Does the Game Institute have a good reputation?

[MrPhil]

Does anyone have any knowledge or first hand experience about http://www.gameinstitute.com? I was thinking of trying out one of their classes. They aren't free but reasonably priced if they teach you valuable skills and their reputation is good enough to put the classes on your resume.

I stumbled upon the website because they are starting a gamedev contests tomorrow.

[arex]

As long as I'v been around I haven't heard anything from it.

So I see two choices :

a) It works and there is nothing to complain.
b) No one or only a few have used it.

Don't know really.

[MrPhil]

I signed up and have finish the first two lesson in the first CPP module. It's been a refresher for me, but I've learned a few things I didn't realize.

The book is well written and I think someone new to programming would actually learn C++. I especially like how concepts and exercises are put in game terms or explained how they are useful to games. I think is it a great way to motivated someone to learn 'boring' concepts because you can see their value. I also see how doing the course work is going to build a portfolio of very useful code and demo projects. This is the part I am most excited about and feel is missing from my personal experience. I'll report back form time to time.

It is also worth noting the courses count as undergraduate level college credits, Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and Professional Development Hours (PDHs).

[arex]

Thanks for the valuable information.

Maybe people should try it out after all.

[MrPhil]

Since I started this thread I feel safe as I go completely off topic...

Arex, I looked at your site and I really like the look of it except for one piece. So I hope you don't mind if I rudely suggest a change even though I wasn't asked. I'm a wide screen browser viewer, meaning my resolution is 1440 X 900 and I view pages in full screen. When I look at your home page the center part looks great, neat, professional etc but the white bar around it hurts my eyes! So I highly suggest you change it to a less jarring color or background pattern.

[arex]

Thanks for the feedback! Yeah it really does, I can see it now, I just have somehow ignored it before.

[MrPhil]

Originally Posted by arex

Thanks for the feedback! Yeah it really does, I can see it now, I just have somehow ignored it before.

You are welcome! Glad I could help!

AAahhh.... much better, my eyes thank you.

[unclesam]

I think you can get the information that they'll provide for free from internet
if they are offering workshops then you must think else not

[MrPhil]

Originally Posted by unclesam

I think you can get the information that they'll provide for free from internet

I am sure this is true, but Game Institute offers a textbook, instructors, a community of students working on the same material, name recognition and most importantly for me: structure. In fact their reputation was the main thing I was trying to find out about. It appears they've been around for a few years, but aren't widely known. So their name recognition isn't much value right now, but that could change.

Originally Posted by unclesam

if they are offering workshops then you must think else not

Hmmm... I think some meaning got dropped in translation.

[Ronin]

I'm currently a student at Game Institute myself, and I must say they're really good.

I've been digging around the net for any information about them, and all I can find is general skepticism against them. But that's just cause none of the skeptics has tried any of their courses in the first place.

Most of those I see on forums saying that they're gonna try GI anyway, even though most people don't think they are too good, end up staying at the GI. Just goto the GI forums and you will see how much we students actually enjoy the courses

And as Phil here says, the books are really well written and do a good job of putting the material into context, making it a lot easier to grasp.

So if you ask me?
I recommend them warmly!