How to become a Video Game Designer

This article provides in-depth information into What is a Video Game Designer? What Video Game Designers do? Degrees for Video Game Designers, Steps to become Video Game Designer and much more.

Video game designers often work as part of a team to create video games. They come up with the games' concepts, characters, setting, story, and gameplay. Designers must work with artists and programmers to create the scripting language and artistic vision for a game. This article focuses on the requirements and qualifications you need for becoming a video game designer. 

What does a Video Game Designer do ?

Video game designers, also known as games designers, design games for a variety of formats, such as consoles, wireless applications, the internet and mobile phones.

  • Coming up with new and appealing game ideas.

  • Developing gameplay ideas.

  • Experimenting with themes and genres.

  • Developing plots and storylines.

  • Developing characters.

  • Developing maps, scenarios, and levels of difficulty.

  • Coming up with ways of winning and losing the game.

  • Developing user interface (menus and controls) concepts.

  • Improving existing games.

Steps for becoming a Video Game Designer

1

Earn A Bachelor’s Degree

Designers may need a bachelor's degree, especially if they're planning to work for a large game studio. Although some schools offer a degree in game design, aspiring game designers can get the necessary training in computer science, software engineering, or related degree programs. The coursework for a game design program covers subjects like 2D and 3D modeling and animation, level and interface design, storyboard rendering, drawing, and scripting.

2

Determine A Career Path

Even within this specialty, there are different types of designers, including lead designer, level designer, and content designer. Additionally, game designers have a diverse array of responsibilities that may not immediately be obvious, so aspiring professionals in this field should consider what type of game design career they want to pursue.

3

Gain Experience

Even after completing the required education, getting a job with a game studio can be difficult. Since employers require game design experience for most mid-level positions, aspiring game designers need to find ways to get relevant experience. Some companies offer internships and co-op positions for prospective designers. Small businesses may be willing to hire inexperienced game programmers or artists, which could lead to game design positions later on.

4

Develop A Game

Game design candidates can get an edge over the competition by designing their own game. Students can use free or inexpensive programs to create simple games at first and begin working on more complex projects after grasping the basics. Each game can be added to an individual's portfolio and count as design experience.

Video Game Designer Salaries

Video Game Designer

Video Game Designer Degree Levels

Associate

Students in an associate's degree program for software development will learn how to create game or simulation programs, which can include writing and testing code, creating graphics and marketing. Students can expect to take a course load heavy in computer science and digital graphic design.

Game physics

  • Physics Basics

  • Rotation and Gravitation

  • Electrostatics

Objectives

  • Designing playable artifacts

  • Injecting reality into games

  • Interrogating gaming

Character animation

  • Body mechanics

  • Dialogue and facial expression

  • Animation

Objectives

  • Hand-drawn character performance

  • Understanding of traditional animation

  • Utilize performance techniques

Vector graphics

  • Symphony Flier

  • Reproduce Complex Illustration

  • Greeting Card Illustration

Objectives

  • Summarize design principles

  • Apply production principles

  • Integrate tools and techniques

Bachelors

Students in game development bachelor's programs learn the fundamentals of creating a video game from the initial concept to marketing the finished product. Aspiring game developers can expect to receive training in a combination of technical and design skills by working on actual game projects.

Calculus

  • Function, Limits, and Continuity

  • Application to Graphing, Rates

  • Applications to Geometry

Objectives

  • Apply differentiation to solve problems

  • Evaluate integrals using advanced techniques

  • Determine the convergence/divergence

Physics of movement

  • Motion

  • Waves

  • Interactions

Objectives

  • Understanding physical phenomena

  • Replicating physical movements

  • Creating virtual Reality

Concepts of artificial intelligence

  • Problem formulation

  • Propositional logic

  • Pattern Recognition

Objectives

  • Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

  • Application of AI in gaming

  • Accelerate growth of gaming Industry

Masters

Students in a master's degree program in game design and development focus on diverse subjects, including computer programming, art, and business management. The program is designed to train students to be both artists and business leaders in the field.

Game marketing

  • Distribution and publishing channels

  • Typical business models

  • Different game genres

Objectives

  • Developing a marketing plan

  • Evaluating the process used

  • Structure of the game industry

Mechanics of video game design

  • Play Testing

  • Simulation

  • Context of play

Objectives

  • Basic methodologies of game design

  • Creating Playable Games

  • understanding games as formal systems

Principles of production management

  • Operations and Productivity

  • Managing Quality

  • Maintenance and Reliability

Objectives

  • dynamism of production

  • Effect of production on Business

  • Effective management