If you're looking for a profession that combines visual arts, gaming and computer programming skills, a job as a video game designer might be the perfect occupation for you. Video game designers build storyboards and use computer programming codes to create the elaborate audio and visual elements found in video games. Job qualifications for a video game designer generally require a bachelor's degree in computer science or computer engineering and some experience in computer programming.
To perform the necessary tasks associated with designing video games, you must have strong problem-solving skills to create computer programs and correct computer programming errors. As a result, video game development requires espertise in computer programming language and computer coding. According to the Career Development Department at Foothill College, video game designers often create flow charts to map out the activities and people involved in video game development. A game designer must be able to manage his time to meet deadlines, budget resources, operate advanced video and audio equipment and work as a teamplayer with other designers and programmers.
Employers often prefer video game design applicants with a bachelor's or a master's degree in computer science or computer engineering. According to Foothill College, a number of other degrees are also useful in the industry such as game software development, game programming, audio programming, design animation, computer modeling and software engineering. Experience with multiple computer programming languages also helps a job candidate stand out from the rest. Foothill College states that, "A love for video games is a plus." Some recommended college courses in the field include "Fundamentals of Computer Programming," "Intermediate Algebra," "Computer Applications," and "Network Design and Topologies."
As a video game designer, you're responsible for creating a virtual world of strategy, intrigue and visual animation. As a result, you must have strong creative abilities to design games that are unique, visually appealing and thought-provoking. You must construct story plots that engage gamers, encouraging them to purchase new games in the series when released for public distribution. Interesting, intellectual, attractive characters are central to most story lines and active game play strategies keep players motivated to complete new challenges. Without a dynamic story plot, fascinating characters and mind-bending challenges, most video games won't have the overall appeal to captivate players.
Salary and Job Outlook
According to statistics produced by "Game Developer Magazine" and cited in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report "Work for play: Careers in video game development," annual average salaries for video game development workers in 2010 ranged from $49,000 for quality assurance testers to $107,000 for business executives in the industry. Audio workers, artists, and designers earned an annual average of at least $68,000, and video game programmers and producers averaged more than $85,000 per year.
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