Gamers beware.

Warning to all those who aspire a career in game development. Gamers beware, a career developing games might not be as fun as playing them.

So I'm playing the game Oblivion, and I think to myself what every teenager thinks, why not make video games for a living. It's not much of a stretch for me, since I do film, so why not? It must be as fun as playing games, right? Hell no, and I'll tell you why you might not consider such a career. Take this from someone who is in entertainment and has close ties to the gaming world. For one, the market is now pretty flooded with graduates. Comparitively to other industries, such as design or advertising, there really aren't a lot of thriving gaming studios.

Rule number 1: enjoy where you work and be willing to relocate to the West Coast.
Like the film industry, most of these thriving companies are on the West Coast of the United States. There are exceptions to the location, and there are several successful pockets outsided of California and the West Coast. Most big studios are in L.A.. So you should consider L.A. or the West coast first. If almost all of your work is in one location, then it will be inevitable for you to consider that location eventually. Make sure you like the West Coast. You can thrive for awhile in some locations, but if you want job stability, then the West Coast is where it's at for entertainment. If you lose a gig in L.A., another one is waiting for you five minutes down the street, no big woop. If you loose your gig in Deleware, then your #@$&ed.

Rule number two: Like video games more than sleep or food.
You need to enjoy playing video games to make them. You not only have to enjoy playing them, but you have to live and breath video games. Production will require your heart and soul, and you will need to be passionate about video games to last in the industry. Making video games is a lifestyle, and if you aspire for a moderately normal life, then the industry might not suit you. Many companies require you to pull excessive hours in the name of making video games. It is not unheard of to work 70-100 hours a week in the gaming industry. Now this may not deter you at first, especially if your a gaming freak of nature, but you might desire a family down the road. Remember, your priorities will change over time. You might sit in your under-roos playing Oblivion into the wee hours of the night, but in the future, believe it or not, you might desire other things; like a social life.

Rule number three: be really f'n good
So we established that the industry is becoming oversaturated with new graduates, but we must also consider the quality of artists and technicians currently in the industry. This is true of any high demand career. The people who get there are super duper talented. So not only must you be very persistent in your application process (this may take years), but you must also develop your eye for detail. If you want to work on a game like Oblivion, then you must already be able to create content as good as the people already doing it. There is no time for on the job training.

So, if the top three rules don't scare you away, by all means go for it. Just remember, you need to want to make games more than live a normal life. If you think your lifestyle will be games for the rest of your working career, then by all means, go for it. I'd bet though, your priorities will change after some time.

Start here to learn about the gaming industy and search for gaming jobs:
http://www.gamasutra.com/