by Kelly Richardson
kelly.richardson@animationschoolreview.com
Animation School Review Columnist

If you are a graphic design pro who feels like you haven’t found your place in the industry, listen up. As the realm of the graphic design field is wide, there are opportunities for you to ply your skills in several cool niches. The video game design industry is always looking for career minded professionals.

The video game industry has grown from a fledgling concept in the late 70s to a multi-billion dollar industry in the new millennium. According to a study by the NPD Group, U.S. retail sales of video games, including portable and console hardware, software and accessories, reached more than $9.9 billion in 2004. The gaming public’s thirst for new conquests means that software and game companies must keep a stable of video game design pros working around the clock. If you have some basic graphic design skills, you can start a video game design career and cash in on the gaming trend.

Video Game Design: A World of Options

When you switch to an animation emphasis, a whole new set of design career options opens up for you, including:

• Gaming Consoles. From Playstation 2 to the Game Cube, video game design pros create those chart busting games for consoles.
• Computer Gaming. Another routine project for video game designers is the supply of computer games that run on PCs and Macs.
• Peripherals. Your video game design career might even have you designing gaming accessories for consoles and computers alike.

If the video game design industry sounds likes something that you would be interested in, here are some specifics on the job that might help you make a decision.

The Video Game Design Career Profile

Your degree is the credential you need to open the door, but add some business savvy too.

• Develop Programming Skills. The key component of any design team is the programmer. Get some programming experience and you’ll be ahead of the employment game.
• Experience Pays. Video game design pros with experience and title experience earn a median salary of just over $60,000 per year.
• Persevere. Breaking into this exciting field can be difficult, but persistence and making contacts will pay off big dividends in the future.

With a video game design career, you will be making a good living doing something you love to do. And if you’re playing, you can’t possibly be working.

Source:

Annual U.S. Video Game Sales, The NPD Group

About the Author

Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.