Don't listen to anyone who tries to drag the idealism out of you. Personally, nothing makes me happier than to see someone smile or laugh while having fun playing a game ... especially one that I made. So far I've been involved with this game development business for a while and have made very little money but for every dollar I made someone's probably cracked a smile and had some fun. So ... I figure if I keep going eventually the number of smiles will go up and if it goes up high enough then I'll be making enough people happy that it'll sustain me. It's making the world more fun and I don't think it gets much more idealistic than that.
A lot of the other reasons people posted don't have much to do with games. My flooring business is just as much fun if not more so from my standpoint. I have some good workers and we have fun doing what we do. I could drink a beer whenever I want and basically have any other freedom with that business I want ... and in fact the work I do there also makes people smile. However, I can't affect nearly as many people with that work and it's hazzardous. I also like the mental challenge of making a good game on a personal note. I think it's a good lifelong career to make games ... if you can get to the point where it's enough money.
A lot of the other reasons people posted don't have much to do with games. My flooring business is just as much fun if not more so from my standpoint. I have some good workers and we have fun doing what we do. I could drink a beer whenever I want and basically have any other freedom with that business I want ... and in fact the work I do there also makes people smile. However, I can't affect nearly as many people with that work and it's hazzardous. I also like the mental challenge of making a good game on a personal note. I think it's a good lifelong career to make games ... if you can get to the point where it's enough money.