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Gaming industry jobs thriving during the recession?

As with many IT sector jobs, the gaming industry is far from immune from the pitfalls of the recession.

With EA Games recently announcing it was to dispense with around 1,500 jobs, people may be thinking that this is not the time to be entering the ever-competitive sector.

However, even with headline-grabbing stories such as this, it seems that 2010 could well be the right time to be considering jobs in the gaming industry.

Speaking after the Eurogamer Expo held in Leeds last month, Karl Gilbert, assistant producer for Team 17, stressed that Yorkshire is the place to be when it comes to making inroads with the gaming industry.

This year's exhibition saw 4,000 gamers flocking to the city to try out some of the up-and-coming software such as Aliens vs Predator, Mass Effect 2 and New Super Mario Bros Wii.

The sheer success of this event illustrates how popular gaming remains during times of economic trouble - and Mr Gilbert believes people should be taking note.

Independent games studios in Yorkshire are performing well at present, he suggested, including the likes of Just Add Water in Leeds, Revolution in York and You've Got Sumo in Sheffield.

"One of the major reasons is probably the university support which provides skilled staff to studios in the area," Mr Gilbert identified.

Many different studios in Yorkshire offer a great range of both products and styles, he said, giving anyone interested in the industry plenty of opportunities.

Boss of Silicon Knights Denis Dyack recently told GamesIndustry.biz that although the games industry may not be immune from the impact of the recession, some companies will emerge from it much stronger.

"We're really excited because we're going to be able to come out and the industry is going to rebound and grow. We'll be one of probably five companies in the world that has any serious business beyond ten years," he predicted.

In response to the economic climate, some games studios have had to change their funding methods, as identified by Mr Gilbert.

Since going fully digital, the expert revealed how Team 17 has become self-funded, which in turn gives it more freedom and independence.

It may be worth noting, however, that although the Yorkshire games industry is faring well, it does not just source its talent from the local area.

"It's quite a strong place for game development here, so we get people from all over the world. Staff have [also] come from all parts of the country," Mr Gilbert acknowledged.

The industry is very diverse and has a variety of people working within it, he said, which may encourage those considering training in gaming jobs to give it a go.

One of the sectors which is likely to see growth is independent gaming, Gareth Davis, Facebook's head of games platforms, recently told BBC News.

As a result, independent games programmers are coming to the fore, he revealed, which could also provide opportunities for those thinking about taking up a career in the sector.

The internet has provided the ideal platform for people to create their own games and experiment with software development. Publishing them on sites such as Facebook gives them an audience of millions.

With a variety of platforms and tools available to would-be games developers, ideas can be turned into reality in a matter of days, Mr Davis revealed.

The gaming industry is growing and it is perhaps the time for those considering jobs in the IT sector to get the necessary training to see their aspirations become a reality.

With various courses on offer, getting training in the industry has never been easier.