Monthly Archives: December 2022
Online Degree Program Scores With Video Game Enthusiasts
Online Degree Program Scores With Video Game Enthusiasts
When high school students spend hours playing video games, parents often say it’s a waste of time. However, these video game players, or “gamers,” can now find professional opportunities to complement their interest. The relatively young academic specialty of computer game technologies has grown in response to the popularity of the skyrocketing video game industry.
According to the NPD Group, Inc., a global leader in sales and marketing information, video game sales have grown from .6 billion in 2000 to .4 billion in 2004.
Building on the success of the game and simulation programming (GSP) bachelor’s degree program offered at 11 of its campuses nationwide, DeVry University announced it will offer the degree program online beginning in spring 2006.
“Game development technologies will play an important role in shaping many aspects of the entertainment and defense industries for years to come,” said Steven Riehs, vice president and general manager of DeVry University Online.
The campus-based GSP degree program was met with enthusiasm by students, faculty and employers and it’s expected that the online GSP program will allow even more students to pursue degrees in this growing industry.
According to Jesse Schell, former chairman of the International Game Development Association, the number of individuals looking to enter the gaming industry has grown tremendously in the last 10 years. He stresses that the gaming industry is not about theory, but the application of real technology and notes that individuals with hands-on experience developing games are most likely to succeed in these careers.
The university’s game and simulation programming degree program features course work in the math and physics of games, programming fundamentals, game design, modifications (MOD), massively multi-player online game programming (MMOG), two- and three-dimensional graphics programming, simulation and game engine design.
Graduates will be qualified for positions as programmers, software engineers and project coordinators in the computer game technology industry, as well as similar positions in simulation design and programming.
Examples include tactical and strategic military simulations and training, automotive design and testing, training for health care workers, crime scene reconstruction and flight simulation.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, entry-level gaming programmers/engineers with three years’ experience can expect to earn an average annual salary of ,300.
Related Gaming Computer Articles
Gaming Podcasting
Gaming Podcasting
So, you may have heard of a “Podcast” or “Podcasting”. I just wanted to talk about it a little bit. A “Podcast” or “Netcast” is a way of broadcasting over the internet. There are thousands if not ten’s of thousands of podcasts available on the internet. The best part is that they’re completely free. Though they are not tied to Apple, using Itunes is the easiest way to listen to one.
There are some very good gaming podcasts available, I wanted to share some of my favorites: (All of these are available directly through itunes.)
* Gaming Steve – This is at the top of my list, Steve knows the gaming industry and has very good insight into it.
* 1UP Yours – Another great gaming podcast, this is a group of guys from 1up.com who record once a week. They are fun to listen to and have great info most of the time.
* Broadcast Gamer – I just started listening to Broadcast Gamer recently. This guy has a weekend podcast that is about an hour long and several during the week with deals and reviews.
* The Instance – This is a gaming podcast related to World of Warcraft.
* Xbox Live’s Major Nelson – Major Nelson works for Microsoft and talks about the Xbox every week. He often has interviews with people working on games, this is another insightful view into the gaming industry.
* Evil Avatar – I also just recently started listening to these guys. Phil and Amanda host this one. It’s basically a live show recorded Friday nights, they have a great community of people who call in and talk about games and comic books. Check out their forums for a good group of people.
* The Dice Tower – A podcast about boardgames with Tom Vasel (board game reviewer) and Sam Healey. Usually they do 2 reviews and a “Top Ten” list.
* Have Games, Will Travel – Another boardgame podcast.
* TWIT.tv – not a gaming podcast, but this is one of my favorite podcasters out there, Leo Laporte. The Twit.tv network has maybe 14 different podcasts each week, my favorites are TWIT (this week in technology) and KFI Techguy (recorded from KFI News Radio each Sat. and Sun.).
As you can see these are only a few of many, many podcasts out there. If you want to find your own, you can go to the itunes music store (in itunes) and click on podcasts, there is a plethora of information there!
Also, Podcasting is a great way to share how you feel about a topic. It’s easy to set one up, all you need is a computer with a microphone and an internet provider to host you podcast. Libsyn.com is an ISP that only hosts podcasters, so that may be a good way to start.
Podcasting is here and it’s not going anywhere, so now is the time to get on the bandwagon!
Related Gaming Computer Articles
Consumer Electronics
Consumer Electronics
Consumer electronics have become a major part of our everyday lives, whether we think so or not. You don’t have to be a tech freak to have most of your life somewhat dependant upon electronics. This dependency seems to grow more and more with each new generation as well. If you run through a typical day, you might notice just how many consumer electronics that you use. There are also many new devices coming out all of the time to fill the void that was lacking a device to fill it.
Most of us will start our day to the tune of an electric alarm clock. Then as we get ready in the morning we will use a couple of other devices ranging from an electric shaver to an electric iron. You may then heat up some breakfast in a microwave or toaster while the electric coffee maker brews a fresh pot. The point is that you have hardly started your day and most of the morning was spent using various electronics. With a normal work week most of us do not have time to manually do everything. Consumer electronics mainly fulfill two duties. They either provide a useful function and/or they entertain us.
Most of the electronics that fulfill a function of daily life are similar to the aforementioned products that you may use in the morning. Many others include things like refrigerators and washing machines. These appliances make everyday chores take a fraction of the time. Our electronics also make us more comfortable with climate control for our homes and water heaters for our faucets. You do not need to shop the latest products to be dependant upon electronics.
Besides consumer electronics that are used for everyday functions, there are ones that are purely for our interest and entertainment. MP3 player, portable gaming devices and camcorders all provide for entertainment everyday. There are also items like computers and cell phones that provide daily functions and entertainment. Our consumer electronics improve more every year to provide functionality and consumer satisfaction. More and more each year these products also fuse the gap between entertainment and functionality which promises them a place in our shopping carts.
PC Computer Game – Engaging Realism And Imagination
PC Computer Game – Engaging Realism And Imagination
The development of personal computer games from simple multimedia exercises to the current trend that involves very sophisticated graphics, operating system and surround sound system have been very fast and impressive.
The varieties of games that are being marketed online and in the regular outlets account for thousand of varieties. The games range from strategic, real time, role playing, shoot em up, beat em up, third person shooters, racing and simulation to name the most popular.
As video stores are selling a multitude of choices, it is smart that parents use good judgment in the games that children play on their Personal computers. The best way to do this is to check the package information of the game about the age groups that the game is intended for.
This is important as some games contain very violent scenes, sexual themes, the use of tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs. However, parental settings that are printed on the packaging label make it possible for guardians to password protect parts of the game so that the more adult parts of the games are not being accessed while the child still enjoys a perfectly playable version.
Because of the variety of games being marketed, choices can prove to be a challenge. It is not uncommon for the buyer to choose a game that has been recommended by a friend. However if you want something that is different, it is not enough to pick the game that will be interesting to you personally, or to the person that the personal computer game is intended for. Remember to look also on the Minimum PC requirements.
Another factor that is also to be considered is what the game is for. There are games that offer purely gaming enjoyment while there are those that are educational and informative. Some are especially designed for children, toddlers, teenagers, they come virtually for all age groups and intentions. Some of the best family games combine education with entertainment.
The largest groups of games and the best selling are the mind games. These are basically designed for adults and will take hours of playing.
Adventure games are onee of the oldest variety. The design of these games often includes a number of very beautifully drawn locations. Adventure games, unlike most other game designs, involve lateral thinking. The player travels from place to place in quest of an objective. The player often meets villains or impediments in his search for clues. Another component of adventure gaming is humor.
Another big seller for personal computer games are action heroes. The focus here is in fighting, shooting, beating the opponent up, and jumping across platforms. While this may sound violent, there are action games that are designed for children often coupled with humor and fun.
Simulators are also good sellers. Whether it be driving, sailing, flying and racing, there are simulators that are designed to familiarize the player with the actual handling of the vehicle to simulate the real one. There are even simulators that are being used for professional training.
Sports Games are very popular among the teens and early twenties. Many good personal computer sport games have been designed for realism.
Classic games like chess, backgammon and pool are also featured in many variations. The main task of these games is often to beat the computer that leaves most players very challenged.
Personal computer games today are being developed to capture the players’ imagination on its realism. As personal computer games have continually attracted investors and designers, expect that personal computer games will become even better in a few months to come.