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Online gaming is more popular than ever - and instead of sitting on the sofa and just playing the games - more and more people have decided to get in the action and develop their own games. And with 722 million total PCs using the internet - and more than 97 percent of those PCs equipped with Flash, now is a great time to get into Flash gaming!
But how do you do it?
Of course, you could go the old-fashioned route and get your degree in Game Art and Design, but if you already have your degree in another field of study and you don't have the time or inclination to go back, there are some simple steps you can take to get your foot in the door at Flash gaming companies the world over:
* Get a degree in something. Any degree program will teach you critical thinking skills, writing and speech (which is important when you're trying to make a good impression), plus you can add in art classes to develop your creative side and programming classes for a solid background any employer would love to have.
* Develop a working Flash game demo and submit it to gaming sites like UGOPlayer.com and others. This will get your game out there, get you the feedback you need to work out the kinks and - most importantly - impress gamers and others in the industry.
* As a side job - or your only job - land a position with an established game company to test their games. It's not glamorous, but it will get your foot in the door and you'll work with just about everyone in the company!
* Parlay your game tester job into a QA job and get to know the developers and designers personally and professionally. If you can make some good calls, they'll learn to respect your work and may, eventually, help you weasel your way into their division.
Of course, knowing the actual games that are hot or are coming up really helps your knowledgebase and your understanding of what people really want in a Flash game, so play, play, play. But don't just sit on your sofa like a lump - play the games in earnest - take notes, find the tricks and discover what really makes them tick.
When you're ready, send out your resume and your demo, follow up on every inquiry and make any connection you can. There's stiff competition in game development, but with the right skills, the right connections and a good plan of attack, you'll land on your feet.
About the Author
Cait McQueen is TV producer who recently got into gaming at UGOPlayer.com. Her passion for Flash games was fueled by her desire to go head-to-head with her 17-year-old brother - and win! She now has a second job as a part-time game tester at a major gaming company.
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