Gaming degree useful in billion dollar industries
Issue date: 10/12/08 Section: Technology
(ARA) - Remember Mom's warning that you would never earn a living playing video games? If Mom could have foreseen the growth of the $10 billion gaming industry, she might have encouraged you to play more and worry about your homework less.
The video game industry is booming and so is the demand for gaming-experienced professionals to fill an array of jobs, from developing new games to creating simulations for military and tactical applications. In fact, the U.S. Army, alone, plans to invest $100 million in training games and simulations over the next few years.
Companies like State Farm are investing as well. "State Farm is researching and prototyping how game technology can be used in the workplace," said Brandon Whatley, systems analyst for State Farm Insurance. "We are currently exploring various options in the areas of group collaboration, training, recruiting and virtual work."
Both industries need smart employees with highly specialized skills to help them continue to grow. Christopher Axthelm, 28, of Washington, D.C. is among those who have answered the call. Like many American kids, he grew up playing video games. "I got a Nintendo Entertainment System when I was about 10 years old and started programming video games in early high school on my TI-85 graphing calculator," he said.
Following high school, he pursued a communications degree at the University of South Florida, and after graduation, worked in customer service for a Washington, D.C. company for a while. "But it really wasn't what I wanted to do with my life, so I decided to go back to school," said Axthelm.
He decided to pursue a degree in Game and Simulation Programming (GSP) at DeVry University's Arlington, Va., campus so he could turn his childhood love of gaming into a profitable career.
"During their time at DeVry, GSP students are exposed to a wide range of concepts," said Professor Joe Keum, who teaches at DeVry's Crystal City, Va., campus. "They learn to program in C++ at some level of competence. They learn software development, gain valuable team project experience and come to understand the basic hardware and network issues regarding 3-D computer graphics."
The video game industry is booming and so is the demand for gaming-experienced professionals to fill an array of jobs, from developing new games to creating simulations for military and tactical applications. In fact, the U.S. Army, alone, plans to invest $100 million in training games and simulations over the next few years.
Companies like State Farm are investing as well. "State Farm is researching and prototyping how game technology can be used in the workplace," said Brandon Whatley, systems analyst for State Farm Insurance. "We are currently exploring various options in the areas of group collaboration, training, recruiting and virtual work."
Both industries need smart employees with highly specialized skills to help them continue to grow. Christopher Axthelm, 28, of Washington, D.C. is among those who have answered the call. Like many American kids, he grew up playing video games. "I got a Nintendo Entertainment System when I was about 10 years old and started programming video games in early high school on my TI-85 graphing calculator," he said.
Following high school, he pursued a communications degree at the University of South Florida, and after graduation, worked in customer service for a Washington, D.C. company for a while. "But it really wasn't what I wanted to do with my life, so I decided to go back to school," said Axthelm.
He decided to pursue a degree in Game and Simulation Programming (GSP) at DeVry University's Arlington, Va., campus so he could turn his childhood love of gaming into a profitable career.
"During their time at DeVry, GSP students are exposed to a wide range of concepts," said Professor Joe Keum, who teaches at DeVry's Crystal City, Va., campus. "They learn to program in C++ at some level of competence. They learn software development, gain valuable team project experience and come to understand the basic hardware and network issues regarding 3-D computer graphics."
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