Gaming Industry

Most of us love to play games and spend hours on end playing them, be it on computer, mobile or video. It is so easy to get addicted to games, but does anyone think of the efforts behind the making of these games?? 

Making a video game is just not easy as playing a game. Designing a game is a long, multifaceted process which involves the combined effort of a team of professionals with a unique mixture of creative and technical skills. It is one of the most complex part of software development which involves various aspects of development of the game like- outlining the concept, documenting rules and principles, development of graphics and so on.

Gaming is one of the largest segment of the entertainment industry and a multi billion dollar one, flourishing widely across the world. It has become one of the most highly sought after career in today's modern world with the growing demand for computer, mobile and video games. Wide access of internet has also created a huge demand for online games, and with the advent of greater technology, this industry is growing at a firm, fast pace. Gaming as such started with classic video games in 2D, but early 2000 saw the development of the more popular 3D platform. But 2D game design software has seen a revival in recent times following the development of mobile apps. 

A career in Gaming, is an exciting but a highly competitive field with a combination of technology, creativity and fun. It is also an amazing and interesting career for those individuals who dedicate their lives for creating new and improved games. 

Designing is the key aspect of developing games, and it is done by a team of skilled individuals including game designers, programmers, engineers, writers, artists, producers and other staff. Each individuals work profile may vary according to their designation, but they work as a team to create video and online games, using techniques in illustration and animation, 3D and 2D design, storytelling, graphic design, web design, interactive media, digital production and more. They should have an awareness or working knowledge of programming, fine arts, framing and even software development. 

Game designing may be confused with animation, but there is a huge difference between both these fields. It is not mandatory for an animator to have good game knowledge, but they work together with game designers and 3D modelers to create animations for games. But a game designer must have an in-depth knowledge of games and the art of sketching. 

The game industry is rapidly changing on a daily basis and more and more new games are being invented. Hence numerous opportunities are available in gaming industry for those who want to be part of the excitement of creating video games. But for obtaining a job one must be highly skilled and talented, as the employers strongly weigh talent, and demonstration of applied knowledge. Overall, Gaming Industry is growing into a lucrative and happening career for youngsters, who posses heavy coding and programming skills along with a passion for game and creativity.

Eligibility

Relevant educational qualification in the fields of animation, graphic designing, game designing/ technology etc. is necessary for obtaining an excellent career in gaming industry. Those interested in pursuing a career in gaming industry, should focus on gaining awareness with computer programming in an object-oriented language such as C++ or Java, from their high school level, so that they can build a bright future for themselves.

Several certificate and diploma programmes in game designing are offered by various institutions. Advanced Diploma in Game Design; Diploma in Game Design and Gaming; Video Game Design and Development Certification; Video Game Design and Development etc. are some among the courses. The minimum eligibility required for most of these courses is 10+2 or its equivalent. For becoming a Game programmer, one should have B.E/ B.Tech degree in computer engineering. Online programs are also available in game design and animation. Those with an inborn desire to learn gaming and excellent technical skills can excel in this field.

Good working knowledge of the game designing software's is a must for a career in game industry. Once you decide on the platform - i.e 2D or 3D you want to pursue, you should get familiar with its applications - 2D designing software's such as OR 3D applications like 3D Max/ Maya/ XSI, Light wave 3D, Cinema 4D etc and computer graphics, data structures etc. They 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.

Personal Attributes - Strong interest and liking for the games is the first and foremost thing needed for an individual to become an expert professional in the gaming industry. Candidates who wish to make a career in game designing should be innovative, creative, systematic, dedicated and have a clear understanding of common game mechanics and game play theory. One should possess the art of sketching or drawing and have a sound understanding of anatomy of humans, animals or birds and body movements and lighting effects. Game designing is a field which requires a keen eye for detail, loads of patience, excellent communication and presentation skills. A game designer must have a good sense of colour, proportion, size, design, visualization, knowledge of background, art and layout. Since gaming industry is the combined endeavor of a group, one should be able to work well in a team and group setting. Time management is also an important characteristic needed for a game designer.

Job Prospects 

With the advent of greater technology, the game industry is churning out dozens of companies engaged in video game production and development. Gaming industry is considered as one of the hottest professions, with a great deal of specialization varying from broader design principles to more specific tasks such as level design and game balance. So a plethora of career options are available for aspirants from artists to musicians to sound engineers to programmers in this field.

Job Outline : Gaming industry is a broad field and those who are interested in this field should be familiar with the basic concepts of game designing. Developing and designing all these types of games is a step by step process, where variety of tasks are performed. As visuals are the most important elements of presentation in a game, the initial stage of a game development deals with designing and creation of arts. This includes a comprehensive storyline; scripting; character sketching; objects, levels and background designing and other relevant information's necessary for telling a story and incorporating the player in the experience. After that, three dimensional designs of the objects are generated on computer with the help of various types of game engines. During this stage, the designers has to pay special attention to the facial features and expressions where the characters are meant to speak, move and act. Sound effects, voice recordings and background music are also incorporated in this stage. Then comes the most important and time-consuming field of gaming, i.e programming where the framework and all the elements of the game are packaged into a playable product. Programmers need to have a firm grasp of multiple computer programming languages, as well as computer logic and mathematics. They take all the three-dimensional designs of backgrounds, cut scenes, characters, level designs and sound effects and combine them all into one coherent game experience. Then the game is tested for any bugs and errors and goes into production if everything is up to the tester's standard. Then, the entire game is compiled and burned to a single master disc. This disc is then inserted into a specialized machine designed to produce copies of the disc at a very high rate of speed. The copies are placed in pre_made plastic cases and then wrapped in plastic to be shipped to distributors across the country.

Some among the common job prospects in gaming industry are :

• Game Developer - Game developer is the specialised software developer and their major task is to create and design the plan of the game which includes the theme, missions, the rules and the game play.
• Game Designers - Game designers also known as Content creators are individuals responsible for the playability and fun factor of the game. They take care of the art side of the game and designs the various levels, characters and user interface (UI) elements of the game. Depending on their tasks, game designers can be further classified as Lead Designers, Level Designers etc.
• Game Artists - Game artists are those who create the virtual reality elements of the game and make games come to life visually. According to different styles, techniques and areas of specilisations, the artists in the game industry can be classified as concept artist, 2D/ 3D artists, modelers, character animators, texture artists etc. 
• Game Programmers - Game Programmers are the software/ computer engineers or programmers who are concerned with the programming aspects of the game. It is the game programmers who design and develop the code for working the video games and they work with the design team to implement its vision for the final product. In big companies, game programmers may be classified as Lead programmers (in charge of all programming for the game), Artificial intelligence (AI) programmers (who develops the logic of the game to simulate intelligence in enemies and opponents), Sound programmers, Game programmers, UI programmers, multiplayer/ network programmers etc.
• Network Programmer -Network programmers develop codes that allows players to interact and play with other players in different locations through the Internet or a LAN. It is one of the most technically challenging type of programming in the game industry. 
• Game/ Script Writers - These are the people responsible for the documentation and instructions that accompany the game. Script writers create the story the game is based upon, and write dialogue for the characters.
• Audio/ Sound Engineers - The audio/ sound engineering department of the game industry is responsible for the overall acoustics, ambience, sound effects and audibility of a game. The audio engineers need to use their creativity to make sure that the game has the right sound effects to fit its story line and tones like explosions, car chases, crowd noises, weather conditions like storms or rain or whatever it may be.
• Game Testers - Also known as quality assurance tester, game testers are in charge of quality assurance, finding mistakes, bugs and other problems in the game. To ensure excellent user experience, game testers test through the paces of the game while still in development and when completed.
• Game Management -  The management department of the game industry is similar to the other production departments which include game producers, art director, technical directors, development directors, project managers etc. The game producer is responsible to ensure that the game is done on time and on budget, and he/she should be aware of everyone's task.

In the gaming industry, one can find job openings in small or large organizations, corporations and design firms. Numerous established companies like Synapse, Smackall, Ishir Infotech, Csharks, Dhruva Interactive, Paprikaas Interactive Services etc., which designs mobile phone games, online games and video games, offer excellent opportunities for professionals in game designing. Besides educational qualification, what the employers prefer is the specific talents of the individual like the creativity, technical intelligence, design sensibilities etc. With their key skills in game designing, candidates can find employment in these firms as junior game designer, level designer, game designer, lead designer, content designer, user interface designer, game tester or writer etc. 

Online game designers may work as freelancers. But for this, one has to be multifaceted, i.e they should do all the basic artwork, sound effects and music, programming and coding etc. by themselves. A graduate in game development can also seek employment opportunities in the field of software development, computer programming, industrial design, animation or writing for film and television, project management and more.

Related Courses & Institutes

Gaming institutes provide certified industry-specific courses on Gaming and Animation. Once the course has been successfully completed, reputed institutes offer guaranteed placements to its students.

Click on the following links for the list of Indian institutes offering courses in game designing and animation.

» Advance Certificate in Game Art and Integration
» Advance Diploma in Game Design 
» Advance Diploma in Game Development
» Advance Diploma in Game Programming
» B.Sc. Animation and Game Technology
» B.Sc. Gaming
» Certificate Course in Game Design
» Certificate in Online Flash Game Programming 
» Diploma in Animation, Gaming and Special Effects
» Diploma in 3D Animation and Game Technology 
» Diploma in Game Art and Design
» Diploma in Game Design and Integration (DGDI) 
» Diploma in Game Development
» Diploma in Game Technology 
» Diploma in Online Flash Game Programming
» M.Sc. Gaming 
» Post Graduate Diploma in Game Design
» Post Graduate Diploma in Game Development 
» Professional Diploma in Game Art
» Professional Diploma in Game Programming