Are niche degrees a good idea?

These degree have very different curriculums. I advice you to check them out. Having said that, a computer science degree would offer you far more choices.

Computer science:
http://www.colorado.edu/cs/bs-degree/bs-degree-requirements

Game Design:
http://www.champlain.edu/academics/undergraduate-academics/majors-and-specializations/game-design/curriculum-game-design

Hi there!
I am and end-thirties male - back in the glory days when I went to University it was the general advise to NOt go for any niche degree. I'd say: it depends if you have a vision about your career, if you are a very straight person in terms of chasing your goal, if you are either long-term or short term orientated. When I conducted studies I wasn't 100% percently sure what to do in my proffessional life so I decided to do something more general. I still believe this approach is valid. From my point of view: specialization doesn't come with studies; it comes with skill. Skill is something you can only build up really doing things. You can only do things if you are in the right proffessional environment which you can only enter with the right prerequisites. I don't believe that niche studies are the right prerequisites - but that is just my two cents. Good luck with your career!

There are a few reasons someone might tell you that you should get a computer science degree instead of a game programming degree. First, you can get a job making video games with a computer science degree. I'm not in the gaming industry, so I don't know how much preference is given to people with gaming degrees at gaming positions, but I do know they're not a strict requirement. Secondly, a computer science degree is much more versatile than a gaming degree. If you ever decide to branch out from gaming, you'll be prepared if you have a computer science degree. Third, the video game making industry is incredibly competitive with very few jobs. Many people want to create video games, and there aren't that many being made, so it's pretty hard to get a job in the industry, and when you do, the hours are long and the work is tough. So many people who originally planned on going into gaming, don't end up there, and then that more versatile computer science degree comes in handy. Lastly, as people progress through their computer science degree, they often find something else about computer science that they love that isn't gaming, and they're excited to move forward with a career there. I'd say at least 25% of the people in my computer science classes in college got into the major for gaming, and all of them ended up finding out they loved computer science in general, and decided not to go into gaming.

Personally I would advise going to school for computer science and doing as many video game related classes or projects as you can, so you can get the broad background, while really showing gaming companies that your heart is in the gaming field.