What should I study?

[krig]

I am very interested in becomeing a video game designer but Im not sure about where to go to school or what to study. Should I go to an art school and study video game design or go to a major university and study computer science?

What ever I end up choosing, the school I choose will most likely be near LA. Because I'll be close to many major studios, my current plan is to get a job as a tester during college to get my foot in the door. After college I hope to work as a game programmer and eventually try to become a lead designer.

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

[beemoh]

Learn programming- if the games course offers it, then by all means take that.

Nobody likes a games deisgner who isn't willing to- or worse, can't- get his hands dirty.

[GamesLaw]

Programming obviously. Take political science courses, especially things you can find on game theory and decision making. It can be critical to understand how players will rationalize a choice.

[Hannah]

Plain old computer science is probably your best bet. That's what a lot of game companies are looking for, and if you ever decide that games are not for you, you'll still have a lot of options.

[bclewis]

A couple of things are going through my mind. I had always been interested to pursue a career in the video game industry considering the popularity and the world wide acceptability it has but circumstances led me to take up a different profession. Although I did my bit of programming course previously. Being online we have the privilege of online courses and distant learning courses too so can someone suggest me places where I can revive my video game designing all over again without leaving the current job. Is it possible?