At the age of 38, I've decided to begin work on a game development degree. This will cost me thousands of dollars and the pay will be pretty much what I make right now... but you know what, I decided that I might as well do something that I love to do. I'd like to get up each morning and go to work with enthusiasm instead of working to get myself motivated everyday. Secondly, I believe that gaming can have a wider appeal and it's best days are still ahead.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you like to do something, it shouldn't matter how much it pays.... because if you love it, you will more than likely become a leader in the industry and pretty much be able to name your price. There is no price on happiness.

Honestly game develpment isn't worth it.  I have my Bsc in Computer Science so I know exactly what you're going through, I wanted to go into game programming my self, but then I started thinking about it; I'd be working 60-80 hours a week, and in crunch time I'm living in the office, and for what?  A little bit higher than minimum wage?  And at a senior development position I'm making barely any more money.  Game programmers are under paid for what they do and to be frank they get taken advantage of.  The amount of time they have to spend in the office they should be getting over 100k a year and they get around 30k (I'm talking Canadian currency mind you).  Like I'm sure there are studios out there where you can make a decent wage and not have to put in 60 hours a week, but that's a minority.

Hi, where have you found this game development degree? I'm also looking for something more motivating.

thank you

well im in college right know for game design and i can say from the students who graduted from my school for game design and came back up to tell us about their experiences they seem to be happy and well paid. except 2 students who graduated and went to EA and came back to tell us. They said the pay was pretty good but they get worked to hard. though they said that they only got aid around 35,000 to 40,000 when they first started. Though i could care less i love to design games so the pay will increase as i get better.

Unless you are really really really passionate about making video games, stay the hell away from it.

Pay = Terrible

Hours = Terrible

Job Satisfaction = Minimal

But you do get some transferable skills.

Game Developers Annual Salary Survey in it's April 2010 issue:

Progammers - $80,320/yr

Artist/Animators - $71,071/yr

Game Designers - $69,266/yr

Producers - $75,082/yr

Audio Developers - $82,045/yr

QA Testers - $37,905

Business/Legal - $96,408

These are average salaries. Some make more, some make less, probably considerably so... and these are all livable wages depending on where you live in the country. Of all of these, the only deal breaker for me would be the QA Tester Salary. If I get this degree and I'm offered a penny less than what I deserve, then I'll start making my own games/interactive media for iPhone/iPad.. or XBL and PSN.

basically this

If its about money you should select something else. Now if you like programming and video game, thats something else. Whatever your doing, you need to like it if you want to have good salaries. If you dont like it, it will reflect on your job. Without promotions or experiences/references rare are the sectors where you can earn more than 40 K- 60 K per year.

I think a programmer today has more options than they realize... This is a very exciting time thagt I hope I can stil cash in on 3-4 years from now. You have XBL, PSN, Steam and iTunes... now all distributing interactive media or games. The distribution is all digital. No middleman for a studio/animator/programmer to get their product to the masses. All you need is talent and passion.

I also think that there is a core gamer in everyone... even your grandma. The problem is that the markets have focused on young men so much because that's who primarily makes games. 20 years fro now, I think everyone will be playing video games so much that they will hesitate to call them games.