Your best bet is to start at a smaller dev house. It might be part time but with schooling and proper training at the job you'll move up the ladder quite fast. At least that's how the guys at my job did it.

https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/257375013/0/0

You have 3 routes. Be really good at coding, be really good at making art, or be really good at scamming people out of kickstarter money.

Connections with people in high places The quickest way is meeting ceos of companies and becoming friends with them or with heads of smaller developers who can put in a good word for you Just my two cents Connections matter and make all the difference as does your skill and abilities My advice find every chance you can to meet those in the field and forge some connections For example digital extremes has Tenno con and other developers have meet and greets ect. Gaming conventions are great places to meet people that can help you get into the field or at least point you in the right direction This Will help you out quite a bit I’m sure I would recommend applying to a small developer to start out and get experience though before trying the big leagues

Some universities do offer game design majors. If you’re two years into college I’d cut and run with an associates degree and transfer to a school with that specific degree. Finish your BA in game design, snag a minor in stats or something, and I think you’d be set! Edit: At that point I’d say look for entry level jobs in smaller studios. Mobile developers would be your best bet, based off the other comments I’m seeing here. Like any other job, you’ll garner experience and, if you’re sharp and paying attention to openings, you’ll eventually make your way up the food chain. [spoiler]Sorry, all out of salt.[/spoiler]

Many get their foot in the door by becoming playtesters.

A block of cheese and a can of pringles Don't think, obey.

I was in the exact same boat 14 years ago. CS major with the intent to work in videogames. Our school didn't offer a gaming program either (almost no one did back then) so I focused my electives on AI, graphic design, and 3D modeling (ended up with an art minor) [b] [/b] Interning is free labor that doesn't lead to jobs as often as people would like to think. If you can swing it, try working on your own projects ro build a portfolio. It's how the guy that made the [i]Falskaar[/i] mod for [i]Skyrim[/i] landed a job at Bungie, Notch made it big with [i]Minecraft[/i], and Eric Barone with [i]Stardew Valley[/i]. Thing is, this is a LONG shot. [i]Minecraft[/i] was developed relatively quick but the Falskaar and Stardew Valley took years, and those guys pretty much made their respective projects their full time jobs. Problem is, A) it's a longshot and B) it's a HUGE timesink, so you'll likely need some support in terms of money while you're working on your project. [b] [/b] Honestly, your best bet is to start small and apply to mobile game developers. They don't always last long but they're a dime a dozen so it's easier to find jobs among them. Get some experience, build a resume, and work your way up the food chain. [b] [/b] [b] [/b] I was unfortunate in that I graduated in the no man's land between the dotcom bubble burst and the release of the first iPhone (ie: when app development became a thing). There were a lot of developers (of any kind) competing for the same jobs. Unfortunately, I had to look outside the (computer) industry for work but thankfully it all kind of worked out (a different story for a different day) and now life is settled enough I can take on my own projects. [b] [/b] tl;dr It's OK to aim high but make that a long term goal. Start small with either your own project(s) or working at an indie dev and work your way up. And even then, enjoy life. Things don't always work out the way we want them to but if you keep your eyes open for opportunities you'll likely find something else you enjoy.

[quote]I heard that posting questions on the Bungie forum is probably the best way to get some help[/quote] sounds like you got some pretty unreliable sources [quote]How does an individual become a game developer/programmer? [/quote] by developing and programming games [quote]Does this mean that I have to teach myself literally everything there is to know about game design on my own? [/quote] yes [quote]As someone who has the utmost desire to contribute to the field of gaming, where do I start? [/quote] by making your own games [quote]Where do I get experience? [/quote] making your own games [quote]How do I learn? [/quote] google, and making your own games [quote]Where can I learn? [/quote] google, and by making your own games [quote]Do I indie develop [/quote] see above [quote]and cross my fingers a AAA title picks me up along the way? [/quote] sure [quote]Do I intern?[/quote] if you want

This question has been getting asked a lot recently. Get a portfolio. It's all about portfolios. And don't just look to Bungie. You're aiming way too high.