Video games are legitimate big business, and development is no walk in the park.
If you're still young and are interested in pursuing a career in game development, we've got good news: As reported at Gamasutra , for the first time ever, all 50 states in the US are offering game design programs.
The ESA claims that a record 381 colleges, universities and art/trade schools currently offer various courses, professional certificates, and undergraduate or graduate degrees for an array of game-related careers. The most can unsurprisingly be found in California (70) but it's nice to know that gaming has permeated the collegiate level everywhere. It also helps that gaming has expanded to multiple platforms, including mobile and social network entertainment. I'm old enough to remember a time when everyone would laugh at you if you said you wanted to go to school for video games…oh wait, I bet a whole lot of people still laugh.
Still, slowly but surely, the assumptions and stereotypes must fall. In another ten years, most won't see this as any different than announcing that you're going into the movie industry.
It's not that bad. But yeah.
I don't think I'd get a gaming specific BA, but I am working towards a BA in computer science that that should allow me to enter the gaming industry and plenty of other industries.
Why not a BS in Computer Science?
My bad, it is a BS
Cool. So how far along are you?
Im working towards the same degree coupled with two minors.
I've finished one minor and now entering upper division courses next quarter for my major.
Got somewhat less than 3 years left and have a job (mobile apps) so I have experience to put the on a resume.
Not sure what minor I want yet.
Still hope to get into the gaming industry someday.
First of all, I think many of those same people will laugh if you announce you're going into the movie industry as well. Who cares? There have been a vast abundance of fools and arseholes since the human race uttered their first grunts, and these modern-day grunts are even less informative than even those probably were…
Also, you don't necessarily have to be young to go to school.
Well I guess I got a new thing to join 😉