Video games have been around for quite a while now, but the idea of going to college and majoring in video game creation is still fairly new. And if you’re a little wary of telling your parents you plan on going to school to study video games, you might feel better knowing the economics are in your favor. After all, many college students graduate and are unsure of what to do with their lives. You, on the other hand, will have a degree that can get you lucrative employment in a fast-growing industry.
Some video game designers will tell you that the best education is at your local video game store. So as a high school student, buy or rent all the games you can-the good ones, the bad ones, the great ones. Play each game with a critical eye, and keep asking yourself: what makes this game exciting or dull? How could it be improved? Develop your own ideas, and keep a collection of your sketches.
When it comes time to apply to a game design school you’ll have to decide if you want a bachelor’s degree, an associate’s degree or a certificate. The more time you spend in school the better chance you’ll have at a higher-paying game design career.
If you decide to study video game design online, be wary of the many scams lurking out there on the Internet. Investigate a number of online programs, and choose one that’s accredited by a trustworthy organization. It’s a good idea to speak with your guidance counselor or a career counselor; she or he will be able to recommend high-quality educational programs. Sometimes you can even earn credits that you can transfer to a traditional school should you change your mind and decide to apply to one of those institutions.
You don’t need to apply to a school that offers a video game major, either. As long as you go to a good school that offers courses in computer science, animation (both character and special effects animation are good to learn), programming and graphic design, you should be all set. You might even be able to design your own major if your college allows you to. It’s also a good idea to take plenty of business courses. You might be working at a small start-up firm someday, a place where everyone will be expected to take on some marketing and accounting tasks in addition to designing games. Or, if you decide to become a freelancer and design your own video games at home, you’ll want to know the best ways to market yourself and your products.
Taking classes is great, but you should also try to take advantage of internships and part-time employment at video game companies. The combination of a solid education and practical experience will make you a formidable candidate when you go to apply for jobs after graduation, and someone you meet during an internship could become a valuable reference.
