I worked for six years as a game designer and can not highly recommend it. Very long hours, surprisingly low pay, heavy competition, and no real job security (even if you\'ve got bucketloads of talent). Doing it for the love of gaming will burn you out with the hours required, no question.
As a part time job, or as a springboard to something better, it\'s fine. I just wouldn\'t plan to make a long career of it. Your goal should be forming your own company and putting out your own games. That\'s expensive, time consuming, and requires paying your dues and learning how the gaming business works, but ultimately it will be the most rewarding.
Don\'t even bother with a college that offers \"game design\" classes. Focus on general computer skills, like IT, web design, programming, etc -- that way you have more options available.
It\'s easy to get on with various low level projects like muds and web games. Start there, get some experience dealing with customers and coding in both live and developmental environments.
Absolutely avoid game companies that refuse to pay you but have mandatory duties (specific project goals, meetings, customer service shifts, etc). Working volunteer is fine, but it needs to be treated as a volunteer job.
Lots of generalizations there, but hopefully point you in the right direction.
Kep
