Take a close look at that video game development course before signing up. It may be just a waste of time.

So suggests experts who make video games for a living and field thousands of queries from people who want to follow in their footsteps.

The warning follows an article posted at the British news site Mail Online this week saying that universities and trade schools too often provide game-specific courses that amount to nothing. The article even quotes a Sony executive in Europe who has no recollection of hiring someone from one of these programs.

Tech trade journal Ars Technica offered its own opinion on the subject and also voiced caution to prospective young game makers that they should avoid so-called diploma mills that promise a lot but offer little.

In truth, these hopeful souls are better off pursuing general computer science or art degrees that provide deeper and broader educational experiences — the kinds of experiences that are more apt to impress the big game-making companies.

“If you’re considering entering school to pursue a specialized video game trade degree or diploma, ensure that you’ve done the proper research and spoken to as many people as possible about the issue,” advises Ars Technica writer Frank Caron, himself a soon-to-be computer science graduate.

At the least, aim high. Because if the cheap and easy video game degree sounds too good to be true, chances are that it is.