The Malaysian Insider :: Features
The Malaysian Insider :: Features |
| All work, all play: How hours spent on games are investments in future careers Posted: 29 May 2014 10:15 PM PDT So what exactly are these gaming students thinking during their school lives? Honestly, they simply can't stop imagining what it's going to be like if they were given a chance to work behind the exciting scenes of their imaginative gaming world. We perceive gamers as fun lovers, sitting on their couches and playing without considering their career seriously. But the reality is that there are thousands of people who do have some really exciting and high income jobs in the gaming industry. So if you are a gamer, and you are reading this article you would understand how it feels when our parents ask us do something "serious" in life. Let's answer their worries through some facts. Opportunities coming your way This goes far beyond just creating or testing games. These professionals are needed to create games for various devices such as computers, mobile devices, handheld devices, social media networks such as Facebook and several traditional gaming platforms. Similarly, for those who are in the business of selling and promoting these games, it may require general business administration or marketing expertise. There are numerous job opportunities and positions in the gaming industry. "It's been 10 years that we've been in this robust games industry catering to the various needs of gamers from all over the world through our online digital games store. Our growth through the years would not be possible without our dedicated team whom mostly are a bunch of gaming enthusiasts themselves. A career in the games industry whether service providers or game publishing is rewarding, varied and most of all, entertaining." says Leonard Chee, Chief Executive Officer at OffGamers.com An independent survey, which analyses the global salary trends in the gaming industry, indicates that gamers earn almost the same or more as any other common industry. Some degrees offered to help you pursue a career in gaming There are different courses and professional degrees which can definitely help students choose a career which is of their interest. These degrees can get you to work for some of the world's most famous and biggest gaming companies. 1. Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Games Design 2. BSc (Hons) In Computer Games Development 3. Master of Science (Computer Science) - Game Development by Research 4. Bachelor of Science (Hons) Electronic Games and Interactive Media 5. Bachelor of Computer Science (Hons) in Interactive Software Technology 6. Bachelor of Information Technology (Game Technology) 7. Bachelor in Games Design and Animation (Hons) 8. Bachelor of Game Development - Game Art (Visuals) 9. Bio-Feedback Computer Games for Emotional Intelligence 10. Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Computer Gaming and Animation Technology Indeed, it is a professional degree that really helps Experts have always believed in the fact that your education and training will add more value to your skills and passion. Not only that, with the enormous demands in the gaming production values, the industry is looking for acquiring creative, talented and qualified people. Let's have a look at some of the areas which require professionals with specialized degrees: Art and Animations Game Artists create the images – all the objects, buildings, landscapes and characters – which make up the game world. Animators define and create their movement. The majority of computer games are now developed using real-time 3D graphics and animation. Artists and Animators working in computer games development are usually trained or experienced in one of the major 3D modelling and animation packages, such as 3DStudioMax or Maya. Game Artists work at many different levels in a games development studio. Job roles are often combined, and include concept artists, environment modellers, object and vehicle modellers, character modellers, animators, and texture artists. A Lead Artist or Art Director takes overall responsibility. Programming and coding From the outside, this seems the most mysterious of all the game development areas. It is also the heart of the process, as the programming team is responsible for creating the code which makes the game actually work. There are numerous sub-disciplines within the programming department, including artificial intelligence or AI, physics, graphics rendering engine development, character control, gameplay programming and middleware tools development. All these are usually overseen by a lead programmer who is also responsible for the technical specification of the game and for strategically managing the code development process. Programmers must be able to work in a team and have problem-solving skills, in addition to programming ability. Sound and music Sound design and audio engineering are increasingly important areas within the games development process. Depending on the size of the company, the audio department might consist of one or two people who are responsible for creating and producing music, sound effects, recording dialogue, and often supervising voice performance. Game tester There are a number of other roles within a games development company, but perhaps the most important is quality assurance or QA. This discipline includes the role of tester, which is one of the most common entry points into the games industry for first time job seekers. Testing is a highly disciplined role as it involves identifying and describing bugs and faults in games, builds and communicating these in a clear and unambiguous way. Production management and publishing Production management within games development is usually split between the developer and publisher. The development schedule is the responsibility of the producer or project manager within the games development team, whilst the external producer, based with the games publisher, will be more involved in marketing and selling the game and ensuring it stays true to the original concepts. Whilst sometimes the external producer might have more creative input than a project manager, both are responsible for budgets, schedules, milestones, and reports. Retail management These are the type of roles that are to be found in any organisation and are essential to its successful running, eg. marketing, PR, human resources, administration, and IT support. A few additional skills can add more value You must also know how to use Microsoft Word, Excel and Project – not as a casual user but deeply trained on these products. Since making a game is a team effort your must be well versed in English too. 1. Once you decide on a specific discipline, get a degree and training closest to that area of the gaming industry. 2. Don't forget to also develop a demo as a work sample, showing your skills and abilities in the path you would like to choose. An innovative three minutes demo can definitely set you apart. 3. Create a hit list of target game companies in the segment of industry you have interest in. 4. Networking, networking, and a lot of networking! It is certainly very crucial to start up any career. Focus on meeting people working at your target company. 5. Keep yourself updated on current gaming industry issues and trends. 6. Develop a one minute "sales" pitch about yourself. 7. Build a database of game industry professionals and manage it. 8. Create a resume that is accomplishment-oriented and customized per game company you approach. 9. Last but not least, don't give up! – May 30, 2014. * This article is courtesy of easyuni.com |
| Bangladeshi mums benefit from improved health communication Posted: 29 May 2014 05:48 PM PDT Known for high per capita poverty rates and a devastating shortage of doctors, infant mortality is high in Bangladesh, where over five thousand mothers lost their lives due to avoidable complications of pregnancy and childbirth last year. Having subscribed half a million mothers and counting, MAMA transmits bi-weekly messages via voicemail or SMS texting depending on the subscriber's preferences and to accommodate a varying degree of literacy. The service is called Aponjon, which means "the trusted one" in Hindi. Despite reaching out to an already-high number of subscribers, efforts are underway to increase circulation, notable of which is making the messages available in local dialects. Technology developers are looking into creating a high-end app in hopes that it could soon cross-subsidise basic Aponjon service for the poorest women and their families. The increase of mobile phone use in the poorest countries is a growing phenomenon. One billion women in low and middle income countries own mobile phones. Information relayed in the messages could pertain to anything from nutrition, to recognising and treating a range of illnesses. The messages are often in theatre-format, with actors posing as mothers, pregnant women, their doctors and partners. Subscribers say it's working. Asha Rani said the messages gave her more confidence in caring for her second child, not to mention information she wishes she'd been able to access when the first one came along. "I didn't know how to take care of him or what to feed him. (He) got sick frequently and I had to take him to the doctor or hospital all the time. Now everyone in my family takes care of my child by following the messages," she says. Each message currently costs two taka, approximately two and a half cents. With the help of partners Johnson & Johnson Worldwide Corporate Contributions, Humanitarian aid organisation Usaid, and communications provider Dnet, MAMA aims to provide the service free of charge for the poorest subscribers, approximately 20% of the network. "Mobile phones and mobile health initiatives have the potential to be the great equaliser in countries like Bangladesh, where over 80% of households have a mobile phone. Dnet and the MAMA partners have done a terrific job of turning an innovative concept into a successful reality. Aponjon is saving lives. Usaid is a proud partner in this Alliance, and we look forward to watching Aponjon continue to provide valuable information and services to Bangladeshi families across the country," says Allyson P. Bear, Health Systems Strengthening Team Leader, Usaid. Despite project leaders' satisfaction, some say this is just beginning. Efforts are underway to increase circulation, notable of which is making the messages available in local dialects. Launched on Mother's Day 2011 by former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, MAMA concentrates its efforts on improving health communications in areas with high rates of infant mortality and high mobile phone usage. MAMA is at the helm of similar projects in South Africa and India. – AFP/Relaxnews, May 30, 2014. |
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