subject: A Degree In Techology Is A Good Choice! [print this page] It's long been accepted that video gaming is a male-dominated form of entertainment. Reports state 62% of all gamers are male. If that isn't enough, the industry site GamesCareers.biz, reports 10% of all job applications received are from women. It's a situation the industry feels must be changed as soon as possible. A degree from accredited online schools will allow entry into a field that is much more than just programming.
To the industry, this situation implies it's missing a large chunk of its desired market. They feel if they employ more women, both on the research and development as well as marketing side, it will give them the insight to have that needed appeal.
The employment gap is considered so dire that Microsoft held a conference at its headquarters in the state of Washington. CNET pointed out approximately 150 pros attended and the vast majority (90%) of them were women. The cable news service then joked Microsoft managed to reach about all the women in the field. If you need more information about online computer science degree, look on the internet.
Yet if one reviews the work environment, one can see why many women don't want to work there. The gaming giants EA and ActiVision are facing lawsuits about their work environment. Developers work longer-than-average hours with little overtime compensation. As personnel are younger than most software designers, this situation isn't particularly conducive to mothers with infants to pre-teens. They do want to see their kids every so often.
One company taking the initiative is Sony Online Entertainment, another leader in the video game field. According to CNN, they have created G.I.R.L., Gamers In Real Life, a scholarship program to attract more young women to careers in game development. It is being led by Torrie Dorrell, Sony's Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing.
Gamers In Real Life has already granted two sums of $10,000 each to two deserving candidates, and intends to have a third scholarship out in May, 2010. That isn't all. Another reward is the recipients also are hired as interns by Sony. To learn more about this program, see the Sony site. There is an abundance of information about information technology on the web.
This aren't the only monies available to women who want to create fun as a career. One thing to consider is that game development is a part of computer science, and as such is considered a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) career. Another good source for financial aid is the National Science Foundation for an S-STEM scholarship/grant.
