Study Overseas

Computer and video game design is an up-and-coming career that attracts and excites many young students ”international and domestic ”across the United States. Pulling students from many different areas and disciplines, a career in game design offers a high level of attraction for individuals with varying levels of skills in computer/technical work, graphic design, science and math, art and drawing, and so much more. Individuals excelling in these areas discover that they are able to harness their passions and create something new and fresh that has the possibility to be seen and used by millions of gamers across the globe.

What You Need to Succeed

Students who want to enter the gaming industry and be successful in it must entertain several key qualities. First, individuals must be creative, dedicated, patient, efficient, and have good communication skills. The game design industry is not an individual outlet, and it requires communicating with many people and often having to wait for information and then work quickly to develop the final product. Furthermore, it is important for individuals to seek advice and ask lots of good questions to the right people to ensure they have the most information in the shortest amount of time. Students must also have and good problem solving skills. In a field that is never by-the-book, it's important to realize that things will constantly be changing and you have to figure out how to adapt and improvise to continue to produce the best product possible. Ultimately, over all other skills, a love for gaming is a must for anyone wanting to work in the industry. Individuals need to know what makes a good game and what makes a bad game, what makes a good skill level design and what makes a bad one, and finally, what people actually want to buy and play. You don't have to be good at gaming to make it in the field, but it does have to be something that you enjoy.

How to Get There

While there are the occasional people who succeed in the game design industry with no prior experience or training, most individuals need the proper schooling to get in and get ahead in the industry. Some companies encourage students to first get a 4-year college degree in a subject they are passionate about, and then, if the interest is still there, prepare to move into game design. Others recommend that their employees attend a game design school where they will learn the necessary information that relates specifically to the field. While the jury is still out as to which route is ultimately better, most research suggests that a 4-year education will help students in the long run, even in the game design industry, because they are the most well-rounded. There are some exceptions, for example Alex Seropian and Jason Jones, undergraduate students at the University of Chicago who founded Bungie Software Projects Corporation in 1991 that was responsible for the creation of game masterpieces such as Myth, Marathon, and the Halo series. However, while success stories like these are still exceptions to the rule, there are still unlimited ways to break into the business.

In order to be a good game designer, you need to understand what makes the world work. Well-rounded educations include fulfilling general education requirements, but also experiencing a variety of classes-ones that might seem outrageous or not applicable to game design. These classes are important because they inform students about many different areas and give them the opportunity to expand their knowledge; this in turn leads to variety and depth in the games they produce because they are able to create artificial worlds representative of what's out there today. While it is not key that students are proficient in each and every area, it's important to at least have an introduction to a variety of things. As a result of the vast pool from which game designers emerge, students from many different disciplines and combinations of educations have the opportunity to be successful in the gaming industry if they so choose.

Things You Should Know...

What started out as a tiny hobby has evolved into a multi-billion dollar industry. Just over a decade ago, a decent game could be created by five to ten individuals with a budget of about $500,000. Today, a decent game requires the work of about fifty individuals with different backgrounds and skill sets and a budget of no less than ten million dollars. Once into the industry, game design requires the work and input of many individuals: the actual designers, game staff, programmers, engineers, artists, producers, and sales staff; there's no end to the different positions individuals can hold within the field. The average salary in 2007 for individuals with three or fewer years of experience is about $44,574 according to recent surveys. According to the same surveys, for individuals at experienced levels, the average salary is $61,530. Like all jobs, your salary depends on your skill level which can be strengthened through a college education. Unlike with some jobs, game designers have a great ability to move up in the field, earning more money and gaining more recognition in the industry. It is all up to you.

If you're interested in starting a job with a video gaming company, try the following websites as a jumpstart to your search!

http://www.bungie.net/inside/jobs.aspx

http://www.infinityward.com/jobs.php