About Video Game Designers
Video games have come a long way since the days of Pong and Pac-Man, and they're not just for kids anymore. Today's games are complex, highly stylized and created by teams of talented writers, programmers and artists. Video game designers are in high demand, and a career designing games can be rewarding both artistically and financially.
Other People Are Reading
-
Why Consider a Career as a Video Game Designer?
-
If you are a skilled artist, writer or computer programmer, or just a video game enthusiast with a strong desire to create your own games, you may consider a career as a video game designer. This multibillion dollar industry is burgeoning with opportunities for talented individuals to create the next great game.
Jobs within a Design Studio
-
A Digital Dreamer (www.adigitaldreamer.com) lists eight job titles found within a typical video game design studio:
Concept/Storyboard Artists - sketch and paint the game elements like characters, scenery and vehicles;
Character Artists and Animators -- use 3-D computer programs to produce the game's characters and objects;
Level Designers -- are given sections or levels of the game to create the game-play environment;
Texture Artists -- make sure the texture of elements like character skin, vehicles, walls and other materials have a realistic look at different angles and in different lighting;
Programmers -- need to be fluent in computer languages such as Visual Basic, Java and C++, as they are charged with creating the artificial intelligence that makes the game run;
Interface Designers -- create the game's menus, buttons and Heads-Up Display (HUDs);
Sound/Audio Engineers -- choose the game's sound effects and background music;
Professional Testers -- play the games, often for long hours, to find bugs or other malfunctions. -
Qualities of a Game Designer
-
Video game designers should really like video games, according to A Digital Dreamer. You should know what makes a good game and what doesn't, understand good level design and have a passion for gaming. A candidate that has never played a video game is not likely to be hired. Next, you should be a skilled problem-solver, because game design involves finding solutions for bugs and malfunctions; you must be willing to work on a problem as long as it takes until it is solved. Finally, game designers need to be efficient and able to work on tight deadlines. Game design studios are very competitive, and the video game market is all about being cutting-edge.
Game Design Schools
-
Many aspiring designers seek training at a video game design school. There are various online programs and also campuses offering degrees in game design, such as ITT Tech: School of Drafting & Design and DeVry.
How to Land a Job
-
Fab Job (www.fabjob.com) offers some advice on getting hired as a game designer. First, be willing to do an internship at a game design studio, even if it's not a paid position. You could be an intern while you are attending design school. Internships are a great way to get your foot in the door, impress the staff and hopefully get hired on full time. Second, build up your resume with gaming-related jobs such as working at a gaming magazine or becoming a game tester. As a supplement to your resume, create a "design portfolio", which includes a collection of your ideas for games and that shows off your creativity. An important step is to network; attend trade shows and join professional organizations where you can get to know people working in the industry. Next, apply for jobs via online job sites specifically for game designers. Research each company you apply to, and cater your resume and portfolio with each company in mind. And once you land that all-important interview, bring your A-game. Know all about the company and its products, be able to discuss the current video game market and where you think it's going in the future, and present your creative ideas for new games.
Salary
-
As of February 2009, PayScale (www.payscale.com) lists the salary range of people working in video game design between $44,490 and $63,000.
-
