Tag: Economic Woes

How to Become a Game Designer

avi asked:

Game designers are in demand. The gaming industry is growing faster than colleges and schools can churn out students. The hours are long, and the work is addictive – but if you can learn to program as well as you play, a game designer career could become a reality for you.

Game designers are passionate self-learners with addictive personalities. They are addicted to games, and they must be in order to be a game designer. Game designers are under pressure to meet deadlines, but deadlines crush creativity. They are in a constant battle on the screen, and within themselves. When passionate gaming mixes with creativity, programming, endurance and addiction, a game designer is born.

Gaming isn’t child’s play anymore, it’s big business. In 2008 the US pulled in a hefty 22 billion dollars from the gaming industry, despite economic woes. Globally, the gaming industry was a winner in 2007 with over 41 billion dollars worth of gaming hardware and software filling the living rooms of gamers everywhere. There are job titles that future game designers aren’t even aware exist. Of course there’s a chief technical officer, a senior programmer, and an art director – but now the entertainment and media want ads are looking for lead scenario designers, battle designers, combat designers and level designers. There are game designer careers within game designer jobs. Some other titles for game designer careers are scenario designer, concept author, conceptual designer, level planner and camera designer. Then of course there’s the textual artist, background modeler, environment designer and character designer. But it all starts with a computer and an education – and lots of game playing.

A game designer education needs to include courses in programming, graphic design, media, art, communication, marketing, algebra and geometry. Self-learning, by taking advantage of game creating software (game engine tools) and 3D modeling tools can give you a head start. Going back to play some of the historical games and reviewing the history of video games can also put you a level over the competition. If you are addicted enough and have the perseverance to pursue your career, getting a college education is the fastest and easiest way to get your foot in the door. Your portfolio should include courses in digital media, communication, graphic design and computer programming at the minimum. Try to get courses in animation, cinematics, creative writing or storytelling. The majority of game designers have a degree, and common majors are computer science, art and English.

Game designer positions will be growing with technology. Your talent and on-the-job experience in game designing will carry you up the levels in your career, but your college education will get you in the door. Investing in an education in game designing will give you the career potential to make well over $50,000 and do something you love. Design a plan for your future, and take the path to your game design career. A game designer that loves to game will always win.

How to Be a Nonprofit Development Director – Your First 100 Days

Pamela Grow asked:

President Roosevelt, coming into office in the midst of the desperate years of the Great Depression, set the standard for new presidents to make their marks within their first 100 days in office.

And, like FDR, incoming President Barack Obama enters the White House at a time of great crisis with his own ambitious first 100 days to do list.

Chances are, if you’re coming on board as a nonprofit development director in today’s climate, you, too, may be facing a time of great instability.

Nonprofits, for the most part, have been hit hard by our nation’s economic woes. They’re facing challenges in terms of donations, staffing, government and foundation funding and organizational structure.

How can you make a difference quickly, while at the same time setting those important standards for your organization’s future sustainability?

Too often a development director’s worth is hastily measured by those without a true understanding of how development operates. Today’s grant proposal will more than likely take months, if not a year, to bear fruit. Establishing a successful individual donor campaign will certainly yield immediate results, but the real results may take years.

How can you best approach your new position in those crucial first 100 days?

Begin by giving yourself some time to review what’s been done in the past. Hopefully the grant files will be well organized, the database will be one that you’re already familiar with, you can access what has been done in terms of any type of annual appeal and events.

Make a list to determine what needs to be done in each of the following areas:

Grants

Take a look at your organization’s 990 or budget for the past three years to determine what percentage of the budget came from grant funding.

Has the organization run any past capital campaigns? Do they have a history of funding from the same funders every year? What efforts have been made to locate new sources of foundation or corporate funding? What is the organization’s goal for foundation/corporate funding? What types of relationships does the organization have with their foundation/corporate funders?

If you’ve been in the field for awhile, right off the top of your head, some new sources may come to mind. Make it a point to prioritize locating new sources of funding by doing weekly research.

Individual Donors

Who are your donors? Does your organization have any bequest gifts?

Make it a point to create a listing of your top ten to twenty donors. You’ll want to speak with them on the phone or meet with them personally within the upcoming 100 days to introduce yourself and learn about their connection with the organization.

Don’t make the mistake of solely focusing on your top donors. Query your database as well to find your most loyal donors. These may be individuals who only give $50 – but they’ve given every year for the past ten years. Make it a point to write, call or meet with as many of these individuals as well to introduce yourself and show your appreciation.

Database

I’m assuming that your organization has one ☺. Chances are, if you’re a new development director working for a smaller nonprofit and you are the sole development department, the database may be nonexistent or a bit of a mess.

Do your best to familiarize yourself with your organization’s database, the past protocols for data entry and reporting procedures – and absolutely set aside time for training if necessary.

Communications

How has your organization communicated in the past? What does their website look like and who maintains it? Is their website current? What types of collateral does the organization have to express their mission? Is the organization logo prominent on all pieces of communication? Has communication with donors been current or sporadic? Has any effort been made to engage the local press?

Begin to outline a strong, consistent communications plan to keep your donors – and the public – informed.

Stewardship

Does the organization have protocols on stewardship? What are the guidelines for a thank you letter to a donor? To a corporate or foundation funder? When does the Board president or CEO sign the thank you letter? Are thank you calls made on a weekly basis?

Make a plan to gather all stewardship materials together and develop a consistent plan for thanking and retaining donors.

Events

Familiarize yourself with past events, if any. How do they relate to the mission of the organization? Have they met goal? What are the expectations for the upcoming year?

Board

During your first 30 days you should make every effort to introduce yourself to every member of your board of directors if you haven’t already met. Find out how they became involved with the organization, what their fundraising goals are, and what kind of communication they’d like to receive from you.

Community

Has your organization been involved with any community organizations in the past such as Rotary, the Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, etc.?

If so, make it a point to keep current on the connections. If not, you may want to consider how involvement might benefit your organization.

Your Mission

Probably the most important part about your new job is your organization’s mission and how you relate to it. Your strong passion for the goals and value of your organization will be key to how well you are able to raise funds.

Whether you’re working for a museum, an arts organization, a free clinic, a school, a religious organization, etc., you must be thoroughly grounded and have a strong belief in the mission. Make it a point to learn why your organization was founded, who benefits, and why their services are so important to the community.

Wearing the many hats of a one-person development office is challenging! Make your first 100 days count.