One of the many uses of digital animation today is in the field of Interactive Entertainment. Perhaps more widely known as computer or video games, this is one of the most groundbreaking areas of computer graphics development in the world.

The video games development industry is caught in an upward spiral of increasing development times and art requirements as the hardware that makes the games possible becomes ever more powerful. Ten years ago a game would require only one artist to create all the art resources. Five years ago a small team of five artists would suffice for most projects. In the present day, with teams working on Playstation2, Xbox, Gamecube and advanced PC games, teams of twenty artists are not uncommon. This huge increase in the quantity and quality of art required by the modern video game has created a boom in the market for skilled artists. This makes the video games profession very appealing to Computer Generated Imaging (CGI) students; who, if they have the correct skills, will find themselves junior positions in the industry.

This chapter looks at:

• How a computer game is made, from concept to final product

• How to create animations for the industry

• Career Options in the games industry and what skills employers look for

• What sort of art to put in a portfolio for applying for a job in the industry