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Three decades or so ago, the first video game, Pong, started sucking quarters out of kids pockets at every shopping mall in the U.S. Since then, computer gaming design has become a multi-billion dollar business that is almost-recession proof. Because of this, making fun has become a very serious business and the video game designer is king. Every day students working degree programs online and on campus are taking the classes they need to work in this area.
Considered a form of software publishing, gaming design involves the merging of two different skill sets. A good designer gets an education in both computer science and business administration if he or she really wants to succeed. Because this career involves a lot of hands-on computer experience, getting a degree from an accredited online college can actually work in a student’s favor, too.
The reason a good game designer should have a lot of business courses is he or she must be able to either create an original concept or hunt down a licensed property which will make a profitable game. Also, the designer should be able to comprehend the necessities of what market and platform the game will work best in, whether it’s a domestic game console, through the Internet or such new devices as a smart phone. Then the designer has to assemble his team, including programmers, artists and marketing people. They do everything to assemble the game and then get it out to the gaming community of consumers. The computer skills should be obvious; the designer had better be familiar with code and such to guide his programmers.
To call the career extremely hot is a bit of an understatement. The Bureau of Labor Statistics did a report back in 2006. At that time, the report showed that nearly two thirds of all American households played video or computer games in some capacity. At the time, the Bureau projected that job growth in the field would be an extraordinary 30% by 2018.
While the current recession has slowed the industry somewhat, it looks like other forms of entertainment are turning around quickly. One thing helping the industry is growth in game rentals as opposed to sales. Another innovation that is helping is the introduction of new tech, such as the smart phone and the recent Apple’s iPad, although at this moment it’s way too soon to fully comprehend how the latter will impact the business.
As it happens, opportunities for financial aid are a bit easier than a number of other career paths. As the career involves computer science, it is not only eligible for standard Pell and state grants, but it is eligible for S-STEM scholarships through the National Science Foundation. If that isn’t enough, private concerns like Intel also offer scholarship programs for smart young programmers who want to get into the field. Because of this, it’s smart to do research through search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Bing, as well as consult a financial aid officer.
One thing that proves how serious a business game designing has become is the salary. The Bureau reports a designer fresh out of school usually starts at $37,000, and the average salary for experienced personnel is over $60,000. With such possible benefits as health insurance, retirement and investment packages and possible profit sharing, the total packages can go into the $100,000 range.
So when you add it all up, it sounds like a career that’s just too good to be true. The irony is it’s very real. There is your college degrees that can get you started. A business degree and your technology degree online can be obtained while you currently work, as you take care of a family, and as you do all that’s needed to enter this exciting field. If this area of study is of interest and you would like more information about your accredited distance learning degree, check the internet.
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