Learn what a video game designer does, the average salary expectations, and the skills and education expected for this career path.
Video game designers create worlds, characters, stories, rules, and overall gameplay of video games. They may do everything from brainstorming game ideas to developing the characters, plots, and settings. The number of designers on a video game can vary from one to dozens working together to bring the vision for a video game to life.听
Not only will video game designers conceptualize ideas, they鈥檒l also work out how players will play the game, create the different levels, and determine the playing time. If you鈥檙e interested in video game design, learn about the different roles in this field and how to enter it.听
摆贬滨骋贬尝滨骋贬罢闭听
A video game designer creates a game鈥檚 theme, characters, plot, and skill levels. A game developer works on the coding, programming, and testing of the game to ensure that it鈥檚 ready for the market.听
[entity card: Game Design: Art and Concepts Specialization]
According to the Government of Canada Job Bank, the job outlook for video game designers is limited to moderate growth for the next few years []. However, the outlook varies by province or territory.听
As a video game designer, you might work on a project from start to finish or have a more specific role. For example, some game designers might work as sound engineers or game testers. Others might compose the music or work as a level designer. The following are some roles that are related to video game design.
Median hourly wage:聽 CA$28.00 per hour []
Job outlook: Moderate to good job growth for the next three years聽
Multimedia artists and animators, also known as game designers, create graphic and interactive images for a game. They can also work in television or film or be self-employed.
Median hourly wage: CA$28.00 per hour [闭听
Job outlook: Moderate to good job growth over the next three years
Graphic designers create visual elements for video games. Your job might include selecting the images, fonts, and colours for projects using digital platforms such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.听
Median hourly wage: CA$30.00 per hour []
Job outlook: Moderate to good job growth for the next three years
As a web developer or digital designer, you might work to ensure the game is navigable and that all functions work properly. Your duties could include making sure the game is user-friendly and has an appealing look.
To become a video game designer, you'll typically need a college diploma in graphic arts, computer graphics, or animated design. Programming knowledge and other technical skills are also essential to enhance your resume for your job search.
Video game design is a competitive field, so having college internships and school projects can help build your experience, skills, and portfolio. However, if you鈥檙e not attending school, consider taking a bootcamp to enhance your resume, portfolio content, and knowledge in a shorter time period.听
You鈥檒l need workplace and technical skills. Let鈥檚 look at some skills employers may seek in a video game designer.
Video game design can be highly collaborative, requiring designers to work on teams of varying complexity to bring a game to life. You鈥檒l need workplace skills which are personal skills that ensure you do your job well, this includes:聽聽
A passion for gaming
Communication
Creativity
Flexibility
Problem-solving
Willingness to work as part of a team聽
Video game designers need technical skills to carry out the functionality of video games. Employers also like to see candidates who have strong video game-playing experience. Some important technical skills include:聽
Computer graphics聽
Animation
Adobe Photoshop
Design theory
Software and hardware development聽
A college diploma is typically the minimum requirement to become a video game designer. Colleges and universities offer degree programs in game design, but other programs can qualify you for a career in video game design.听
Some of the other degrees aspiring video game designers may pursue include:
Computer science
Interactive arts聽
Computer animation聽
Graphic design
Computer engineering
Digital art
Internships can be available and are sometimes required when studying for your degree. You can find internship opportunities on company websites and job posting sites like Indeed or LinkedIn
An internship can give you real-world experience to help determine if you want to pursue a video game design career. You may find some paid internships, and others might only offer college credit. Regardless of whether you鈥檙e compensated, an internship can boost your resume.听
Your video game design portfolio should include your contact information, resume, and a link to the games you designed. If you have a project in progress, you should include it. You should also include reviews of your game if available.听
If you鈥檙e interested in video game design, consider Introduction to Game Design from the California Institute of the Arts on 糖心vlog官网观看. This program covers topics like the principles of simple games, rules, and how to tell a story. It鈥檚 designed to help learners develop relevant job skills with hands-on projects.
聽Job Bank Canada. 鈥, https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/wages-occupation/5684/ca.鈥 Accessed October 9, 2023.
Job Bank Canada. 鈥, https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/wages-occupation/5703/ca.鈥 Accessed October 9, 2023.
Job Bank Canada. 鈥, https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/wages-occupation/17892/ca.鈥 Accessed October 9, 2023.
Job Bank Canada. 鈥, https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/outlook-occupation/26461/ca.鈥 Accessed October 9, 2023.
Editorial Team
糖心vlog官网观看鈥檚 editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...
This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.