School & Publishing

[Michael Hopcroft]

My admissions officer confirmed with me today that I will begin taking online classes at Devry Univeristy's business school on April 28th. Anything that helps me become a better entrepenuer is worth it, especially since I don't seem to be cut out for someone else being my boss for very long.

The question is whether business school (if I graduate from Devry with a GPA of 3.3 or better I'm automatically going to be enrolled in their MBA program -- how's that for incentive to hit the books?) is going to make me a better publisher. There are several issues involved here -- the time involved in studying well (I want to learn this stuff), the ethical issue of academic pricing and student discounts for things like business travel and software, and the fact that the game business is more labor of love than thing that's going to earn me a living (although the admissions officer was impressed I've gotten this far without management training). Maybe when I graduate I'll be able to raise the money to open a shop somewhere and sell these wonderful things that have been such a part of my life.

I wonder how many publishers are also students. I know a lot of my artists are!

[Scorpio]

School sure as hell won't hurt! Do it.

[Valamir]

Michael, anything that can finally convince you that you're just as competent at doing this stuff as any of the rest of us schmoes so you can stop worrying about it all the time and just keep making great product is a good idea, IMNSHO.

[Treves]

Hi Michael,

How good of a numbers-guy are you now?  I think b-school will boost your over financial/business savvy, which will be directly applicable to enterpreneurship - but you'll probably be learning a heck of a lot more than enterpreneurship in the process.

Knowledge is power, and if you say you want to learn it, than you're motivated!  Go get em!

[wyrdlyng]

As far as school in general, go for it. I left my job to return to art school to study something I want to do for a living rather than stay with what I already do.

the ethical issue of academic pricing and student discounts for things like business travel and software

That's a much grayer area. Students can get some ridiculous discounts on items, especially software. The ethics are up to you. As to the legality of it...ask someone who knows law better than I do. I doubt it'll really be an issue but better safe than sorry.

I know a lot of my artists are!

The best source for inexpensive art is art school students. Anything which gets us some exposure and which we can add to our portfolio is a good thing.

[Michael Hopcroft]

As far as school in general, go for it. I left my job to return to art school to study something I want to do for a living rather than stay with what I already do.

the ethical issue of academic pricing and student discounts for things like business travel and software

That's a much grayer area. Students can get some ridiculous discounts on items, especially software. The ethics are up to you. As to the legality of it...ask someone who knows law better than I do. I doubt it'll really be an issue but better safe than sorry.

I know a lot of my artists are!

The best source for inexpensive art is art school students. Anything which gets us some exposure and which we can add to our portfolio is a good thing.

Amen to that. Meeting students from Portland's local art school has been a Godsend for getting HeartQuest D20 illustrated.

My Student Advantage card is on the way. How much cheaper this will make my travel is an open question. I have no qualms about using it to make an Ameripass about 20% cheaper. Question: how far before you use it can you buy one of those things? I don't plan to start using my pass until late June. Do I have to wait until late June (when it might not be available or the price may go up) to buy it? And does Amtrak offer a similar pass program to students nationwide?

My first term's worth of classes end just in time for my second Grand Tour of the year to start. So I can leave on it as soon as I finish finals. The only problem is that I'd miss two weeks worth of class the next term going to GenCon unless some of the arrangements mentioned elsewhere can be made (I can take my classes anywhere I can get access to a computer and the Internet, but those are tricky things when one is traveling).

Anyone know where I can get a really inexpensive laptop computer?

[wyrdlyng]

[quote="Michael Hopcroft]Anyone know where I can get a really inexpensive laptop computer?[/quote]

Speaking from experience, if you're not looking for the top of the line check out corporate sales of old hardware. My former job was for a large corporation changing out old hardware for new hardware. The old hardware was wiped clean (multiple times) and sent to a warehouse where it was available for sale to anyone who wanted it.

Many large corporations have a similar operation (they try and get what they can for the old hardware). Or check out "going out of business" sales from small companies.

[Rob Donoghue]

Anyone know where I can get a really inexpensive laptop computer?

If you've already got a desktop and you just want somethign to be able to take to classes, take notes on the fly and write/work with Spreadsheet's anywhere, you might want to look at the alphasmart Dana (www.alphasmart.com).  Full laptop keyboard, runs Palm OS (with a wide screen), it's durable and has amazing battery life (plus, it can syc, to a limited extend, with anything that can take a USB keyboard).

Since it's palm, it's not going to be of much use if you're looking for serious games or the like, but as a writing and notetaking tool it's really handy.  Market price is ~$400, but since they make these things primarily for schools, there may well be an educational discount.

-Rob D.

[Michael Hopcroft]

The Dana does look impressive. Certainly better than the Palm I have now. However, since I take my classes online the main thing I need from any computer is Internet connectivity. I'm not saying a Dana wouldn't help me a lot, but if I can get something at that porice with a modem attached that would be perfect.

[Ron Edwards]

Hi there,

Michael, this thread is starting to meander into more of a chat about your personal decisions in life, and I think - given that some good things have been said, and the thread has been useful - that it's time to call it closed.

Best,
Ron