Video Gaming as a Career Option

Often it’s said that in each one of us, resides a child, who at times, comes out and makes us behave very childishly.

Sure most of us loved playing games, but have we ever considered making them? Today Computer and video game development is a fast rising entertainment field, which offers a lot both professionally and creatively.

With today‘s hectic lifestyle, the need for recreational activities have also taken rapid strides. Along with the boom with respect to various emerging alternatives in this field, video gaming industry has also taken giant strides. Going by a NASSCOM report, this market is going to witness a growth of 78 per cent and reach Rs. 12,000,000,000 by 2009.

If you are artistic, creative and innovative, and have a passion for games, a career in game designing could be the perfect career choice for you. Though one can join dozens of   certificate and diploma programmes offered by various institutions, a hands-on experience in the industry has no substitutes.
 

Video Gaming Skills

What counts most is your passion for the gaming industry. Besides enthusiasm and creativity skills of programming are required.

Broadly speaking, game designing mainly presents the idea behind a game. In larger games, it is the inner topic of the game as well as the story, the plot and the characters. In game designing refers mainly to the rules of the game, the scoring or the levels of difficulty.

Candidates who wish to make a career in Game designing should be innovative, creative and systematic. Knowledge of the software used in designing games is a pre-requisite. In addition to this, knowing basic programming and being familiar with 3D modeling software, confirms to be an added advantage.

Besides, a game designer should also be exposed to art, literature, philosophy and history as it helps to create games with specific cultural touch to a particular region/country or people living in various parts of the world.

Video Gaming Eligibility Criteria

One needs to have an inborn desire to learn video gaming as a career. Aspirants for this budding field can join different courses a right after 10+2 qualification or its equivalent.

There are many certificates and diploma programmes being offered by various institutions. Leading institutions like International Institute of Gaming and Animation, Mumbai, Meteor Institute of Digital Design Studies do offer excellent programs in India in the field of Gaming and Animation.

All the courses are certified and recognized internationally in the industry. Other prominent institutes like Image College of Arts, Animation & Technology, Chennai, with association from the University of Wales, UK do offer innovative degree programmes like:

• B.A. (Hons) in Digital Media (Game Development)
• B.A. (Hons) in Digital Media (Game Design)
• PG Diploma in 3D Animation
• PG Diploma in Visual Effects
• PG Diploma in Game Development
• PG Diploma in Game Design

Generally for a career in video gaming industry, a candidate should ideally have Plus 2 (Plus Two) with Maths and Physics.

Video Gaming Pay Package

Video-gaming industry is among those budding fields which are known to offer superb pay-packages. As a trainee, one is generally paid around Rs 7,000 to 10,000 per month. After attaining some hands-on experience, one can easily earn between Rs 30,000 to Rs.70, 000 per month.
 

Video Gaming Job Prospects

Once equipped with key-skills in videogames designing, a candidate generally finds employment as junior game designer, level designer, game designer, lead designer, content designer, user interface designer, game tester or writer etc, with dozens of companies engaged in video game-development.
 

Video Gaming Institutes

• International Institute of Gaming and Animation

Pace House, 7, Swastik Society,
Gulmohar road, Opp. Bhaidas Hall,
Vile Parle - W, Mumbai - 400 056.
Tele-Fax.: (91-22) 2611 5995 / 2618 5580
Email: info@iiga.in
Website: http://www.iiga.in

• Image College of Arts, Animation & Technology (ICAT)

153, Santhome High Road,
Mylapore, Chennai, India – 600 004
Tel: 91-44-42737755 (5 lines)
Fax: 91-44-42734185
Email: info@icat.ac.in
Website: http://www.icat.ac.in

• Graphiti School of Animation, Mumbai

Graphiti School of Animation
404, Udyog Mandir no 2,
Mogul Lane, Mumbai - 400016.
Phone: 91.22 2444 1580/82
Telefax: 91.22 2444 2347
Email: gaphiti@graphiti.net
Website: www.graphiti.net

• MAAC - Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics, 23 Centres

East: Bhuvaneswar, Kolkata, Patna
North: Chandigarh, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Jammu, Ludhiana, New Delhi, Noida
South: Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kannur
West: Ahmedabad, Aurangabad, Baroda, Bhopal, Indore, Mumbai, Nagpur, Nashik, Pune

• Head Office

23, Shah Industrial Estate
Off Veera Desai Road
Andheri (w.), Mumbai-400 053
Telephone: 091-22-26731145-8, 91-22-56924811-5
E-mail: maacindia@maacindia.com
Website: www.maacindia.com

• ANIMASTER

4th Floor, Uniworth Plaza
20 Sankey Road
Sadashivnagar
Bangalore-560 020, India
Phone: 91-80-41535171/2
Fax: 91-80-5113 7709
E-mail: info@animaster.com
Website: www.animaster.com

• Meteor Institute of Digital Design Studies

C-101 Brookhill Towers
3rd Cross Lane, Lokhandwala Complex
Andheri(W), Mumbai 400 053
Tel: 022-26315206 / 07
Fax: 022-26315207
Email: info@midds.org

• PUNE - KOTHRUD

A-Wing
Narmada Heights
Opposite Ashish Garden
Kothrud, Pune 411 038
Ph: 9890180123(MOBILE),  9764002733 (Landline)

• AURANGABAD

Jagannath Arcade
Near Aurangpura Signal
Aurangabad 431003
Ph: 0240-2391998, 9423452716