Should I be a video game designer?

Do you have a passion for playing video games?

Are you creative and a good story-teller?

Photo by Mélanie THESE on Unsplash

If you answered YES to these two questions, then becoming a video game designer might be the right fit for you!

But how do you know if you'd enjoy being a videogame designer? Jot down these notes!

Video game designers create interactive worlds for players to inhabit by : 

• Proposing and developing new game and game play ideas

• Developing storylines, plots, layouts, characters, rules of play, and levels of difficulty within games

• Developing creative ways of navigating games and paying attention to detail in design

• Conducting research on gaming trends and doing play tests to refine the gaming experience

• Improving existing games

You will need :

• An associate’s or bachelor's degree in computer games design, graphic design, or animation. If you already have a degree in another field, consider supplementing it with game design certificate courses offered on Coursera or LinkedIn Learning.

• Practical experience in video game design via internship, apprenticeship, or volunteering.

• A portfolio of games that you have designed to show future employers.

Photo by Felipe Gregate on Unsplash

Gaming Companies

Production of Video Games

Top gaming companies include :

• Nintendo

• Microsoft

• Sony Interactive Entertainment

Marketing Companies

Creating Ads for Video Games

Top marketing companies include:

• Ubisoft

• Kairos Esports

• Viral Nation

• You get to make your own games

• You get to be creative and work with others

• You get to play games as part of the job

• You can do more than entertain

  

• You don't like sitting at a desk and working at a computer all day

• You don't like to spend time on attention to detail

• You don’t like “crunching” — working longer hours than normal to meet deadlines

  

In the U.S.A, the average salary for a Video Game Designer is $64,000 USD

In Canada, the average salary for a Video Game Designer is $54,000 CAD

Matthew

• Loves working with others to complete designs

• Doesn't care much for writing detailed storylines

Celine

• Is currently completing an apprenticeship in video game design

• Does not enjoy doing play tests to refine the gaming experience

Lisa

• Is a good story-teller and puts a lot of attention into the setting of a story

• Has a flexible schedule and can work odd hours when necessary

Clinton

• Draws complex characters with elaborate costumes and superpowers

• Sitting at a computer for long periods of time strains his eyes

Does it sound like video game design could be a good path for you? If so: