by David Reiersgord

Created on: March 14, 2008   Last Updated: May 13, 2008

So you want to become a computer game programmer, huh? This is one of the most exciting jobs in the gaming industry and it isn't as difficult to become one as advertised. There's one simple qualification, however. You must have a love and desire for all things video games.

Becoming a successful computer game programmer stems from having the creative drive along with an open mind to everything that a video game can be. You should definitely have a love for video games, or else you're in the wrong field. This means that you should be checking out your local electronics outlet for the newest and latest releases so that you can stay up to date. Nintendo wasn't founded over night - it was the product of years of patience and creative drive to produce the best product on the market. After many years of careful research and planning, Nintendo became the first successful video game company and started the revolution that it is today.

Also, having a varied range of knowledge for each console is important, too, because you're then able to better represent the demands of each and every customer.

Developing companies are looking for people who are avid problem solvers while at the same time having a tremendous amount of patience. There are numerous bugs and problems when designing a game that it could pose many threats to the overall production of the game.

Some of the problems that a game developer may encounter are collision protection, and making all of the characters and setting look as convincing as possible with the animation. There's always room for stretching the creativity - even while still in production - and many games are needed to be changed on the fly because of the amount of work that is required when a person is writing software.

Maybe the most important quality to have as a video game designer is having the mindset of a perfectionist. Everything must be of the highest quality and gaming companies aren't looking for anything else. When marketing their product, having visual evidence of a "perfect" product is what separates games such as Halo and Call of Duty from their competition. Being a perfectionist means that you will never miss a deadline - which is essential when it comes to developing the next great game - because companies don't at all enjoy pushing back a much anticipated release date.

If you have a love for video games, and can identify with any of the following descriptions, maybe video game programming is for you. After you've taken the first step

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