How to Become a PC Game Designer
Love of computer games is just one qualification associated with PC game designers. If you really want to stand out, you’re going to have to possess a variety of other skills ranging from level design to actual game programming. You will also need hands-on experience as a PC game designer. But don’t panic… through the guidelines set forth below, you can learn how you can do these things in a manner that is timely and cost-effective.
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Things You'll Need
- Video Game Makers
- College that Teaches Video Game Design
- Books on Computer Game Design
- A High-End PC
- Blank CDs/DVDs (to hold your games on)
- An Online Audience (to critique your work)
- PC games from virtually every genre
Instructions
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How to Become a PC Game Designer
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Begin studying computer games from every genre. If you really want to become a PC game designer, you need to do more than just play games; you must also analyze them. Pay close attention to the game's layout, since this is what you will be responsible for if you become a PC game designer. Also keep an eye on the game play and storyline.
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Read up on computer game design. Recommended books include: “The Ultimate Guide to Video Game Writing and Design,” “The Game Maker’s Apprentice: Game Development for Beginners,” and “Introduction to Video Game Design and Development.”
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Start designing your own PC games. To begin creating a computer game, you will need access to a video game maker. Some examples include DarkBasic 3D and GameMaker 7.0. With these programs, you can create standalone games from a variety of genres.
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Distribute your PC games. Now you need to get people to critique your games. The best way to do this is to join a few gaming forums. Once you have established trust with the members, offer them your game free-of-charge. If you do this enough, you are bound to get comments about your game’s worthiness.
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Get a degree in computer game design. Westwood College and the Art Institute are examples of institutions that offer video game degrees. If you don’t have the money to pay for them, you can apply for scholarships or send out a FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid). The latter will let you know what government monies are available for your education.
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Get experience through internships and beta testing. Video game internships are one of the best ways of getting experience. However, since they tend to be very competitive, you will want to fall back on beta testing. This is when you evaluate a game without payment, (as usually your compensation is the game itself).
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Develop your portfolio. Transfer your games onto a CD or DVD, so your employers will be able to play them when needed.
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Tips & Warnings
California contains the largest number of computer gaming jobs.
Freeware sites, GameTap or Gamefly can allow you access to modern games at low or no cost.
You will have an easier time creating your own PC games on a high-end machine.
Do not design your games from construction mods, as they lack the professionalism of standalone games.
Resources
- Photo Credit http://media.collegepublisher.com
