What are the benefits of being a video game programmer or designer

The benefits for video game programming is merely personal benefits. Video game programmers are over worked and generally underpaid (in comparison to those working in the corporate field). Some people who program video games mainly for the fact that they are video game fans themselves and want to contribute and work on projects themselves. A video game designers tend to get paid more and are the "main visionary" of the project. Their job is not as simple as think of an idea and create a game from it, they requite many artistic skills and really good writing skills. The designer must also be capable of changing many aspects of the project if demanded by the studio.