Hello there. Excuse me if this is too long

I'm a 20 years old guy from Spain, very interested in game development. I've just finished something called "Superior Profesional Formation" for programming, which makes me a technical programmer. It's two years of formation, VERY practical, it doesn't enter into abstract things like algebra. It gives me access to a programming job in many places. 

The other day, I read that you really need a degree for working at "real jobs" in the industry.  I'm thinking about going to university and study something like Computer Science degree. This gives me access to a videogame master degree that would really improve my knowledge and CV.

However, there are more options. Right now, I'm doing a 1 month Unity course in my city, organized by an university, very solid (I was given a scholarship). The design teacher (a really good professional) told us that he can help us to get a job as QA tester in a videogame company. It may not be great, but it's a way to getting into the industry, while I keep making things on my own. After making some games, maybe I can try to enter the programming team, or search somewhere else.

Also, I 've given a job offer for Java Programmer in a consulting company. It's not videogames, but it's programming experience. That's a safer route.

My question here is that... I don't know if studying for another 4 or 5 years is really worth compared to start gaining real job experience. I can access the videogame master degree that I want after working for 3-4 years with demonstrable job experience.
What should I do? In my case, do I really need that degree for working seriously in games?
Should I stick to the safe route of Java programming?
Or do I have more chances in game programming after working as a game QA tester if I'm given the chance?
Thank you.

Are you sure that you enjoy programming? Programming as a job is very different from doing it in school or for side projects, you really gotta be fine with mundane problem solving to stick with it. Taking your current skills and working for a year might help you make a more informed decision.

I can only speak to the U.S., but getting a 4-year Computer Science degree is really the best bet (if you're sure that you want to program). From there, you can either get a regular programming job and work on games on the side, or do games-related side projects during the degree and go straight into the games industry when you graduate. Also, you'll always have the degree as a fallback if you do go straight into games.

Simply stated: You don't exist in a vacuum.

Your application needs be better than the other candidates to get the interview.

Your interview needs to be better than the other candidates to get the job.

Once you get the job you need to be able to do the job to your employer's satisfaction.

The details of that depend on your location on the globe.  For some locations and some jobs your job application needs to show both a 4-year degree and a strong portfolio. That is because in those locations the degree and portfolio are commonplace, many applicants have them.  For other locations a university education is rare, and in those locations you can be without the degree and still be better than the other candidates.

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As for math skills you'll need during the job, if you are working in 3D you'll need some linear algebra (that's the math of 3D manipulation) including how transformations matrices work, translations, rotations, cross products, dot products, law of cosines, and a few other topics. In both 2D and 3D you'll need trigonometry for all rotations and curves.  I recommend some calculus (the math of change) since some operations like infinite sums and integrals are much simpler when solved directly rather than using iterative methods to add up a bunch of tiny pieces or to make a bunch of tiny steps over time, but some people get by without calculus.  You will need statistics, at least enough that when someone draws a distribution curve of how often something should happen you can implement it. 

There are many CS topics I use on a daily basis and never really consider.  Basically know all the algorithms and data structures, and if you don't know how to implement them know where to look them up.

If you can do the job and if you are able to find a job with your current certifications and qualifications, then you should go for it.  If you can't do the job then figure out your gap between where you are and where you need to be, then figure out how to fill the gaps.  You might fill the gap by getting a degree (age 20 is still young for a student) or by other ways available to you.

Thank you for your responses and sincerity. I didn't expect so many responses, and so honest ones. I really apreciate that.

I'll keep doing things on my own, independently of my decision.

I think I need to meditate it for a while. Going to college seems to be my best bet, since the QA job isn't confirmed yet. I really feel that I need to complete my education, for what you've told me. I'll come back here if I have any more questions.

Thanks again

I will talk to you about my experience regarding this. I can't advise you regarding if it's necessary a degree for working seriously as a programmer, since I don't know (I'm a freelance composer)

I started at 16 years old, still doing highschool, I didn't have any music/sound certification. I posted what I did in indie forums and I offered myself for any project. I begin to gain experience not only making music, but also in being professional, offer polished work on time, learning to handle tense situations with not a lot of time, learning to defend myself with all the contracts thing, cultivating relationships with clients and past clients, and thinking of me as a company (well, as a freelance).

All this experience can't be teached on a degree, and it's very important.

In the meantime, when I was 18, I studied a 3-year degree in music production. I entered for the knowledge I could gather there, and for the connections I could make there. I still haven't used the degree, and I don't think I will need it (unless I want to be a teacher), because when I apply to a job, or I contact with someone, they're are interested in my experience and they're interested in looking/hearing what I do and how I did it.

I think it's imporant to have a solid formation, but in the meantime you can do small projects, start to build your network, being present in the industry, attend exhibitions, etc... and when you are finished with your formation (well, never stop learning, I'm talking about formal formation like university) you will be more ready because you won't be at a starting point and you will know how the industry works already.

I took that decision and it has lead me to making the music for this game (http://store.steampowered.com/app/395520/) when I had not yet entered to that music production degree.

I know it's different cases, composer and programmer are like oposites hahaha. But I hope that my experience give you some ideas

Best of luck!