(12) JOBS IN VIDEO GAME DEVELOPMENT

JOBS IN VIDEO GAME DEVELOPMENT: WORKING SO OTHERS CAN PLAY


Introduction
Occupations Behind The Screens
Game Designers
Artists
Sound designers
Programmers
Game testers
Other occupations
Making games: fun. But not always
Late night & big risks
Internship: Beta Test Your Career
Competing for positionsExploring further


INTRODUCTION

You may find it hard to believe, but playing video games could be the first step to a career. Thousands of workers who develop video games for a living say their passion for playing is what drew them to their jobs. “I’ve always loved games,” says Hugh Riley, a game artist. “Making them is a dream come true.”

A love of games is an advantage in an industry whose stock and trade is fun and fantasy. But game development jobs also require serious skills. Only highly qualified people find jobs.

There are video games for every taste: sports, action, adventure, strategy, simulation, and education. Games are made for personal computers, consoles, arcades, and the Internet. Games even add excitement to some retail websites and electronic organizers.

Demand for video games is rising, and the industry is growing. Sales of game software generated more than $ 6 billion last year, according to NPD Interactive Entertainment Service, a market research group based in New York. More than 19,000 new games were showcased at the 1999 Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. And according to a Coopers and Lymbrand study for the Interactive Software Developers Association, employement in the average development company grew by 20 percent in last year with about 50,000 people working in video game development.

Most games are developed in small studios and then shipped to publishers who advertise and distribute them. In this chapter, I’ll tell you about development stages of a video game, from concept to completion. You’ll get to know the common development occupations, some of the advantages and disadvantages of a development career, and how to get started in industry.
I hope this chapter will help you to make decision about your career choice. As you have passed three semesters of your course, now this is the right time to analyze your capabilities and shortcomings.


OCCUPATIONS BEHIND THE SCREENS

Job titles and duties of video game developers vary by game genre and company organization. Job change rapidly as new technologies emerge. “Games are the Wild West of the computer industry,” says Chris Ulm, an assistant director at Oddworld Inhabitants in San Luis Obispo, California. “There is no set way of organizing companies. Everyone does it differently.”

But there are some similarities. In every development studio, the people who make video games comprise four main teams: design, artistic, programming, and testing. The design team writes the game concept, character interactions, and gameplay elements. The artistic team creates images and composes music and sound. The programming team plans and codes software. And the testing team finds errors in the game before it is published.


GAME DESIGNERS

“Designers create fun,” says Christina McGavrin, a game designer at Maxis Studios- a divison of Electronic Arts – in Walnut Creek, California. Game designers write the blueprint of the game. They decide the mission, theme, and rules of play. If the game is engrossing, designers have done their job well.

Most development teams have a lead game designer, who is responsible for the overall concept and feel of the game. Level designers work with artists and programmers to lay out smaller sections of the game. Writer-designers write game text and dialogue. Some also write manuals and hint books.

The early stage of game design involves brainstorming, collaboration, and revision. Designers test their ideas by writing short scripts and narratives and sketching rough story boards. The storyboards describe the action of the game with a sequence of pictures. As their concepts solidify, designers supervise the production of working video game demonstrations.

After the designer decides on the game concept, they write a detailed plan, called a designed document. This document lays out every aspect of the game. It includes maps of each game setting and flow charts to show how events in the game unfold. Everything the player might see, do, or hear is described somewhere in this document.

Designers are storytellers, with a twist: they invent a plot but they let the player control the story and decide the outcome. They create a web of possibilities, and the player chooses a path.
Image: Designers test ideas by writing short scripts and narratives.

A video game’s design involves over time. New ideas lead to new levels, special features, and secret additions and shortcuts called codes. One of the most difficult parts of designing is deciding what to leave out. Designers edit and add to the design document throughout development.

A designer’s main concern is to make the game entertaining and irresistible. We have to understand what makes a game fun. It’s our job to connect with the player. But understanding fun is not as easy as it sounds. Lots of people can say whether a game is good, but they can’t quantify what makes it good. And harder still is recreating the effect.
Designers often challenge players by devising puzzles to solve or enemies to defeat. If a game is too easy, the designers make puzzles and enemies more cunning. The goal is to increase the game’s difficulty as the player gains new skills- to make a game easy to learn but hard to master.

The place and rhythm of a video game are also critical to its success. Designers decide how quickly players move and how often they encounter obstacles and other characters. If the pace is too slow, the game is boring. If the pace is too fast, the game is confusing.
Designers work with artists, programmers, and musicians throughout development. In fact, sometimes a designer is also the lead programmer, artist, or producer. But even if designers have other duties, their role is unique. They oversee the entire game playing experience, instead of concentrating on one element. Artists might want to paint beautifully intricate art, and that’s good, but if art slows down the game too much, it cannot be used.

Skills and Training:

Communication is one of a designer’s most important skills. You need a strong ability to write to communicate ideas, and to persuade. Creative writing, English, theater, and other liberal arts classes help many designers to strengthen those skills. Designers also have to be good managers. They lead the development team and make sure it implements the game concept. They incorporate many people’s ideas into a single product.

Designers need technical skills as well: they need to understand computer programming and software design. To be a good designer, you have to understand how games work. Designers have to be able to understand the technical hurdles that a programmers face.
Most designers earn a college degree. The most common degree concentrations are English, art, and computer science. However, a designer’s most significant training comes from experience. “There is no such thing as an entry-level designer,” says Mark Keeper, manager of product development at Blizzard Entertainment in San Mateo, California. Designers usually begin their careers as game artists, programmers, testers, or producers.

Earnings:

Industry sources suggest that designers’ salaries vary widely. Survey by placement companies found that annual salaries for writers and designers usually ranged from $35,000 to $75,000 in 1998 and 1999.
Like other entertainment occupations, earnings depend, in part, on worker reputation. A few of the most prominent designers earn large sums; the rest earn less. The wide range of salaries also reflects the varying job responsibilities designers have.

ARTISTS

Nothing grabs a player’s attention faster than the images on the screen. Artists create those graphics. During the concept stages of development, concept artists draw sketches and storyboards to illustrate and embellish the designers’ ideas. Artists later create all the artwork the design document the design document calls for, including creatures, settings, vehicles, and icons. All artists work under the direction of an artistic lead.

Video games are either two or three dimensions or a combination of both. In a 2-D game, artists draw images on paper and scan them into computer. In a 3-D game, artists build images within the computer. Most new games have 3-D components.

There are three main types of 3-D artists: Character artists and animators, background modelers, and texture artists.


Character artist and animator:

Character artist design and build creatures, including the one the player “becomes”. Animators make those creatures move. Sometimes, the same person does both tasks.

Character artists begin by sketching the creatures on paper or a white board. “We try to make the game look the way the designers intend, but at the same time, we have a tremendous amount of creative freedom.,” says Riley, formerly a lead character artist at Bethesda Softworks in Rockville.

When they have completed the creature’s basic design, artists build it within the computer, using modeling software. They start with simple shapes, called primitive polygons. They twist, stretch, and combine the polygons until they have a skeleton covered with a wire mesh. As Riley, a 3-D modeler describes it, “We sculpt with digital clay.”

The character looks like a figure made of wire. Then, the artist covers the character’s mesh with a virtual skin and adds color.

Making static creatures and objects move is an animator’s job. “I’m given a scene and told what my character has to do, who it will interact with, and where it is in the story,” says Angie Jones, an animator at Oddworld Inhabitants.

When making an action sequence, she positions the creature by moving the bones within its mesh. She sets up key poses, and the computer fills in the others according to the timing she selects.

Animators often use real-world creatures as guides to create natural-looking movement. Animals make good guides; game creatures often are patterned after ostriches or horses. But people are important models, too. “Understanding human anatomy is important, even if your creatures aren’t human,” says Jones. You have to be sure you’re moving the muscles in a realistic way.

Animation is more than creating natural motion, though. It takes skill in dramatics. Using facial expressions and body language, animators imbue characters with personalities, says Jones. “If I’m working on a scene with a lot of dialogue, I play the recording track many times. I’m listening for the words and inflections. I want to understand the emotions behind the movement in the scene.

Animators create two kinds of action sequences: cut scenes, the short movies that play at predetermined times in the game, and player-controlled action, such as running, jumping, or talking. During cut scenes, animators can make the action as detailed and complicated as they’d like. But when the player is in control, the animator is more constrained: the player must be able to produce most movements with a joystick, button, or menu selection.

Two techniques for creating and animating objects combine computer graphics with real-world elements. In one technique, artists and production technicians build fiberglass or clay sculptures and scan them into a digital model. The model is then painted and animated in the computer.

In the other technique, developers use actors along with animators to create some action sequences. Actors perform motions with sensors attached to their bodies. The sensors record their positions. Artists use the data to animate computer characters. This motion-capture method is most often used in sports games.

Background Artist or Modeler:

When player find themselves on alien planets or in theme parks, football stadiums, or other settings, they have background artists to thank for the view.

Background artists, sometimes called modelers, create video game settings. “I’m building playgrounds for the characters,’’ says Michael Kirkbirde, a background artist at Bethesda Softworks. “We draw and construct environments that fit the game.”

Background artists begin by making sketches of the background suggested in the design document. Then, they draft an accurately proportioned version on graph paper, “The scale has to be correct,” says Kirkbride. “Otherwise, you could make a structure too large or too small for the size of the characters.” Once they are satisfied with the drawings, artists mold the environment shape by shape, using the computer as a virtual movie set.

For example, artists creating a laboratory might use rectangles to form the walls, ceilings, windows, and doors; then shape circles and cylinders into counters, stools, and sinks; and finally, add any objects players will be able to pick up, such as test tubes, calculators, or fire extinguishers. A player would be able to walk around furniture and move through the lab in any direction.

Then, the artists add lights or spotlights to cast pools of brightness and shadow over the environment. They adjust the color and intensity of the lights to evoke a particular mood or time of day.

With 2-D games, backgrounds are not built within the computer. They are sketched with pen and paper, scanned into the computer, and colored. Each setting is drawn many times to capture different perspectives and fields of view.

Texture Artist:

These artists add detail to the surfaces of 3D art. By adding texture to a wall, for example, they make it look like brick, plaster, or stone. They might make a creature’s eyes shiny and wet and its cheeks matte like skin.

Texture artists take a photograph or paint a picture of a surface they need. Then they scan it into the computer. Finally, they wrap the picture around the object in a process called texture mapping.
Image: Concept artists draw storyboards to illustrate designer’s ideas

Some surface art requires detailed painting. For example, paintings of circuit boards or computer keyboards can be draped onto flat ledges.
All game artists have to contend with the technical constraints imposed by arcade machines, consoles, and personal computers. These playback devices have limited memory and processing power. Each element of the game is competing for a piece of memory and power.

When the image on the screen changes, the game software retrieves data from its database and redraws the image. This takes time. The more complicated the image, the more time it takes to render. To cope, game artists try to use the fewest possible polygons. They want to fool the eye into seeing more detail than is actually there.

Skills and Training:

Games artists need a visual imagination. They find inspiration by observing nature, studying movies, comics and fine art; and experimenting with new ideas.

Game artists must also be able to apply basic math concepts, especially when working on 3D games. “When you add a third axis, you really have to understand geometry.” Says Jones.

Artists working in 3D should know how to use modeling and animation software and should be able to teach themselves new features and techniques. Ability to communicate with programmers is another must.
Most people in these occupations have formal training in fine arts or art-related subjects, such as animation or industrial design. They study drawing, painting, color theory, sculpture, and graphic design. Those with bachelor’s degrees are usually more likely to be hired. “It is very important to get a traditional education in the arts,” says Jones. “The degree of artistic skill required is rising.” With each new game, players expect better art.

SOUND DESIGNERS

Sound designers compose the music and sound in a game. Without them, creaky doors, squealing tires, and roaring dinosaurs would be silent. And their musical compositions intensify the player’s experiences. “I like taking a product that already looks good and adding some extra excitement,” says Andy Frazzier, a freelance sound designer in Boston. “Sound draws players in and makes games more real.”

Sound designers work closely with the game designers. Game designers describe the mood they want, often citing movies scores or popular musicians. The sound designer uses these analogies to discover what the designer wants.

Video game music should mesh with setting and plot. “I always have to consider where the player is in the story and how the music will affect his or her mood,” says Frazzier. He uses musical techniques to evoke emotions.

For Stephen Rippy, music director at Ensemble Studios in Dallas, composing appropriate music begins with research. “All of our games are based in history,” he says. “The settings are civilizations that actually existed, so the first thing I do is research the period. If the game takes place in medieval Japan, I go find music from setting.”
Unlike movie composers, sound designers don’t know what the characters will be doing as the music plays. Their music has to be simpler than movies scores because it should not interfere with dialogue or action noises.

Rippy and Frazzier both compose music using a keyboard attached to a computer. With the keyboard, they simulate instruments. They command one-piece orchestras.

Sound designers also create sound effects. They add ambient noise, such as chirping forest creatures, dripping faucets, and distant conversation. Other sounds are triggered by an event, such as the swoosh of a basketball as it falls through the net.

Sound designers are given a list of sounds the game needs. They construct each effect by modifying an existing sound from a CD library or by finding and recording the sound themselves.
Image: To create sound effects, sound designers modify an existing noise or find and record it themselves.

An important part of the job is to find creative ways to make sound. To produce the twang of a catapult, for example, Rippy laid a ruler across the edge of a table and hit it. An engineer recorded the noise, and Ripply edited it using computer software.

Sound designers edit almost every sound they use: they might lower a pitch, add an echo, and loop the sound to make it longer, or mix it with other sounds.

They balance realism with the entertainment value of exaggeration, routinely sweetening natural sounds for dramatic effect. When choosing noises, sound designers also have to be aware of the game-playing environment. When designing for arcades, for example, they make effects loud and simple. For a home system, sounds can be more complex.

Skills and Training:

Sound designers should be musically creative. They spend time listening to all types of music and usually learn to play at least one instrument.
Training in audio engineering also is helpful because sound designers mix and record sound and dialogue. Some technical schools and community provide formal training, but most sound designers learn audio engineering skills on the job.

Sound designers also need to learn the basics of computer hardware and software to predict how their compositions will sound to the player. Some arcade speakers, for example, distort certain pitches and tones.
Many sound designers have a bachelor’s degree in music. They study music theory and composition. Some have education in film scoring.

Earnings:

Many sound designers are contract workers who charge a fee for every minute of music they complete. A few receive royalties if the sound track is released as a separate CD or as part of a television score. Job search agency survey show experienced composers earn from $45,000 to $70,000 annually.


PROGRAMMERS

Game programmers are software engineers who plan and write video game software. They turn ideas, art, and music into a game that works.
When designers describe an event in the game, programmers translate the idea into mathematical equations the computer understands. As a vehicle physics programmer for a racing game by Angel Studios in Carlsbad, California, Santiago Beccera wrote algorithms for the movement of cars in his game. The algorithms describe how the cars turn corners; how quickly they accelerate, decelerate, and stop; and how they react to crashes. “The mathematician we were working with understood the physics of the car,” he says. “The designer knew how it should feel to the player. I was balancing the two.”

Game programmers control the speed and placement of art and sound. They control how high a car flies over a jump, for example. In a low gravity environment, like space, programmers might instruct the computer to move the car to a higher position to make the jump bouncier.

Game programmers search for the most efficient way to write software. They need to accomplish as much as possible with the fewest possible instructions and a fast processing time. A slightly faster program could give artists hundreds of additional polygons to use or game designers room for more features. Online and 3D games make speed even more critical.

Video game software needs to be flexible as well as fast. Good programmers write code that can be changed without destroying the game. Some gamers have features allowing players to add new levels and effects. If a program is sufficiently flexible, large parts of the software can be used in other games.

There are many specialists on a programming team – including engine, artificial intelligence, graphics, sound, and tool programmers - each handling a different aspect of programming games. “Programmers deal with graphics, artificial intelligence, user interfaces, the Internet – there are so many different kinds of problems to solve,” says designer and former lead programmer McGavrin. These programmers all work under a lead programmer or technical director.

Engine Programmers write the software that makes video games run. Graphics engine programmers, for example, control how graphics are stored and reproduced by the computers. As part of this job, they might write a collision program to prevent objects from moving through each other when they touch.

They might also write a culling program to find and eliminate unnecessary pieces of art, like skin hidden under clothing or details of a far away object. The fewer polygons rendered, the faster the game. Recently, engine programmers have tried to make video games automatically reduce their level of detail when they run on a slow computer.

Artificial Intelligence Programmers write code to make computer-controlled characters act realistically. They write a set of rules to dictate how characters react to the player.
Because space is limited in video game software, game artificial intelligence has been rudimentary in the past. But faster computers are making better artificial intelligence possible.

Graphics Programmers work with artists to perfect the playback of animations. Sound Programmers work with sound designers in the same way. They might improve the game’s authenticity by adding random sounds to a repeating sound loop.

Tool Programmers write software for artists, designers, and sound designers to use within the development studio. Some of these software tools convert art, sound, and game play into data what will work in the game. Other tools help developers to edit their work and see how it will look when the game is finished.
To make the development process easier, tool programmers tweak their tools and add helpful features. Other members of the team come to them with wish lists and suggestions.
Image: Developing strong math skills help programmers help describe a video game’s object’s movement through space.

Skills and Training:
Because they are translating ideas into numerical equations, programmers need strong math skills. “In high school and college, I took as much math as I could,” says Becerra. “I use ideas from trigonometry. Linear algebra, and analytical geometry all the time.” These subjects teach programmers to describe how the objects in a video game move through space and hone programmers’ ability to manipulate numbers.

Game programmers should learn C and C++, as these are the programming languages most often used in the industry. Many jobs also require assembly language.
Standard change quickly in the industry, programmers need to learn new languages and techniques throughout their careers.
Most game programmers have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, although some major in related subjects such as cognitive science and electrical engineering. Those working on complex problems, such as a new artificial intelligence system, sometimes have advanced degrees.

Earnings:
Hardware and software engineers – across all industries earned an average of $59,850 in 2000. Programmers across all industries earned an average of $47,550. This data is not specifically for video game industry. However, most game programmers fall into the category of computer engineers because they design game software or apply mathematical theory to solve programming problems. Many entry-level game programmers who spend their time coding software rather than designing it or applying theory fall into the category of programmer.
According to job search agency surveys, experienced game programmers usually earn a base salary of between $60,000 and $80,000 annually. Lead programmers earn more.


GAME TESTERS

Testers play games for a living. They find errors in video game software before it is shipped to stores. They play each part of a game, trying to ferret out graphic glitches, computer crashes, and other bugs. “I play games most of the day,” says Cory Nelson, a testing manager at Interplay Entertainment Corporation in Irvine, California.

Most of the problems testers find are technical: characters who walk through walls, artwork or sound that disappears, or a game level that won’t load. Other problems are with gameplay. “If you spend two hours getting past a monster and only earn two points, there is something wrong.” says Nelson. Testers identify places that are too hard, too easy, or too confusing.
Image: Testers identify the problems in a video game before it is release to the public.

Testers write reports describing each problem they find. “When you find a problem, you retrace your steps until you track down exactly what caused it,” says Don Ramakers, a tester at Interplay. Programmers have to reproduce the bugs before they fix them.

Video games are tested methodically to increase the chances of finding a bug. This might involve playing one part of the game repeatedly. “Most of the time, what I do doesn’t feel like a job,” says Ramakers. “I love playing games. But when I’m going through the same level for the 20th time, it starts to feel like a job.”

Sometimes, testers have a hand in fixing the problems they find. They can make design suggestions. For some video games, they might control the strength of characters in the game. They adjust the strengths until the game is most fun and propose their selections to the development team.

Skills and Training:
Testers should be able to communicate clearly. The bug reports that testers write must be concise and easy to understand. Some companies require applicants to submit a brief writing sample.
Testers should also be technologically astute. They use database software to type, organize, and track bug reports. Video game testing does not require formal education, but some testers are encouraged to earn computer technician certificates.

Image: Customer service workers answer questions or provide hints for beating the game.

Most importantly, testers have to be expert game players. They need good dexterity and coordination. This is especially important when testing difficult levels. Testing is impossible if you cannot keep your character in the game. The best testers have experience playing many kinds of video games. Game publishers prefer testers with versatility.


OTHER OCCUPATIONS

Development studios need many other occupations to keep the business running. The following are a few of the most common, presented in order in which they usually are involved in a video game’s development.
· Producers keep the video game on schedule and within budget, coordinate testing, and keep team members informed of each other’s progress.
· Intellectual Property Lawyers help developers copyright their games and secure patents for new programming tools.
· Market Analysts identify the video game’s target audience, find ways to increase consumer demand, and conduct focus groups.
· Two kinds of customer service workers answer phone calls and emails from players. Game Counselors give players hints on beating the game. Technical Support Workers, sometimes called Computer Support Workers, answer questions about hardware and software problems.
· Foreign Language Translators convert a video game’s text and dialogue to other languages so that game can be sold worldwide.


MAKING GAMES: FUN BUT NOT ALWAYS

Video game developers like many things about their jobs. The chance to be creative and the excitement of making a fun product are just a couple. However, like every job, development has downsides.

Thrills, perks and the bonus round:

Developers love the thrill of trying to do what no one has ever done before. “I’m always trying to solve some problem with the game,” says Beccera. “I cannot wait to got to work and figure it out. It’s the most exciting programming job there is.” Michael Saladino, the lead programmer at Presto studios in San Diego, California agrees. “I get paid to solve puzzles I’d like to solve anyway,” he says.
Jones, a computer animator works on puzzles of a different sort. “There are many ways to do something,” She says. “I love to find the best way to combine art with technology.”
Video game studios also offer casual work environments. Many video game companies offer perks for workers, such as free sodas, subsidized lunches, and onsite gyms etc.

Studios offer traditional benefits as well. Many give workers stock options, health insurance, vacation pay, and bonuses for completing a game.
The best rewards are not financial, though. When a video game hits the shelves, developers see people enjoying what they have made. “Kids are so impressed when I tell them what I do,” says Jones. And video game players of all ages are vocal with their praise. “When fans like your work,” says Frazzier, “they let you know right away.” Successful developers are deluged with fan e-mails.

LATE NIGHT & BIG RISKS

Game development is not always so glamorous. You may spend late nights playing video games, but developers spend late night making them. They work evenings and weekends to meet deadlines. “I’ve put in 12-hour days or stayed until 2 or 3 in the morning,” says Beccera. Riley kept a sleeping bag under his desk at Bethesda Softworks. “I’m practically living here by the end of a project,” he says.

Testers’ work schedules are especially irregular, usually including nights or weekends. Many work part time, and most are hired for only one game. Small developing studios bring in teams for short periods. Large publishing houses have a year-round staff.

Making video games may also bring disappointment. Despite all the hard work that goes into creating them, many games never make it to the stores. “Only a small percentage of games are published,” says Becerra. “That can be demoralizing.”

Frequent job changes are another drawback. Many game development companies are small startups, where the work lasts only as long as a single project. Workers must be prepared to work for many companies throughout their careers.

Jumping into the entry level
Preparing for a career in video game development starts early. Developers say that high school and college students should get a well-rounded education. Students should study math to hone their reasoning skills and study writing and liberal arts to nurture their creativity. Finding opportunity to work as a member of a team is also useful.

After high school, students need education and training specific to the game occupation they want to pursue as a career. Most of these occupations require training in computer programming or the arts. People who want to develop video games usually need some experience before they land their first job. Many people begin as hobbyists. They learn how by reading books and websites. Participating in class projects or internships is also a good way to get experience.

When applying for jobs, candidates are expected to demonstrate their skills. Artists and sound designers compile short demo reels of their best work. They send the demo and resume to employers.
Image: Because game developers work in teams, aspiring developers should try to get team-oriented experience.

Programmers too, often send a few small pieces of software they have written. “We look for some kind of programming experience,” says Keeper. “Most people have programmed something in college. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a game, just a small piece of software that works.”

Testing is another occupation of entry into the development job market. Because little or no specialized training is requited, testing is one of the easiest ways to gain industry experience. And because much of the work is part time, students can work as testers while attending school.
Experienced testers may become managers or team leaders. They organize and track the work of other testers, allowing the team’s time to find the most destructive bugs.

Testing is often a stepping stone to other occupations. Some testers move into producer or project management positions. Those with right training sometimes make the leap into artistic or programming jobs.


INTERNSHIP: Beta Test Your Career

College internships are one of the best ways to start a career in video game development. An internship will help you to confirm your interest and help you secure a permanent job when the time comes.
Game development studios value experience. Many developers start out as interns for that reason. “We need people who can contribute to the team right away,” says Saladino, a programmer, designer, and former intern. “We’ve had a lot of success with interns.”

An intern’s work varies by occupation. Art students might draw icons and textures and add color to 3D models. Sound students might help to record sounds and to gather and create sound effects. And programming students might write code for one function in the game or help the graphics programmer import graphics into the game.

Many students intern after their junior year in college, but timing is flexible. Saladino started interning after his first year in college. Beccera began his internship while working on a master’s degree.

You should look for opportunities at least 6 months before you want to work as intern. Game company websites, Internet job boards, newspaper classified advertisements, and career counseling offices are good places to find openings.

COMPETING FOR POSITIONS

The video game industry is highly competitive. Entry-level sound designers have the most difficulty finding jobs because most designers are hired for only a short time during the later phases of development. The importance and prestige of music in video games is growing, but, for now, there are few jobs. Some sound designers supplement game development work with other scoring jobs.

However, some occupations are easier to enter. Qualified programmers, especially those with 3D skills or artificial intelligence expertise, are in high demand. Also in demand are artists with experience using the latest modeling and animation software. They are the most likely to find jobs. Artists without mush experience working in 3D often start out in texture mapping jobs.

Where do you live, too, affects your chances of finding a development job. In US most video game companies are located in California, Illinois, Washington, Texas, Maryland, and Massachusetts. In India, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Gurgaon, Delhi are the places where you can find a job in gaming. There are websites on Internet, from where you can find list of gaming companies.

EXPLORING FURTHER

To learn more about video game development, visit your public library for books about programming, animation and game design. Some libraries also subscribe to industry magazines. In India, you should read “SKOAR” magazine for latest reviews of games and interviews, articles about gaming.

Career counseling offices are another good source of information. Counselors may be able to help you find internship, volunteer, and job shadowing opportunities. And they can help you choose appropriate courses.

The Internet also has a wealth of information about video game jobs. There are many sites dealing with game development.
Best of Luck for a career in gaming! :)

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