Education/training

Video gamers hit new platforms

Like the main characters in the video games they designed, Dario Segura and Joe Pirotta must overcome numerous challenges and obstacles if they're going to make it in the competitive gaming industry. Winning design contests has landed them one level closer to their ultimate goals.

LINDA WHITE
[ 2007-12-12 ]

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Segura entered the International Academy of Design & Technology (IADT) EP Video Game Design Contest with the game "Sneak Out." The player takes on the role of a prisoner attempting to break out of prison by negotiating corridors while avoiding search lights and lasers.

His efforts landed him a $10,000 scholarship to IADT's video game design and technology program. In addition to game research and planning, he is learning about character development and storytelling, modelling, programming and project management -- all key components to success.

A native of Mexico City, Segura developed his first game when he was just 10 years old. He owned a small graphic design and 3-D animation studio in Mexico before immigrating to Canada. The father of two dreams about one day having his own studio in Canada.

The video game industry may be about fun and fantasy, but it takes serious skills to be successful. Most games are developed in studios and shipped to publishers who advertise and distribute them. Though job titles and duties can vary from one company to another, the people involved in creating video games work in one of four main teams: design, artistic, programming and testing.


Joe Pirotta and his team at WASD Gameworks netted a $2,500 prize in the Vortex 2007 The Game Competition for "Attrition," a fast-paced, third-person shooter that allows simple control over a horde of evolving robotic units. Players must survive a multitude of challenging objectives based on missions to escape Earth and save humanity.

But the prize money was just the icing on the cake. Much more important to Pirotta was the opportunity to network with industry insiders. The competition -- aimed at game design students, graduates trying to break into the field, developers and budding entrepreneurs -- offered step-by-step workshops on everything from creating, financing and pitching, to marketing and selling ideas. They also had an opportunity to be mentored by industry honchos.

"We felt it would be a good opportunity to learn more about the industry and to access the eyes and ears of industry insiders," Pirotta says. "We've all been avid gamers for years and a lot of us have worked in companies on educational and other titles. We wanted to create a game based on pure entertainment."

He's committed to making it in Ontario. "Many designers leave Toronto and go to Vancouver, Montreal and the U.S. But there's so much talent here. If you have a good idea and a good concept, no one should be afraid to give it a shot," Pirotta says.

"Winning the competition added fuel to the fire. We still have lots of work to do and are now trying to acquire some investment ... We have an ambitious goal to make this nothing less than a triple 'A' title."

DIVERSE OPPORTUNITIES


Video game development requires a wide range of specialized skills, which is why opportunities for aspiring game developers are so diverse. Only one in 15 people involved in game development are computer programmers, the International Academy of Design & Technology in Toronto reports. The field includes digital artists, game designers, producers and musicians.



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