Video Game Design Is No Longer Child's Play
by Stanley Rubenti
stanley.rubenti@collegedegreereview.com
College Degree Review Columnist
If you think video game design is for those who don't take their career (or life) seriously, think again. 2006 was a record-breaking year for the industry, up nearly 20% from 2005. With $12.5 billion in U.S. sales alone, now is an excellent time to begin researching video game design job opportunities.
What's more, this $12.5 billion only represents the U.S. China, Korea, Japan, and Western Europe also offer booming markets for those looking for a video game design job.
Explaining the Growth in Video Game Design
Consoles like the new Sony Play Station 3 (which sold nearly 500,000 units in December) help explain the recent surge in gaming activity, but they only provide a piece of the puzzle. We must turn to online gaming to complete the picture.
Take the popular subscription-based game World of Warcraft. It currently has a whopping 8 million subscribers (3 million in China alone) who pay roughly $5-$15 a month. This alone accounts for roughly $1 billion in yearly subscription fees. And remember that only a small portion of the world has broadband access. As high-speed internet becomes more pervasive, you can expect the gaming industry to spread its reach into even more homes around the world.
Pursing a Video Game Design Job
Now that you understand how lucrative a video game design job can be, it's time to explore the steps you need to take in order to secure employment. And “no,” extensive gaming experience in your parent's basement won't cut it. Today's games involve such sophisticated graphics, stories, characters, and special effects, you'll definitely need formal schooling.
Fortunately, you can earn a video game design degree in a relatively short amount of time if you apply yourself and stick with it. An associate degree is often sufficient, but for long-term career growth, a bachelor or higher is recommended. Some schools actually provide degrees in video game design, while others offer computer science training with video game specialties.
Just think… in a matter of months, you can prove your mom, high school guidance counselor, and gym coach 100% wrong about the career potential of video games.
Sources
About the Author
A freelance writer, Stanley Rubenti currently lives in Bangkok where he provides admissions consultation for college-bound students. Stanley holds a B.A. in history.
Posted on: May 1, 2007
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