bachelor of Arts (Games Graphics Design). I graduated at the end of 2007; the first round of students to complete that course. I got a job at Infinite Interactive after about 6 months of looking for work, and also did some work for a small indie developer before that. When I arrived at Infinite there were another 4 of my former classmates working there, which was pretty good given that there were only 35 or so people working there at the time.
I also heard of a few other people getting picked up at a few other places like Tantalus and Torus. Having said all that, I know of plenty of people that never got a job that came from the course. For the most part though, the people that were really dedicated, and the ones that really impressed when they presented their work were the ones that got jobs.
To answer your specific questions:
What were the teachers like?
For the most part good. They all really cared and some had quite impressive credentials as digital artists, although none at the time I studied there had any video game industry experience, which was a touch concerning.
Did they seem to care about your education?
Yes.
Did they try and keep pushing you to become better?
Yes and no. They encouraged people to get better, but I think a lot of students realised that getting a pass mark in most of the subjects was far too easy, and just slacked off. At the end of the day, it is up to the student to keep motivated. The teachers will certainly support you if you are enthusiastic yourself.
Did they seem like they knew what they were talking about?
Yes, however in regards specifically to video games some had no clue; some did.
Were you happy with your course at the end?
Yes, I enjoyed the course and picked up a job. There were some problems with how it was run, although I would point out that a lot of changes were made (I hear for the better) after my class graduated.
Did they have the proper equipment to fit your needs?
Yes, 2 dedicated games studios reserved for the video game courses. This meant there was always a machine available for you to use, even if a class was running within the studio. They have both PC and Macs; PCs were used for game dev specific software (eg: Unreal Ed) whilst Macs were used for graphic design (Adobe suite, Maya). I think there may also be a 3rd studio now.
Judging from the courses you are looking into, it sounds like you are more interested in Animation? If that is the case I'd consider looking at the Animation and Interactive Media course. The Games Graphics Design course is really tailored more towards design and teaching you a really broad skillset as a base. We had a really good Animation teacher named Christian, but I only remember having him for 1 class of Maya. There was also another guy, Darren I think, who tought Flash and he was quite good.
-Tim
Thank you so much Tim!
Thanks a lot of writing that Tim! It helps a lot.
I actually want to become a 3D artist since I like sculpting with Zbrush quite a bit.
It seems that the teachers would be good there and the facilities would be even better now.
I'm leaning more towards taking the Bachelor of Arts (Digital Arts) which is also a games sector thing I heard, and from the course structure, there are some subjects that are also found in the games graphics design course (so knowing what some of the teachers are like really helps). Thanks again :)
I'm currently studying the
I'm currently studying the Bachelor of Interactive Entertainment (Animation) course and I'm really enjoying it so far. The lecturers all seem very knowledgeable and really take the time to help you out if you need it.
It seems the college has plenty of equipment and the library has some awesome resources. The biggest problem I've had so far is that there seems to be a lot of students who are here who just like to waste time and interrupt the class. I wish that the lecturers would stamp out this behaviour a bit more effectively.
If you're up for the challenge and work hard then its totally worth it.
-Laura
Hi there
I recently graduated from Qantm, Melbourne and can briefly share my experience doing the BA. programming stream side of things...
What were the teachers like?
Excellent. They are very experienced and many have been in the industry for some time. They also were very approachable, flexible and really encouraged you to excel.
Did they seem to care about your education?
Very much so. They really do want to see all students do well. Of course, many students were just there to waste time, but if you were very keen to get into the industry, you will do fine.
Did they try and keep pushing you to become better?
Yep. Again, you need to learn to push yourself in the end. Once out in the industry, you are going to have to drive yourself along to be the best at what you do.
Did they seem like they knew what they were talking about?
Again, yes. Some of their experience outside UNI life also crossed over and helped ' tailor ' some course material and fuel students to think about other real world aspects. It is amazing how true some of their ' in the real world... ' predictions have become ... :P
Were you happy with your course at the end?
Yep very happy. I found it was perfect place to get my grounding. Note that once you leave, you still need to work at it. It is the games industry after all, and cutting edge. But the skills and base that I gained helps me do the further work needed.
Did they have the proper equipment to fit your needs?
Initially, it was a little sparse on the equipment side (as I started when Qantm, Melbourne was newly formed), but I recently have been there and the machines and labs are awesome. Heaps of machines, free labs, both new macs, pcs etc.
Add in any additional information you want, the more the better.
Note that I did the Programming stream, but the above questions you asked relates to both.
I think that, for me at least, I really got a lot out of Qantm, Melbourne and the teachers were extremely supportive. Their industry contacts also helped, as I got my internship, and after leaving, have been getting work ever since. As well, as starting our own small games company ;)
Also do you think employers will take the qualifications from one place more seriously over the other?
Hard to say. Qantm is a dedicated games / multimedia name so perhaps that may help...
Good luck! All I can suggest is... if you want it badly enough - just do it. I would work on your stuff NOW before even getting to a UNI. With soooo many tutorials and resources at your fingertips on the Internet, you can get a head start and really be ahead of the pack when you land at the UNI of your choice.
All the best mate!! :)
Not a problem. Doing the
Not a problem. Doing the Digital Arts stream makes more sense then, and you're right; it is part of the Games group of courses, so you'll share quite a lot of classes with the Design students in particular, and also the Programmers from time-to-time. When I did the Design course there didn't seem to be much difference between the Design and Digital Arts streams, however I'd assume that has changed a bit over the last 4 years.
Just to make sure, this is
Just to make sure, this is melbourne yeah?
Sounds good, well except for that student problem, don't really understand why you'd pay so much money for a course you'd just waste time in :\ I know this is a random question, but are there much women in the school?
Thanks for the detailed reply!
Hey thanks so much for that detailed reply! It helps tremendously.
And yeah, I'm working on my skills now and been doing so for a couple of years (whilst I was in high school, just graduated) ;) Working on my sculpting skills in Zbrush now :)
I'd still like to hear more from other people if possible!
Second year
Hey Tipatlong, i'd be glad to help.
My name is Joe, im currently studying my second year of Bachelor of interactive entertainment, Animation at Qantm Melbourne....
And YES - there has been A LOT of poor reviews on this site from the past few weeks, with regard to the teachers, facilities and overall service provided. However, this has not been my experience of the uni thus far. The facilities are very good, and constantly getting better. ALSO i think things (over the next few years) will change a fair bit for the better... You see Navitas (Navitas is an Australian diversified global education provider offering pre-university and university programs for students with operations in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Asia and Africa) just bought Qantm and SAE.
As for your questions:
What were the teachers like?
For the most part, the lecturers are great. If you ask for help, you'll get it. They're all industry experienced.
Did they seem to care about your education?
Again, for the most part they do.
Did they try and keep pushing you to become better?
This one is a little strange... I dont think they do. If you're an artist i feel as though you push yourself everyday to become better. And i think its more the other students around you, and the vibe that motivates you do push... not so much the teachers. That's perhaps the best thing about the uni, the fact that you're not sitting at home all day, read books or watching dvds on your own... you're actually in there, working in a group, learning from your mates and getting directed by your teachers.
Did they seem like they knew what they were talking about?
Yep :)
Were you happy with your course at the end?
I'm not done yet, i'm half way through my first trimester of the second year. But im happy with where im heading.
Did they have the proper equipment to fit your needs?
Yes they do. And you can survive on their equipment... but i do recommend having ur own pc, tablet, materials etc :)
Oh and as for working on your sculpting skills in zbrush, we dont actually use zbrush at Qantm, we use Mudbox... HOWEVER, i use zbrush all the time with my work, and its not an issue. But if you're looking for zbrush specific training, Qantm isnt the place.
I'd love to see your sculpts some time, do you have a website or DA?
It is a fast course, and you'll find yourself doing much of the (hard) work outside of uni hours at home or on campus. Like some one said in another thread, you get out what you put in... and if you sit around saying Qantm isnt a uni, or the facilities are crap, or there's no chance of getting a job after.. then there's no point in even going to uni.
I hope this was helpful.
Extremely helpful Joe! I
Extremely helpful Joe! I found out the courses in rmit doesn't have any midyear intakes so I'll try to get in Qantm for midyear (I think it starts september) and if I like it I'll stay, if I don't I'll try to transfer :)
How hard is it exactly? I'm curious as to whether it's possible I do a business degree in vic uni at the same time (but part time to ease the load). The business degree I want from vic uni is the Bachelor of Business (Management / Marketing). Is it possible or would it just be too difficult?
So do they allow you to use Zbrush for your assignments if you have Zbrush at home?
As for my work, I'll post some of it up in a couple of weeks since I need to get my portfolio done, but it'll probably be in the GameArtisans forum, maybe polycount and maybe DA. If you have an account in any of those or an email I could let you know when I start posting my work up if you want :)
Melbourne Qantm Teachers
I was wondering whether anybody knew the names of the people who teach in Qantm melbourne's bachelor of interactive entertainment (with a major in animation) or if they know the link which shows me who the teachers are. Same for RMIT's Bachelor of Arts (animation and interactive media) course (I've decided that if I were to go to RMIT I'd prefer to do the animation course after looking through the course structures). Would be much appreciated :)
Hey Tipatlong, I study with
Hey Tipatlong,
I study with Joe at the Melbourne campus, and i must say, there is absolutely no way (and i hope i speak for all students) that you would be able to manage doing Qantm, as well as another degree on the side.
If you really want to excel, then you want to treat this degree as a full time job. I'm doing the Programming stream, so i cannot really comment on those aspects. But what i can say is that this degree is pretty hard, you really need to focus on your work. Now im not saying that you will be tied to your table 24/7, sure you can go out and have fun and still have your social life. But for the mots part of 2 years you will really need to settle down and treat this seriously. Far too many people drop out early, and even later on, because they lose focus and drop the ball.
hey thanks. Yeah I decided to
hey thanks. Yeah I decided to do the 2 year degree in qantm and then take a masters in marketing/management afterwards (also 2 years). I'm glad to hear that it's hard though. Makes it feel worth trying for more, knowing that you just can't slack off and all.
RMIT Lecturers
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse/;ID=EPSBP203P6AUSCY;STATUS=A#related gives you the three year level coordinators details. The BAAIM program is one of the best animation programs in Melbourne and it's very competitive to get a place. Helen Dickson is a graphic designer, Dan Torre is an animator (worked a lot in America, used to work on South Park) who also works a lot with compositing. and Mark Lycette is a designer/interactive/animator who is one half of Lycette Bros. http://lycettebros.com/
Your best bet of getting a reply from someone is to email baaim@rmit.edu.au
There are a number of other staff on board - film/video experts, script writing, even life drawing (which should be compulsory in any animation course). Be aware it is an animation program, not a games program, although you would have the opportunity to develop interactives in 2nd and 3rd year.
They also have an end of year screening at ACMI each year if you wanted to check out graduate work before you applied.
qantm
hi i am also a second year student at Qantm for the most part its OK but one thing I've discovered talking to a bunch of people myself is that no one is ever truly satisfied with the education they've received. It could have always been better and the teachers could have always done more to help you. Bottom line your an adult now and if you want to learn something your going to have to spend most of your time outside of uni researching topics your interested yourself regardless of which educational institution you choose. Personally i cant wait to get into the industry where the real learning begins.
Good luck
P.S. Take the advice given to you by Second Year (posted 22/32011)
Games Design
Hey everyone, im an aspiring video game designer, currently in Year 9 in melbourne.
Im wondering what you guys did in terms of Year 10 work experience ( i know it's not a big deal in terms of future career, but i would like to know what's available in it that relates to the industry). I know that most game devs in melbourne dont take work experience, and ive heard that QANTM does, any help on the matter would be appreciated.
Also, ive seen a lot of info on this thread about the animation-related courses, and a bit about the programming, but im wondering if anyone has majored in games design at QANTM (or done any other similar courses).
Im not sure which path to follow (animation, programming, general game design, etc)
Ive tryed basically all of them, experimenting with a range of programs such as SmallBasic, Python, SketchUp and GameMaker, and I'm also going to try out Java (specifically minecraft modding) and Unity.
If anyone could give me some info on the different pathways available to people looking to start a career in the industry, and what each would entail, it would be much appreciated.
Also any advice or tips would be great too.
Thanks
hey mate, as a current aussie
hey mate, as a current aussie designer the main thing these days is being bale to show you ideas as a playable demo or at the very least a well cut video.
Any programming/scripting ability will go a long way, you should probably concentrate on that over any artistic stuff if you want work as a designer.
Judging courses by employment stats may not be realistic in the current environment.
There are incredibly few graduate opportunities, (unless they start their own companies, which is cool) and these will go to exceptional students who would probably have excelled regardless of the course which they attended.
To put it another way: I doubt that there have be more than a handful of grads, country wide, who have found employment with studios in the past year. This tends to make a statistical sample unreliable.
Check out the skills you need to learn, and whether the courses you are assessing have people with professional experience in these.