More youngsters look to computer games programming as a career

Описание: (7 Jan 2005)
Seoul, Korea - 15 November 2004
1. Wide of 'PC Bang' internet caf�
2. Sign reading: PC Bang
3. Interior of PC Bang caf�
4. Computer screen with a game on
5. Child playing game
6. Close up of hand
7. SOUNDBITE: (Korean) Lee Hae-Lim, Gamer:
8. Wide of bedroom
9. Wide of pro-gamers busy playing games, one doing the dishes at the back
10. Close up of pro-gamers
11. Hands on keyboards
12. Hand clicking a mouse
13. Bulletin boards with a list of pro-gamers name and photos
14. SOUNDBITE: (Korean) Park Sung-Jun, programmer EGOSYS POS Programme team
15. Wide of Seoul Hoseo Institute of Technology
16. Classroom with students and a teacher, giving a lecture
17. Close up of teacher
18. Students in the classroom
19. Various of game projects by students
20. SOUNDBITE: (Korean) Jee Bong-Chul, Reporter at Kyung Hyang newspaper and Professor at Seoul Hoseo Institute of Technology
23. Pan of students listening the lecture in class
24. Hands of programmers playing computer games at their apartment
SUGGESTED LEAD-IN:
As one of the world's most wired nations, it's no surprise that South Korea's leading industry is information technology.
With a skyrocketing number of computer users in the country, the computer game industry is booming.
One-third of all homes in South Korea now have a computer and children spend most of their free time playing in the virtual world.
But it's not all play - many of them hope the competitive cyber world will offer them a prosperous career in the real world.
VOICE-OVER:
Inside internet cafes and homes around the country, hundreds of thousands of South korean youngsters are busy tapping on keyboards to win top rankings in computer game leagues.
For hours on end, they play these highly competitive games in their quest to be number one.
SOUNDBITE: (Korean)
"I play games about six to seven hours everyday at PC Bang."
SUPER CAPTION: Lee Hae-Lim, Gamer
For many young gamers, it's a way of life, with young programming teams living together to ensure complete dedication to their work.
They believe long hours of practise are essential if they want to pursue their prized career in the programming industry.
This may look like playtime - but it's a serious game as well.
Some of these youngsters hope to find fame and fortune in the real world as programmers, by conquering the world of cyber space.
SOUNDBITE: (Korean)
"My specialty is Starcraft and I am ranked sixth, and to do better and better I practice about 12 hours every day."
SUPER CAPTION: Park Sung-Jun, programmer at EGOSYS POS Programme Team
There are even game schools in South Korea where students can learn about the history of computer games and their place in society - at home and abroad.
About 40 game colleges have been established with classes on everything from game planning and analysis to marketing and strategy.
SOUNDBITE: (Korean)
"Those students (in the game college) will be working as game developers, distributors and also in newly introduced professions."
SUPER CAPTION: Jee Bong-Chul, Reporter at Kyung Hyang newspaper and Professor at Seoul Hoseo Institute of Technology
And academics insist, it's not a man's world online either, with more women enrolling in the classes to pursue a programming career.
Many have already proven to be fierce and successful competitors in their bid to be top games scorers as well.

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