A video game is a video in a game--it shows an electronic game on a visual or video device. Several platforms are used to play video games, examples of which are personal computers and video game consoles. Some video games need a joystick and a control button to control the game or may use several buttons on a keyboard, or both a mouse and a keyboard. Video games also have sound effects and background music that matches the game's action.
When video games in arcades were first introduced to the public, students punched in their pennies just to get the chance to play games like Space Wars. Today's video games found on different platforms can be played by one or more players or even against each other on virtual planes.
Video game developers are made up mainly of programmers and graphic designers and supported by sound designers, musicians and technicians. This is a far cry from those days when video games were the sole creation of one programmer. Today's games are far more complex and have variables like 3D graphics, sounds and even multi-player capabilities to be handled by just a single person.
Getting into making video games means using game design software to develop video games. There is no need to know assembly language or C++ just to be able to create a video game. Software for video game design is easy to find on the Internet. From simple to complex, this software can create new video games.
In order to make video games that have 3D graphics, one of the software programs that a video game designer uses regularly is 3DGameStudio. This popular software is used by game developers unaffiliated with major game video companies. It is able to develop an entire game and with its huge compilation of graphic work for 3D objects and artworks, making terrains, characters and other objects for the video game is easier.
One other software program that game designers use is DarkBasic Pro. This is one software program that is able to maximize Microsoft DirectX 9. Although one of the more pricey software on the market today, it can easily integrate special features like 3D graphics and other special effects that can be seen in video games today.
In the earlier years of video games, programming and design was made by game enthusiasts and game testers who made programs and designs which they learned to do on their own. Video game design course programs are now available in some colleges and universities. Essential theories in game design and development, skills in 3D graphic programming, artificial intelligence algorithms and even real-time game engine architectures are taught to game design students. Graphic designers also learn their craft in art schools but application in video games is entirely different.
Graphic and video game programmers are generally paid the usual rates as those in the commercial or business sector, earning an average salary of approximately $83,000 a year. Employment in the video game industry is volatile, though and video game designers sometimes find themselves with unfinished projects that have no more funding when projects are discontinued.
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