The steady popularity of electronic gaming over the years has more and more young people exploring careers as video game designers. A recent St. Petersburg Times report notes that among video gamers, 40 percent are women, the average customer is 40 years old and that gaming systems can be found in about two-thirds of American households. Video games are also said to be a $9.5 billion annual industry. With that in mind, the newspaper reported that Middleton High School in Florida has been giving students the opportunity to participate in its new Academy of Computer Game Design. The program runs over the course of a student's four-year high school career and is said to give them an introduction to things like graphic design, information technology and much more. The report also notes that students with good linear algebra skills may be especially suited for careers as video game designers. Elsewhere, the News-Gazette newspaper of Illinois reports on a recent event where employees of the game design firm Volition met with University of Illinois students to offer some career tips. Among their pointers were to be realistic and upfront about their current computer skills when dealing with prospective employers.  |