In Academic Orientation I learned the basics of algorithm and the basics of programming using C++, and I was also introduced to what I’ll be facing within the major. When you join Game Application and Technology, you not only learn how to program or code for games… you will also be learning how to design a game, draw sketches and concept art, and a whole lot of other things required to create a game. But since GAT is under SoCS (School of Computer Science), I believe programming will still be the main focus.
Algorithm and Programming, I learned that algorithm is a sequence of orders–quite logical and simple, yet still a tad complicated in it’s own way–and that this is the base of programming for any programming language. Which means that if you’re able to master it, then you could write a program with any language provided you understand the differences and know the similarities. I was told some tips on how to write when programming to make sure you don’t forget to end brackets and that kind of stuff. It was all a nice experience, I don’t really care if I’ll be meeting math or physics again ’cause this time I know that the skills will be of help for doing what I want to do.
Design, this is probably the main reason on why I wanted to enter this major.(I believe t’was before AO that) we were given a task once to make like a game concept/design and we had to be quite detailed with it; title, genre, character design, everything! And I ended up overdoing it… I mean… I had to post three times with a total of almost 30000 characters… tell me that’s not overdoing it xD and that wasn’t even completely finished, I left some things out and there were stuff that weren’t even there yet, like some characters are still under the process of creation.
Art, I sucked at art xD there was one occasion in class where we were given a small assignment to draw a vehicle and a character sketch, and the results were no where near good enough to do justice for my character. *sad face* But at least the vehicle wasn’t as bad as I thought I’d draw it. *sigh*
Welp, that was my experience in AO~ I learned quite a lot in the programming side and I also got to develop some new ideas to implement to my dream game as well as some character backstory and lore, woot! xP