First, some background info. I found this posting on a jobs website that is sponsored by my university, and being the poor college student I am, I check it on a regular basis. Out-of-campus jobs are posted along as well, and can range anywhere from the usual baby sitting duties to delivery truck drivers. Well, the one that happened to caught my eye today was a posting entitled: "computer graphics and game design tutor." Simple enough right? A rarity for sure, but simple nonetheless. Here is the description that follows it:
"Meet with 11 yr old and help with computer game design. We are currently using Torque Game Builder. Demonstrate simple computer programing."
Now, I've heard of young'ns being pretty damn good at games before - don't believe me? Look up pro-gamer Lil' Poison - and there have certainly been especially "gifted" kids before in other fields (though I don't know if the kid mentioned in the post is or isn't one - and if he/she is, then they should get out of gaming entirely - go find the cure for cancer or something!). But though this description shouldn't really take anyone by surprise in this day and age, its the underlying motive beneath it that makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. An 11 - year old is an aspiring game designer, using public tools available at their disposal and (supposedly) along with their parents' help, to create a game. However you read it, if you're a supporter of the games industry like me, that's freaking awesome.
And in some ways, I can relate. When I was 11, I was having a grand ol' time in elementary school, playing games with friends, reading through video game magazines, the works. Though I was a 90's kid, and the original Playstation just began its dominance in spreading gaming to the mass culture, it obviously wasn't as big as it is today - both financially and culturally. Of course, at 11, I didn't even dream of creating a game myself; I simply enjoyed the fun I had playing them. But when I look at the younger pre-teen generation today, gaming seems to have a much larger cultural impact on their lives. My main observation comes through my not-so-little cousins who own 360's, PS3's and Wii's: though they play them like mad, they can't possibly comprehend the immense power these consoles have under their fingertips today. All they care about is booting up XBox Live and talking trash and taking names in the latest Halo, Gears of War, or whatever game is popular at the moment.
Now I'm not trying to downplay their generation - granted, playing these preteens can get pretty irksome in online matches - but I've got a lot of respect for them for growing up in such a digitally connected society like ours, and even be (dare I say it) a tad bit envious as well. With the immense vast of knowledge contained in the internet easily accessible to anyone nowadays, along with powerful software tools that, with practice and understanding, can yield equally impressive results, these kids can create/modify their own digital work (and have some experience doing so) before they even reach puberty.
As these kids become more and more exposed to video games, the internet, and other technological wonders at earlier ages, their understanding of such media would only multiply as they get older and become acquainted with even more powerful machines. Assuming the kid in the job post follows through to become a game designer as an adult- and at their age, musings of future careers are still highly sensitive to change - he is certainly following the right path, and would have an early edge up on the competition.
I realize that I'm far from being old myself, but looking at things like the job description above is just one of those stop-and-pause moments that really have me thinking about where our gaming culture is heading. It represents a small, small fragment of it - and for all I know, this could just be a passing interest for the kid and not a career defining decision - but it could also be a sign for things to come.
Question is, should I sign up for the job?
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