The San Jose Mercury News reports that the latest outsourcing pattern in the information technology sector involves shifting the development and programming of video games to computer programmers in India. This follows on the heels of software, technical, and customer support jobs already being outsourced to India.

Jason Robar, an Issaquah, Wash., consultant who brokers overseas deals between game developers and publishers, said India is climbing up the food chain of countries that make games. Its biggest advantage is its English-speaking, tech-savvy workforce. But its short history in games means that it’s behind countries such as Korea and China, he said. . . .

Rao wants Dhruva to eventually create original video games for the Indian market, which he believes will become a hot market for Western video game makers. . . . Dhruva will focus on both outsourcing and making games for the Indian market. As it improves its track record, Rao says, the company will continue climbing up the food chain, doing more original work.

The article also mentions that playing video games in India is apparently more popular than even in the U.S.: “About 30 percent of those polled in India said they spend half their leisure time playing games, compared with about 20 percent in Mexico and 24 percent in the United States.”

Like I’ve said in the past, outsourcing is inevitable within a capitalist system. But I have to admit that I’m getting a little uneasy myself -- how long will it be before the job of university professor gets outsourced to India as well?