Create Video Games As Your Fun Career
By Charles Edwin, Sat Dec 10th

Do you like video games? Do you beat after playingonce? Do you feel like the games are too easy? Well, it soundslike you have a passion for these things then you should gowhere your heart leads you.

If you at the point where you are thinking about your career, Isuggest that you do what you love to do. You should consider adifferent course of action: majoring in something you TRULYenjoy... something you could do hours on end without feelinglike you are working at all. And if you are like many people,this 'something' would be playing video games.

That's right! You can actually get a job creating and/or playingvideo games. Below is a list of some of the careers availablefor those with a video game degree.

1) Video Game Programmer

Gameinformer Magazine mentions that, video game programmers arethe "heart and soul" of the industry. They are the onesresponsible for creating the code necessary for getting videogames to function. And contrary to popular belief, their jobsaren't always easy. Video game programming often involvescreating complex functions and algorithms often times morechallenging than programs created in Corporate America.

Indeed, game programming may not be the appropriate course foreveryone seeking a video game career, but if you were decidingto go into the computer field anyway, which job would be moreenjoyable... coding the next Halo, or working on a boring,hum-drum piece of no-name software?

2) Video Game Tester

As a video game tester it is a position in which you truly wouldget paid for playing video games. According to current gametester Doug D. from Electronic Arts, he say's as a game testeryou would "go over different components of a game and look forthings that just don't make sense." You would also "break thegame," meaning you would "do things a normal user would do andaccidentally see something go wrong."

Doug Powell further adds that video game testing is a good placeto start for young people who want to "break into the industry."To get such a position in it is best to have a "passion forgaming" and some educational background. Doug recommends adegree, or some form of higher-level education.

3) Video Game Animator

Animators are in charge for coordinating the movement of videogame characters. Accomplishing requires more than drawingsomething

on a piece of paper, which according to Alex Jones, anestablished game animator, occurs after a lot of "brainstorming,chilling, playing, planning and testing" with the programmer.But when the busy work is done, the video game animator willfinally get a chance to do what he or she does best... animate.Alex Drouin says the thing he liked best about his job was"being able to come there late in the morning, sit behind hiscomputer, put on a great CD, and then create crazy animationthat will end up in a game that will be seen all around theworld by gamers." With a video game degree it is certainlypossible!

4) Sound Designer

Sound designers are responsible for creating the music and soundeffects of video games. Video game music is created either fromdigital sources or real-life stimulation. As video game consolesbecome more advanced, many sound designers favor the latter whendeciding on what type of music they want in the games they areworking on. Creating appropriate sound effects, on the otherhand, sometimes requires more creative experimentation.

To be successful at designing video game sounds it is best to:1) have an interest in both music and sound, 2) possessknowledge of recording equipment and 3) be familiar with thetypes of music and sound used in today's most popular videogames. A video game degree will help develop these talents andskills.

5) Game Designer

Video game designers are responsible for creating the'experience' of a particular game. Charles Perry, a video gamedesigner, sums it up by saying "the main tasks of the designeris to make sure the game is fun."

Wells further adds that game designers are responsible for macroand micro level design. Macro level design involves "figuringout the core mechanics of the game; the variety of level looks,power-ups, etc." Micro-design involves creating the "actuallevels and the moment-to-moment gameplay within those levels...the enemies, the objects, and the particular way you encounterthose enemies and objects."

Good game designers should obviously have an interest in videogames along with some drawing and programming skills.

About the author:Please visit my website at: http://www.video-game-directory.com.Where I review the hottest new video games andcheat sheets for your gaming pleasure! My name is Charles Edwinand I'm looking forward to you joining our newsletters valued a$24.97 for free!!