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Video Games no Longer Just Child's Play(ARA) - The stereotype of video games as a children's-only pursuit is as outdated as a classic Pong console. Sure, teens still play them, but the first wave of gamers that grew up playing video games in the 1970s and ‘80s has now reached adulthood -- and many of these avid gamers have children of their own. As a result, millions of people today are playing, buying and even learning to create new games and other interactive entertainment products.Colleges around the country are responding to the gaming industry's need to create new products and fill jobs by offering game-related courses for credit. According to Mary Clarke-Miller, academic director for Game Art & Design at The Art Institute of California - San Francisco, "The growth in college programs related to game design reflects a growing need for trained talent in the interactive entertainment field. Educators are working together with the game industry to develop relevant programs to fill this need." According to the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA), the average age of a game player is 28 years old, and 90 percent of all games are purchased by adults over the age of 18. It's not just young men playing and buying games. The IDSA reports 40 percent of game players are women who tend to choose role-playing and lifestyle titles. This broad base of game purchasers helped drive video game industry global sales to an estimated $31 billion in 2002, according to a report by Informa Media Group. In the United States alone, UBS Warburg puts 2002 sales at $10.3 billion. In addition to the education community's keen response to this burgeoning industry, Wall Street is also keeping a close eye on its development; many game-related hardware and software companies are publicly traded. In the United States, the launch of three new gaming systems sent sales soaring, up nearly 43 percent to $9.4 billion in 2001, reports market researcher NPD. For game art students, many of them game players since grade school, a steady rise in the sophistication level of games requires that “students must not only have a solid foundation in drawing skills, but also a strong understanding of acting and storytelling,” says Christian Bradley, chair of Game Art & Design at The Art Institute of California - San Diego. Bradley, who has worked for industry leaders such as Interplay, The Dreamers Guild Studios and The Collective Studios, explains that in the early days of game production, design was driven by technical considerations, providing little more than rudimentary graphics, however “once those technical hurdles were overcome, graphics and game art started to play an ever-increasing role in game production.” At The Illinois Institute of Art - Chicago, Media Arts & Animation instructor Ed Kerr, says “graphically, game art lagged beyond other entertainment forms such as television and film, however with current game technology, the artistic challenges for the artist, and student, approach those of more established media.” Kerr also believes because rapidly-changing technology places constraints on the game art medium, game art creators must “ply their craft, communicating clearly and effectively within the limits of the game design.” And, although the game art field as a career is growing, more graduates with game art degrees means increased competition for jobs. “Graduates should anticipate starting near the bottom -- like most other fields -- and working their way up,” says Mark Meier, a game art instructor with The Art Institute of Phoenix, and a creator of PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games. “The best prospects for jobs may be smaller, or less established companies, where advancement can be quick,” he adds. So with an industry exploding as quickly as gaming, is there any end in sight to its growth? “When we consider that currently only a small segment of the population is computer literate, the potential for increased growth, in the industry and the jobs needed to fill it, looks very promising,” says Meier. For more information, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/nz. Courtesy of ARA Content About the author: Courtesy of ARA Content Circulated by Article Emporium The Porn Addict Supplement, Chapter I This article (at http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/internet-porn-nearly-cost-me-my-marriage-man-tells-forum/2005/08/07/1123353212143.html?oneclick=true) got me thinking (again) about pornography addiction. In the article a man who'd been watching internet porn for the last ten ye... How Empathy Can Reduce Your Anger Jim, a 42-year old engineer was teaching his eight-year-old son how to fly a radio-controlled airplane. As the airplane was taking off, Jim instructed his son to push the control stick on the radio to the right. He did and the airplane turned to the right. This was repeate... How To Step Into The Flow Of Abundance Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. ~ Luke 6:38 All of us have needs and want... Top 10 Ideas to Revive a Fizzling Relationship Love is exciting, and when a relationship is new, almost everything you do together is fresh and alive, and keeps you enthralled. Then time begins to pass, and while the love is still there, the relationship may have lost some of its sparkle, whether it's because you now have a fa... Desperate Housewife No More- 8 Ways To Take Back Your Life Do you feel that you are living someone else's life? Do you want to feel good and positive about yourself and your life? These 8 simple steps will help you to break free of what is causing distress in your life. Change Your Approach to Life. What is controlling yo... 7 Ways To Make a Great First Impression When you have an important event to attend there are 7 great ways to make sure you perform at your very best. These tips are relevant for social events and business meetings. Discover how to communicate with confidence while making great conversation. 1. Decide what you wa... Your Brain Makes You A Winner . . . Copyright © Jan Tincher - All Rights reserved http://www.tameyourbrain.com Your brain can make you a winner or a loser. It just depends on what your mind has told it! Would you like to change your mind? OK. Here's how we're going to do it. You will be visualiz... The Story of Big Jim The power went out. Again! I looked out my second story office window and knew exactly why. I could hear the sounds throughout the morning. This crew of 4 men and 3 bucket trucks stringing power lines along the new poles they had been planting in the front and ... 2 Super Techniques that will Improve Your Life Copyright 2005 Lambert Klein How would you like to learn two simple techniques that can vastly improve your life? If I told you that it is possible to significantly relieve yourself of anxiety, worry and stress as well as bad habits in a very short time, would you tak... Video Games no Longer Just Child's Play (ARA) - The stereotype of video games as a children's-only pursuit is as outdated as a classic Pong console. Sure, teens still play them, but the first wave of gamers that grew up playing video games in the 1970s and ‘80s has now reached adulthood -- and many of these avid gamers h... Is your ‘comfort zone' holding you in a torture chamber? What a weird title for this article, isn't it? How could that ever be? We are talking about the cushy, fluffy, fleece-lined personal comfort world here. The temperature is set just right to keep you in a “safe place” lull till the cows come home. In cow-speak it means fore... Free self hypnosis downloads Free Self Hypnosis Download The UK's two leading Hypnotists, Richard MacKenzie and Terry Doherty are making another first in the world of Personal Development and Hypnotherapy. The pair have launched easyTrance.com, which is a site that millions all over the world are expe... FINANCIAL ABUNDANCE AND PEACE OF MIND ARE ONE! There are only two emotions we can experience; love or fear. It should be obvious to you that any emotion based on love is positive while any emotion based on fear is negative. Examples of love based emotions are feelings such as forgiveness, hope, charity, compassion, calmness, ... Your First Step to Success – eliminate inner obstacles Think back to a time in your life when you felt inspired and excited to make a significant change. Did you go for it or did your inner obstacles get in the way? Your thoughts and beliefs are the foundation on which you build your success. You can't build a solid house on a... Quit Smoking: Why People Do Bad Things (Even When They Know They Shouldn't) Do you do Bad Things? Even though you know you shouldn't? It's not your fault. It really isn't. You know you should stop doing it, but no matter how much you know that, and how much you try, you just can't stop! Everyone knows how to lose weight. Don't eat fatteni...
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