Understanding Students' Perceptions of Emerging Career Pathways and Job Roles in the Gaming Industry

As technology innovates, so too do the industries that revolve around it. The gaming industry is one of these intertwined industries that advances alongside technology. However, there arises a problem when approaching education for this industry. How can an educator equip a student with the proper skills and knowledge for a world that is growing in ways that are difficult to predict? Our research project focuses on addressing this concern by analyzing previous research publications alongside students’ current perceptions of the gaming industry and new technologies. We plan to gather information through a qualitative survey into the influences, perceptions, and future plans regarding the gaming industry. Our survey focuses on the influences for a career in the gaming industry, the current level of education provided by the curriculum, and VR/AR/AI technologies. However, we hypothesize that we will find a need for broader exposure, education, and certification in regards to the gaming industry. This is based on the research publications that were analyzed in preparation for the survey. The publications pointed to a lack of prior experience and a shifting skill-set focus within the gaming industry and related fields. Additionally, the rise of AI within the work space is creating uncertainties within the future of the gaming industry. These factors can be possible areas of improvement for the current landscape of education. Without the data from our survey, it is impossible to form a proper conclusion of our research.