Are You Game for a Hot New Internet Career?

Do you spend much of your time online playing computer games? Why not put that creative energy towards a future career in gaming? You can get your start at Montgomery College, which recently began offering a new Internet gaming and simulation certificate program.

Web gaming is not just about entertainment any more. Increasingly, the technology is being used for educational training, advocacy, and advertising. Games that involve specialized role-playing are used to train pilots, soldiers, police, and other emergency responders, as well as students, educators, and businesses, helping them learn how to react in different scenarios. The advertising industry has also embraced Web games, using “pop-ups,” Web banners, or 3-D Web-based “advergames” to entice customers.

“ The computer game industry is on track to make more money than the movie industry,” said Deb Solomon, Montgomery College computer applications professor. “Students who complete this certificate program could go on to pursue a four-year degree in gaming technologies, and find a career in diverse gaming fields, such as design, programming, motion capture, game testing and even script writing.”

At Montgomery College, the computer applications, computer graphics, and computer publishing and printing departments collaborated to create the new certificate program, designed to meet the computer gaming industry’s demand for well-trained employees. Currently, Maryland is the home to the largest concentration of computer game companies on the East Coast and the industry is growing.

To boost their knowledge of computers, students interested in pursuing a “gaming” certificate will learn Web skills, Flash animation, and computer programming. Students will take required courses and electives in graphic design, 3D modeling, Photoshop, ColdFusion, and digital video, among others.

“Very few colleges teach this emerging technology,” said Bradley Kaldahl, Montgomery College professor of computer publishing and printing. “We are excited that Montgomery College is one of the first.”

For more information about the new certificate program, e-mail deborah.solomon@montgomerycollege.edu