This article is from the government labor statistics that describes how game design and development is a rapid growing industry for entertainment and other diverse industries, READ MORE and download!
“Video games aren’t only for play; they also provide work. The workers, known as game developers, make a living creating the games you enjoy playing. Making video games is a serious—and big—business. According to the Entertainment Software Association, in 2009, the video game industry had sales in excess of $10 billion and employed more than 32,000 people in 34 states. Creating these games is complex and requires the collaboration of many developers, who perform a variety of tasks, from production to programming. They work for both small and large game studios to create games that can be played on many different devices,
including console systems, computers, and cell phones.
This article covers career options in video game development. The first section provides an overview of the development process. The second section describes four groups of video game occupations: designers, programmers,
artists, and others. The third section covers the skills and training workers need for these jobs. The fourth section discusses the benefits and challenges of working in the video game industry. And the fifth section provides job seeking tips for a career in video game development. Suggested resources for additional information are at the end of the article.”
How to get into the industry
Another useful strategy for breaking into the video game industry is to visit the websites, blogs, and online forums that developers frequent. “Developers often post open positions and ask for portfolios through those venues,” says Catanzaro. Contributing to these online resources can also help increase your exposure.
Exposure is important because it helps with networking, which is a great way to find
video game work. “I wrote about game design on my blog and on large gaming websites,” says Sirlin. “My posts increased my visibility, opened doors for me, and allowed me to meet the right people.”
The rules for finding work in today’s video game jobs may not apply to the jobs that
emerge tomorrow. But that’s one more thing video game developers find exciting about their work. “Gaming is morphing into something unknown,” says Bingham. “The possibilities are endless.”
Workers in the audio department develop, record, and process all of a game’s music, dialogue, and other sounds.
Video game developers need skills and training specific to their job tasks, but they share some common aptitudes. For example, the ability to work well as part of a team not only is expected of game developers but may be required. “Successful work on a collaborative project is something we look for in hiring new employees,” says Ben Bell of Salt Lake City, Utah, Executive Producer of The Sims 3 Pets
