The perception of video games has come a long way since the introduction of Pong in 1972. Today, video games are generally considered a unique blend of entertainment, art, and literature thanks to the fantastically immersive and deep narratives that they are capable of creating. From legendary franchises such as Final Fantasy to incredible indie titles like Undertale, gaming has carved out a special place in the hearts and minds of many.

Given this, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a good number of senior high school students have an interest in taking a game arts degree in college. After all, the boom of the gaming industry and widespread acceptance of gaming as a whole has made a career in game development a serious and lucrative one.

Whether you are a “hardcore gamer” or a “casual”, studying game arts in college is a worthwhile investment in your future. If you’re still on the fence about taking a multimedia arts degree specializing in game arts, here are a few reasons why you should seriously consider taking it.

Do what you love, love what you do

If you are considering taking game arts in college, there’s a good chance that you truly enjoy playing video games. If so, then that passion will definitely serve you well for decades to come.
Pursuing a career in game development often means you don’t need to choose between earning for a living or doing what you love—and if you ask for career advice from anyone who has been working for a while, they’ll often tell you to “do what you love”.

Go international

As the gaming industry continues to grow, more and more game studios are popping up all over the world. This means studying game arts can open the door to working abroad in the US, Japan, England, and other countries. The fact that many large game studios, such as Ubisoft, are expanding into countries like the Philippines also presents the opportunity to start locally and move to the international scene later on.

Beyond gaming

In the event that you’re worried that taking game arts in college will end up narrowing your career choices after graduation, then you have nothing to fear. The truth is that this course helps you develop skills that can be applied to many different careers. A game arts degree can help you transition into a career in film animation, software development, audio engineering, graphic design, and more! The best part is that these alternative career paths are only set to increase in number as various industries explore the use of VR and AR in their marketing and operations.