Why make video games? / FAQ
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Why do I want to make games?
	Every since I started playing my Nintendo Entertainment System I have loved video games. I remember reading an article in 6th or 7th grade about a school devoted to making games that was up in Canada. This school was Digipen and I remember telling my mom wouldn't that be awesome if I could go to school there someday and make video games. Later as a freshman in High School I was in math class and had just gotten a TI-82. My friend showed me a game someone had made with it. I decided that was pretty cool and I wanted to try to make a game. So I learned how to program my TI-82 and created a text based adventure called "RELM". This game caught on at school and I had lots of people playing it and telling me how cool it was. I had found something I loved to do even more than play video games, program video games. This has been my motivation for coming to Digipen to learn how to program games. The hours can be long and grueling and the math can be intense but I can't think of something more rewarding or that I would rather do than make games. There is something about the feeling you get when someone else plays your game that makes it all worth it.
Inspiration
	There are a couple people that I look up to and have inspired me as a programmer. First of all Michael Abrash, I can't think of anyone who has written more articles, and given more of his time to help others learn to program. His articles are extremely entertaining, inspiring, and informative. I think his video presentation "Its great to be back" that he gave a couple game developers conferences ago summed up exactly why I am making video games. Tim Sweeney, John Carmack, all the great people at www.flipcode.com, www.gamedev.net, www.gamasutra.com and many others have all also inspired me on my quest to becoming a great game programmer.
What is Digipen like?
	Digipen is one of the most intense 4 year college programs you can take. We take 6 classes a semester. Most of my other friends at typical colleges are taking 3 classes. One of those classes is a game project class and let me tell you game projects take a lot of time to finish. If you look at the current game projects out there today in the real world most have huge budgets and can take 1-3 years to make. Now imagine trying to make one of these games in a typical semester or two (around 3 months in a semester) with 5 other classes. You begin to see the amount of work that needs to be put in. Most students Including myself get to Digipen at 10:00 am and leave when the security guard kicks us out at 10:00 pm. We even come in on Saturdays to try to get homework done. The 5 other classes that we are taking aren't fluff courses either. We take a lot of math, physics, and computer science courses. Don't get me wrong I love going to Digipen but don't think you will be coming here to play games.. making video games is serious business. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to be here and most of the people that started out with me didn't make it. To give you an idea, my class started with around 108 and there will be 10 or so of us graduating with the 4 year degree this year. Some people did take the 2 year degree and others didn't go summer semester but at least half our class dropped out after they found out how much work it is. Is it worth it? Definitely, I don't think I could have gotten a more focused education and learned all the skills I needed as quickly for the game industry going anywhere else. If you have the drive, dedication, and would love to make video games this is the place for you.