Making video games can open a door to life-long creativity and learning.

If your child loves games and is showing interest in making one, why not help them get started? Learning how to modify existing games, or even make new ones, is a great way for kids to learn fun and useful skills like art, programming, and design.

It’s never too early to start nurturing your child’s talent and curiosity, so let’s look at some of the best online tools and resources for getting started. Then we’ll discuss some tips for helping them along successfully.

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Do you have a passion for playing video games? Do you enjoy writing? Then building a career as a professional video game reviewer could be a great fit. Video game reviewers spend their time playing games, and then writing about them to help others decide whether to play — or to offer insights that could help players enjoy the games even more.

So what does it take to become a video game reviewer? And is it a good job that can pay the bills while offering the creative fulfillment you crave?

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Since the dawn of the computer age, if you wanted to get a job programming, the best way has been to get a computer science (CS) degree. Because of this, universities and colleges that offer CS degrees have been the “gatekeepers” to the programming industry. Which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing — CS degrees certainly do teach you a lot about computer science and programming, and even give you some hands-on experience.

But a new option has more recently appeared, and for many people it’s a way to learn programming faster, and usually cheaper: online coding boot camps.

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Dig Dug didn't make the list, but it's one of my personal favorites! (GDC 2011)

If you want to make video games for a living, it’s incredibly helpful to learn a bit of video game history. Which games made the biggest impact on the world, and why? Which iconic games changed the course of video game design forever?

Playing historically important games is not just for fun. It will also make you a better game developer. It will help you understand the evolution of games as an art form, and experience the kinds of features and mechanics that history’s best designers used to create engaging and successful games.

In other words, by studying the games that shaped the industry, you can learn from the successes (and mistakes!) of the past. Then you can bring that knowledge to the table when you’re designing of your own games.

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If you want a career in the video game industry, finding the right educational program can jump-start your career and help you find a better game job, faster.

But unfortunately, college isn’t cheap — many programs can cost a small fortune that could take you years to pay back after graduation.

That’s where scholarships, and other forms of financial aid, can really make a difference. Scholarships can reduce the amount you pay for college, which means you’ll have a lot less to pay back after you graduate. Keep reading to learn where you can find the best video game scholarships, and find out how to make sure your application has the best shot at getting accepted.

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If you search for open jobs in the game industry, you might be disappointed to see that most postings seem to require a college degree. But in fact, many game jobs — from testing, to art, to production — actually do not require a degree. And some others only require a degree “equivalent,” which means you may not need a degree if you have experience in a related area.

Here’s a list of the top video game careers that don’t require a degree. They’re all entry-level jobs, so the pay is lower than average for the game industry. But everyone needs to start somewhere! You may start out as an “associate,” but with any luck you’ll move up quickly in pay and title, once you get a little on-the-job experience. After that, the sky is the limit.

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Computer programming, also known as “coding,” is one of the most in-demand jobs in the world. It’s also among the highest paid, because there’s an ongoing global shortage of people who know how to code.

And with the tech industry booming with no end in sight, tech companies that make products like software, websites, robots, and video games will continue to grow and demand talented coders for years to come.Read more »

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Lauryl Zenobi is a UX Researcher and author of a new book, "I Want a UX Job!"

Have you ever leaned hard to push a door open, only to discover too late that it’s actually a “pull” door? (And then glanced around embarrassed to see who noticed?) It wasn’t your fault. Some doors just don’t make it obvious whether to push or pull. My least favorite doors are even worse: they actually have a pull handle but still require a push!

Who designs all these confusing doors? Is it some kind of sick prank? Do the designers laugh diabolically as they imagine how dorky I’ll look pulling the push doors and pushing the pull doors?

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A website for Destinations Career Academy loaded on an Apple laptop
Is an online high school right for you?

If you’re a high school student interested in becoming a game designer, it can be hard to know where to start. Sure, there are lots of options for learning game design if you’re in college… but for high schoolers, there haven’t been many options to “formally” learn game design, until recently.

One of your options for learning game design in high school, is an online program called Destinations Career Academy (DCA). It’s an online high school that’s tuition-free and fully-accredited, available in 19 states (US only). DCA also has some private schooling options, and runs free online game design summer camps.

Today, I spoke with an outreach manager from DCA to learn more about what it is, who it’s for, and what their education programs can do for high schoolers interested in game design. Read more »

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Portrait of Branden Brushett, 3D video game artist
“Do not give up. Working in the game industry is worth the struggle.”

Branden Brushett is a professional 3D artist in the video game industry, with credits on hit games like Minecraft, MetalStorm, and Paradise Bay. But it took more than an art education to break into the game industry. After art school, Branden’s journey had only just begun. Success as a game artist demanded serious effort, countless hours, and literally chasing his dream across the country.

We’re speaking with Branden today to learn why you should (or shouldn’t!) get an art degree, how to choose and apply to art schools, and how you might be able to score a free education and follow a non-standard path into the game industry. Read more »

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