Living Large: Video Game Design Hits Big

By Gabriel Traverso
gabriel.traverso@careertrainingdirectory.com
Career Training Directory Columnist

Over the past ten years the video game market has virtually exploded. The industry has evolved from the earliest home game systems and arcade games we all grew up on to today’s hi-tech interactive online extravaganzas. And this is only the tip of the iceberg—designers are hard at work developing the next big thing. For those interested in a geek’s counter-culture dream job, a video game design career could be the way to go.

The recession-proof multi-billion dollar video game industry went from $20 billion in 2002 to $30 billion in 2007. Despite all that is occurring in the world—or perhaps because of it—the escape of video game fiction is more popular than ever. In the myriad worlds behind the console, players can escape the drudgery and stress of their daily lives.

Games today appeal to a broader age range, a function of multiple generations raised on video stimuli. From the lawyer playing Doom in his office to the kids banding together online to combat zombie enemies via the Internet, the video game is here to stay.

A Career at Play

While it might have seemed a joke once upon a time to tell your parents that you wanted to go to video game college to major in video games, there isn’t anyone laughing anymore except the designers—all the way to the bank. However, don’t fool yourself into thinking that it will be easy to break into a video game design career. With the promise of good money and a fun job come droves of eager would-be designers. You’ll need to distinguish yourself from the crowd with solid training in design techniques.

Video Game Design College

A successful career in video game design doesn’t come from simply being able to play games well. You’ll need heavy-duty training in animation, computer programming, physics, and math. The combination of skills needed by employers can’t be learned at most colleges or technical schools. If you really intend to make this your career path, look for a video game design college and prepare to buckle down for some serious work.

Launching a successful video game career involves hard work and dedication, but the rewards are worth it.

Sources

RocSearch
USAToday

About the Author

Gabriel Traverso is a freelance writer, independent musician, and artist. He resides in Reno, NV.