Do you have what it takes to be a Game Animator?

Do you have what it takes to be a Game Animator?

Gaming is a big industry, and game animation is one of the most popular fields that attract high salaries from companies. Aside from the prestige of being able to work for the likes of Sierra, EA Games, and Activision, there is the fact that the creation of video games and computer games is such a fun thing to be involved in.

There are different types of game animation and many different systems used in the creation of games, but the skill sets required for any of these are the same. These skills include storytelling and technical animation.

Video game animators need to understand the techniques of storytelling to be able to come up with the storyboards that start off the animation process. These techniques, such as how a character reacts in a given situation, what motivates the character to action, how he operates in his physical world, all serve to make the story, and the game, a credible and cohesive piece.

The technical artistry of game animation, on the other hand, is reflected in the various computer graphic requirements that involve hand drawing, 2d and 3d compositions, and stop-motion animation, that will need some years of training to perfect. Aside from being able to draw well, one would need to know the laws of physics and human motion, as well as a bit of psychology. Essential aspects of 3d animation include creating the character's body type and physical poses, adding facial expressions to show emotions, creating gaming loops, and lighting the scenes the character takes part in.

The technical and creative skills no doubt make the learning curve a bit steep for game animation, but those with some good artistic and storytelling abilities would find this a very good and stable career prospect.

If you think you have the innate skills required, and would like to hone these to become a good game animator, then consider the convenience of online programs that offer a Bachelor’s degree in Animation. Westwood College has such a program. Find out more by visiting http://www.elearningyellowpages.com/OnlineDegrees/Gaming-226.html


Tag: online game animation degree

Online College Degree Programs

Online college degree programs are the twenty-first century way to get or finish your education, advance your career, and earn more income, all without having to interrupt your current career or your family life. Online classes may be called Internet Classes, Internet Learning, Distance Learning, or a host of other names. But they all mean you’re working toward an Associate’s degree, Bachelor’s degree, or Master’s degree without having to leave home.

Even if you decide not to pursue a specific degree, you can take classes that will help you with your current job. No matter what you do, writing classes or business correspondence classes will always help. And there are often career-specific classes offered that can help you. Working in retail? Take a few Retail Management classes and start moving forward. Love computers? Take some classes in Information Technology, or a specialization within IT, like Graphics and Multimedia.

Working toward a college degree online can pay huge dividends, even before you get that piece of paper in your hands. Your boss may notice your initiative. You’ll very likely be able to use information from your classes at your place of work. You might make better decisions, or be better able to evaluate situations that arise. No matter what, you’re going to feel more confident.

Colleges and universities across the country are adding online degree programs to their curriculum. And institutions that exclusively offer internet classes have also sprung up, too, like the University of Phoenix. Some specialize in specific areas, like dental assisting. Others are online classes from established educational institutions. You’ve got an entire universe of options from which to choose.

However, before plunking down your money (or student aid money) make sure you’ll be getting your money’s worth. Evaluate the online school, college or university and its courses. Does it have what you’re looking for? Make sure it’s accredited by an accrediting agency that’s recognized by the U. S. Secretary of Education. That way your credits will be recognized by employers and other schools.

Today you can choose from an amazing range of classes and degrees. You may choose to take a few classes in accounting, take a series of business classes, or go for your MBA. There are online classes available for everything from computer science to veterinary technician; criminal justice to information technology management.

In this day and age, with online college degree programs available 24/7 in every field under the sun, there’s really no reason you can’t start or go back to school now.

Computer Science Degree Job Prospects

Computer Science Degree Job Prospects

If you like to play with computers, even casually, think about a degree in Computer Science. You can even earn your Computer Science degree online!

The job prospects have never been better than they are now, and you don’t have to be a ‘geek’ to do well in this field any more. It’s not all about programming and obscure code! Today, the computer science degree job prospects are as varied as the students who take the classes.

For instance, if you’re the artistic type, you could work in Hollywood as an animator. There’s plenty of animation work out there in both the 2D and 3D fields, though, so even if film work doesn’t appeal to you, there are other avenues.

Love to surf the web? Become a web master. Right now there’s a rather severe shortage of Information Technology (IT) workers, web masters among them. Almost every company has a web site, and very few of them have anyone on board to build, update, and maintain that website. Sounds like a job for you!

If you want more than that, work at a Media Center, where you can integrate websites with video, audio, and/or visual arts. In fact, if you study online, you’ll learn first hand what works and doesn’t work for a user, and can apply that first-hand knowledge to the job you land. You may even end up working for an educational institution, creating, maintaining, or honing their online courses.

Of course, if the True Geek in you just must come out, you can go into software design, software engineering, or software development. After all, very few people these days still enter DOS commands at the C: prompt. Software with a graphical user interface (GUI) was developed for the masses, but someone has to come up with the software idea and then make it work.

On a slightly different tack, there are jobs available as a database manager or database analyst. Think of the databases that companies like brokerage houses and accounting corporations need to house. They’re huge. And the Average Joe employee isn’t going to have the slightest clue how to work with those kinds of data. That would be where you come in.

If you’re more of a people person, there are plenty of jobs out there as an educator. Lots of people with computer science degrees are needed to teach the next generation. Especially in the world of computers, things change almost from minute to minute, and an educator in this field needs knowledge and experience, but also the ability to be able to express concepts to others in a way they understand. If people tend to come to you with questions or ask information, and you get a degree in Computer Science, this could be right up your alley.

As you can see, the computer science degree job prospects cover everything from very “people” oriented jobs like educator, to very technical jobs like database manager or software developer. There really is no one type of person that fits into the mold of a Computer Science graduate.

Except, perhaps, you.

For more information about earning a degree in Computer Science online, consult the directory at eLearningYellowPages.com. It's a free directory of universities and colleges offering distance learning in many fields including Computer Science.

Tag: Computer Science Degree Job Prospects