Hi,

I am a student in High School in my Senior year currently, and I am very interested in going into the gaming industry. I plan on going to college for a degree in Computer Science or Software Engineering, and becoming a programmer. My school requires us to do a Senior Project, and mine is learning the Java Programming language, hopefully to a point where I can put it to use in coding a simple game, and therefore have something to show.

Though I do not dissuade myself from the reality that I will need something real to show. Is there anything I can do, for maybe one hour a day on weekdays, that employers would LOVE to see? I know continued support of a skill is something employers value, and I realize I have about 5 years before I need to worry about actually getting a Job in the industry (and I will be taking Jobs elsewhere doing menial tasks in the menetime..).

I figure I play games a disproportionite amount every day compared to what I could be doing that would help me in my goal in the future. I realize this epiphany comes maybe too late, considering my gaming habits over the last 3 or 4 years, but I do not entirely discredit those years, as they are what have fueled my passion to become a creator of Games in the future. That, and I have learned a good deal on how to deal with the community, good game design philosiphy (compared to bad game design), and general skills such as those from my time as an Avid gamer. Though I can not exactly stick those on a Resume.

So say I've got an hour a day to devote to increasing my skill in the industry. What do you guys, (potentially) being within the gaming industry sugguest I do?

Thanks,

Joeshua Baker