Archive for May, 2008

Game Design At Nintendo: How To Get Started

Saturday, May 31st, 2008

Prior to the Wii’s release, it was leaked that Nintendo was sending free developer kits to small scale game designers. Following that, they announced that indie game designers could get their hands on these kits for less than two thousand dollars. All this made it obvious that Nintendo was opening the door to fresh talent and ideas. Of course, not just anyone can get involved with video game design at Nintendo, as there are still many requirements that have to be met. Here are just a few of them.

To start with, you have to be a qualified developer to get authorized by Nintendo if you want to design games for them. This requires showing proof of previous development work for Nintendo or even on other platforms. Furthermore, you have to provide details about your business and convince Nintendo that you have secure offices and the equipment, the staff and money needed to fund and complete game development. If you think you can get permission to develop games for Nintendo by yourself out of a home office, you are off your rocker.

If your company makes it through this intense screening process, you might be invited to become an authorized designer. Be prepared to sign off on many non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements at this point. Nintendo is very strict about protecting its technical information and know-how and you will be expected to hold up your end of the bargain. In fact, you will be legally bound to do so.

Once you become an authorized developer, you will have access to Nintendo’s developer resources. This includes private websites where you can interact with other developers. It also means you’ll be able to purchase the necessary software development tools such as the Wii dev kit. Keep in mind, development costs will require thousands of dollars in hardware, and plenty of time. Even for a fairly simple and inexpensive title, indie publishers usually require at least several people on the development team and several months of work before a new game is ready for release.

Finally, it is important to keep in mind that not every title will be a hit, or even profitable. Because of this, game designers should have the financial backing to have several titles in the works at any one time. By doing this, the company’s risk is spread and it becomes more likely that at least one of the titles you release will be profitable.

As you can see, although Nintendo has lowered the barrier to entry, getting into game design at Nintendo is only for those who are truly ready. If you are just starting out with your game design passion, maybe try working for one of the many indie game developers that are already partnered with the Nintendo corporation before you try launching your own design company.

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Animation And Game Design Programs Create Exciting Careers

Monday, May 19th, 2008

The animation and game design world is a multi-billion dollar industry. And it continues to grow. Experts predict that this trend will continue for a great number of years as people of all ages become more and more interested in this exciting field.

Since the demand for these types of services is continuously growing, there are a number of job opportunities for those individuals who possess the creativity and the drive that is needed to succeed.

This world is ever-changing, so there are a variety of different industries that a degree in animation and game design can be of use. It is nearly impossible to count all of the video game providers on the market these days. And new ones seem to be popping up all of the time.

Since this industry is so incredibly competitive, it is important for young, creative minds to come up with something different. Simply having experience in graphic design is no longer enough to compete in the animation and game design industry. You need the skills to create great characters, stories and graphics and above all, make it different than what is already on the market.

If you choose to enroll in a program such as animation and game design, you will be given all of the tools that are necessary to succeed. You will be taught everything you need to know to bring your creation from a simple idea to an outstanding success.

You will learn the ropes of 3D modeling, animation, character development and design among many other exciting aspects. As you complete the various courses, you will be able to construct an outstanding portfolio that will showcase all of your skills. In this industry, an innovative and imaginative portfolio is the only way that you will be able to get prospective employers to notice you.

Since the industry is booming at such an incredible rate, you will need to prove to employers that you have what it takes to succeed. And above all, you need to be able to stand out from the crowd.

Every year, video games get more and more complex; therefore it is important to always stay on the top of your game. So even if you have completed your animation and game design degree, you should always keep an eye open on other courses that can further your skill level.

However, people with a creative mind might be able to fare well with just the basic skills. Success in this market depends on creativity and coming up with a product that hasn’t yet been seen on the market. And if you come up with the right idea or concept, you could end up quite wealthy.

With this program, you will also learn about the gaming industry itself. You will analyze trends and figure out where this industry is headed. With this knowledge, you will be ahead of the field when it comes time to design your own video game.

This can be an incredibly exciting and rewarding career if you have what it takes. Original concepts, creative story lines, interesting characters and innovative graphics are all a part of a successful video game. And with an animation and game design degree, you will learn all of these skills plus many more.

So if you want to be a part of this developing and exciting industry, start planning today for an exciting tomorrow by pursuing an animation and game design degree program.

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Which is the better video game platform: Console or PC?

Saturday, May 10th, 2008

The gaming industry is a multi-billion dollar industry producing both PC and Console based games. There has always been a constant battle of “Yin versus Yang” when it comes to what provides the best gaming experience; a computer or a gaming console? From a technical aspect the computer should win hands down for many reasons. First a computer can boast system specs that can blow any gaming system out of the water, not to mention the upgradeable factor. So to really come up with a plausible answer we have to understand the difference between a gaming machine and a computer.

Computers run multiple applications and in most cases require an operating platform like Windows or Unix to be able to use the devices installed on the computer systems like the video card or sound card. The computer can usually have the ability to be fully updated, from the computer processor to the amount of RAM it has, or devices that are connected to it.

Gaming consoles are very similar to a computer since both can run an application and connect to the web. However a gaming system has only the ability to access the type of programs that are supported by the system platform it was designed for. This means it only runs games and it does not require a data operating system like Windows to operate them, and it does not need drivers or specific applications like direct X to make it run. Everything on a game system is pre-installed; although some upgrades may occur via the manufacturer if required.

As far as the best gaming experience to be had: there is no real judge since everyone has their own preferences. Myself, I find that for a PC to achieve the level of graphics and dependability that a console provides the price tag will be considerably higher than a console. Sure you can run HDMI on an XBOX 360 or Playstation 3, but a PC can whip up some pretty impressive numbers when it comes to graphic comparisons. I can talk to you about anti aliasing, or shading but this won’t matter much; so i will instead refer to what matters most to most gamers; power!

If price is not the objective than one can create a system that would make any game console machice crawl back into the box with its tail between its legs. Quality of games, most titles can be found both for PC and game console, save a few independent titles held for rights to a specific console manufacturer. As far as the amount of games available; once again the PC smokes the competition since for almost every one game designed for a gaming console another ten have been designed for the PC. With World of Warcraft, Age of Empires and thousand of other titles never released on console. It is and always will be a battle that will result in plenty of casualties from both sides of the fence. I don’t dismiss the simplicity of the gaming system since all you have to do is insert and play, but in my quest for excellence I will have to keep my PC warmed and ready because my game console is still coming up cold!

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Cool School Video Game Design

Monday, May 5th, 2008

Imagine getting a degree in something that is so cool, so fun, its hard to believe it is part of a school program. There are online programs now that specialize in video game design, and the degree is becoming a popular major for many students around the world. Earning a degree in this field can lead to great job opportunities, and allow one to have an unbelievable amount of fun. Earning a degree in video game design is not hard, and in fact many online colleges are offering classes currently, and plan on offering more in the future.As a video game design major one will also take general education classes that are offered to help people gain a diverse education. General education classes typically include English, math, history, and some type of science course. These classes will of course make up the bulk of any video game design majors schedule. The classes should keep people busy enough, but there are also other things a video game design student can do while in school.Getting a degree in video game design can lead to some very exciting careers. Think about the fact that designing a video game could be your day job. Playing video games all day long will no longer be a bad thing for you to do. In fact, when you have a degree in video game design, it will be called work. Those that are involved in this career will be able to express themselves in great ways, as well as earn a nice income. Video game publishers are always looking for new qualified graduates to help them with their design needs. It is predicted in the next 10 years video game sales will out number the amount of home movie sales per year. With the increasing interest in this field, it is no surprise that video game design graduates are in demand on the market today.

Is it time for you to think about getting a degree in video game design? If you love to play video games, and smile at the idea of being paid to play, getting a degree in video game design might be the right step for you.

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The World Of Computer Game Design

Saturday, May 3rd, 2008

A career in computer game design the absolute heaven for any hard-core gamer. Isn’t it everyone’s dream to do what they love and get paid for it? And how many of you out there that can show a computer games have had great ideas of how you can improve on the games that you were playing? I know I have, about a million times.

If a career in computer game design is something that you are mulling over and I have good news and I have bad. The good news is that it is a huge industry and is growing year over year. The bad news is that computer game design takes a lot of programming skills which means you had better be a very smart cookie and be prepared to work very hard in school learning the various skills that you will need.

You want to start with a degree in computer science, which is much easier said than done. Of the six friends I had in college that were computer science majors, only one of them stuck with it to the end. It is a grueling major filled with advanced math classes and seemingly endless computer programming exercises.

Some people actually enjoy programming, so if you’re one of them that a career in computer game design would be perfect for you. A real affection for computer games themselves would certainly go a long way as well. My college friend that got his computer science degree is currently working for a well knowing game design company, and loves it. But he will be the first one to tell you that it is nothing like what he expected.

Some computer games that are produced today are so incredibly complex that they take years to create. In the infancy of the game industry, computer game design teams often consisted of just a few people. Today, many games have several production teams consisting of up to hundreds of different people working simultaneously on different aspects of the game. If you do prove to be a capable programmer than a here in computer game design will reward you handsomely. Veteran programmers who have already completed several game designs can pretty much call their own shots as far as salary and overall creativity. It is an art and science.

If programming isn’t something that appeals to then you still can work in the design industry. Programmers themselves are the king of the hill and the most sought after, but talented artists and creative writers can be attractive employees to game producers. Graphic designers and artists contribute a great deal to computer game design. Many computer game designs also feature actors to do the voice overs of the game’s characters as well. There’s a whole lot that goes into making these babies.

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