What Do I Need to Be a Game Designer?
One of the burgeoning industries in the U.S. economy is the gaming industry. While maintaining its roots in personal computers and dedicated gaming platforms, such as those made by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony, it is expanding rapidly into mobile technology, as well. According to Raman Media Network, revenues for the gaming industry in the United States should hit $68 billion by 2014. As the industry continues to grow, those with an interest in gaming and programming can find rewarding careers in it.
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Gaming Experience
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In order to succeed as a game designer, you must have a background in gaming. It is not enough to be a generally creative person and know something about programming: you must also play a variety of games and enjoy doing so. Only with a firm grounding in gaming can you understand what gamers think is fun, attractive and engaging in a game.
Self-Education
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Read books that apply to the field of game design. This does not just mean books specific to game design; it can also mean books that deal with storyboard writing, product management, art, history, psychology and programming. By being eclectic in your reading, you will become a well-rounded artist and engineer who is able to come up with appealing ideas and effectively apply them to the game design process.
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University Education
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Universities all over the country offer programs in game design. Many online universities specialize in game design and related programs. However, as with any other field of study, not all education programs are equally reputable. Some conventional universities are more reputable than others, and almost any conventional university is more reputable than an online university. According to The Princeton Review, the top eight undergraduate university programs for game design in the United States are found at the University of Southern California, DigiPen Institute of Technology, Drexel University, Becker College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, The Art Institute of Vancouver, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Design Experience
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Design games. Most of the larger game design studios require a substantial amount of work before they are willing to give you any kind of work designing games. Show that you are capable by designing simple, free games for the Internet and by working with new companies. Many new gaming companies, due to a lack of startup capital, pay with royalties on product sales rather than a salary. Of course, if the game you design there turns out to be a great success, you will actually make more money this way, but the chances are that the game will not do as well as a game from a more established studio would. However, if you can show that you have worked on a legitimate project, larger studios will be more willing to consider you for a more reputable job.
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