The video game industry is already thriving. It is set to further boom as games become more realistic and immersive. People of all ages love to step into an alternate world to become superhuman soldiers, soccer players, world saviors, space travelers, zombie slayers, and more.
If you like playing video games, you may want to go beyond and start designing them. However, you must know that playing and designing games are two completely different things. Video game designers require a specific temperament. They tend to be artistic, intuitive, and detail-oriented. It can be safely assumed that all video game designers love to play games, but vice versa may not always be true. Depending on the platform, the game design could vary, PC and console games are usually more complicated compared to browser games. For example one of the most popular games Agario,which was designed by a student, is pretty simple. Also, Agario unblocked is a very popular game, because of its easy rules and controls.
This article will help you Make a choice; it will give you a peek into the world of video game designers, job roles, salaries, and demand in the US.
Video Game Designers’ Job Outlook
Video game designing jobsare expected to grow at 10%between 2016 and 2026, which is as fast as the average for all other occupations.
Consumers will demand more realistic and high-quality games, movie and television special effects, and 3D movies. This will give rise to more complex innovations in video game hardware and software. Video game design studios will increasingly emphasize quality over quantity of video games. Multimedia artists and animators in video designing space will be in high demand.
The video game designing industry will continue to be highly competitive as new technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) will evolve. The best way to thrive and be among the best is to put a strong foundation with a credible degree course.
Education Requirements for Entering the Game Industry
Of all the professionals working in video game designing, 54% have a bachelor’s degree, 28% have a master’s degree, and 17% have a doctoral degree. The best game designing institutes look for both qualification and your skill via your demo reel. A good game designing course should be able to –
- Give you the experience of working with industry professionals on live projects.
- Train you in the latest software and hardware that are used in the industry.
- Help you develop soft skills, interpersonal skills, detail orientation, time management, and creativity.
- Guide you with networking events, campus placements, and industry requirements.
As a student aspiring to be a game designer in the US, you can opt for associate or bachelor’s degree courses from a reputed institute like New England Tech.
An associate degree will prepare you for an entry-level position in video game design, visualization, animation, and digital media production. At this stage, you normally learn concepts in XHTML, JavaScript, intermediate game programming, 2D animation, game prototyping, 3D modeling, Unity, storyboarding, audio and video editing, and UI/ UX design. With an associate degree, you can become a game designer, character designer, or animator.
A bachelor’s degree will help you learn advanced programming (C++, Perl, Python), concepts, and 2D and 3D animation (3ds Max, Maya, Adobe After Effects). Learn to rig, texturing, 3D scripting, game engines, 3D sculpting, 3D modeling, analytics, and VR. After a bachelor’s degree, you normally open your career prospects to character design, advanced game design, and game programming.
Types of Game Designing Jobs
Game designing requires a team. In a small studio, one person may take on many roles, whereas, in a larger studio, each person may have a very specific role in the production line. Some of the common jobs in game designing are –
Designers
The role of video game designers is to dream and conceptualize all aspects of the game. This includes characters, gameplay, layout, plot and storyline, scenarios, maps, outcomes, difficulty levels, and UI. Designers are divided into further specific roles such as –
- Game Mechanics Designers – As the name suggests, they focus on the mechanics of the game and the objects and characters. For example, in a combat-based game, their job is to plan and document how the combat mechanics should work.
- Lead Designers – They collate and document the work and ideas from all designers into a cohesive document. Lead designers also manage work schedules and task allocation. They also liaise with different departments to discuss new ideas, solve problems, and ensure that the project is built according to the design.
- Content Designers & Writers – The role of a content designer varies with the game genre. They are responsible for designing a game’s characters and plot. Some games which have speaking characters, require writers to write dialogues.
- Level Designers – They use characters and special effects to create realistic environments of the game. For example, level designers of a soccer game may design an environment to emulate a live game with an audience, and even pump up the player with a great combination of environment, audio, and dialogue.
Programmers
Although it is the job of game developers to give shape, look, and feel to the concept using programming languages, game designers often have to work closely with them. Looking for wider perspectives of the production chain, game designers often double up as programmers in smaller studios. The following jobs, although primarily done by developers also involve designers –
- Lead Programmer
- AI Programmer
- Graphics Programmer
- Network Programmer
- Physics Programmer
- Tools Programmer
- UI Programmer
Artists
Artists give life to a game through aesthetics and visual style. They design all of the artwork, including environments, characters, and objects. Some artists use sculpting and drawing to illustrate the idea, which is then transformed into digital media using 3D software. Artists also often design the game’s promotional material such as manual, packaging, and logo. Here is a brief snapshot of the specific roles of an artist –
- Art Director – Defines the game aesthetics; co-ordinates between design and development teams to manage the schedule.
- Lead Artist – There could be multiple lead artists for a project, each managing a team, planning methods and tools for the artwork. They ensure that the project adheres to the quality and style envisioned during the design stage.
- Concept Artist – They follow the game’s aesthetic direction to envision and create landscapes, objects, structures, characters, and key moments. They often use sculpting, painting, and storyboarding, and work closely with game designers.
- Modeler – Modelers create character skeletons in 3D software based on the art concepts, which are then used by animators.
- Animator – As the name suggests, animators are responsible for giving movement and life to the 3D character skeletons provided by modelers. For example, animators make still characters move, run, or talk.
Audio Designers/ Engineers/ Programmers/ Composers
Audio artists develop, record, and digitally process all of the real and fictitious audios required in the game. This includes music, dialogue, and any other noises required.
Producers
The role of producers is to ensure that the game is released on time, and within budget. Their daily responsibilities include calling meetings, maintaining schedules, and liaising between developers and executives.
Quality Assurance Testers
Designers work in tandem with the testing team to ensure that the game follows the concept document as envisioned during the design phase. They try every possible permutation and combination to break the code so that the game development team can fix it.
Video Game Designer Salary
According to Payscale.com, the average salary of a video game designer in the US is $65,043. But it all depends on your skill and experience. Here is a breakup of median salaries based on work experience in the US.
| Work Experience | Median Salary |
| <1 year – Entry level | $51,120 |
| 1-4 years – Early Career | $61,067 |
| 5-9 years – Mid Career | $73,344 |
| 10-19 years – Senior Level | $91,313 |
| 20+ years – Late career | $98,639 |
Clearly, gaining work experience, and that too, doing it the right way with a good degree course, is important. Here is a brief snapshot of median salaries by popular employers –
| Employer | Salary |
| BioWare | $56,917 ($54,751 – $61,000) |
| Zynga | ($56,718 – $97,793) |
| Electronic Arts | $66,891 ($42,116 – $98,155) |
| Valve Corporation | $121K – $130K ($119,735 – $131,205) |
| Gameloft | $57,829 ($50,000 – $65,195) |
| Rockstar Games | $83,811 ($51,000 – $103,000) |
| Microsoft Corporation | $110,901 ($101,078 – $119,525) |
| Naughty Dog Inc. | $90,817 ($60,960 – $147,320) |
| Activision Blizzard | $71,717 ($58,438 – $97,479) |
| Ubisoft | $82,616 ($75,848 – $87,000) |
To Wrap it Up
I hope this gives you practical insight and actionable items to pursue a career as a video game designer. A deeper look at the game design and development field is a good next step. Remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint. The key is to love your job, keep learning, develop new skills, and network with the right people. Opportunities and great projects will come your way if you can provide value to your employer.
Lastly, it is always good to start your career with a smaller studio where you are expected to do multiple roles. This will give you a strong foundation and experience that you may otherwise miss out on in a bigger studio.
game level designers -DepositPhotos
FAQs
Is video game designer a good career? ›
Video game design can be an excellent career for creative, artistic people with strong technology skills. Video game designers can earn competitive salaries, especially as they gain professional experience in the field.
What is the career of a game designer? ›As a game designer, you'll bring ideas, build prototypes, create interactive narration and develop the game's mechanics. You'll design systems that are easily maintainable, expandable and comfortable to use, while injecting fun into the user experience.
Is video game development in high demand? ›Career Outlook for Video Game Designers
BLS projects an increase in demand for software developers from 2020-2030. The video game industry might reflect similar trends. Market researchers project the global video game industry to grow by 73.8% from 2020-2027.
Is it hard to get into game design? Yes, it is. Becoming a successful game designer requires many technical and interpersonal skills. You may need to get a Bachelor's Degree in Video Game Design from a top school.
What jobs are in demand in the video game industry? ›There are a ton of careers in video games: video game tester, game designer, producer, audio engineer, composer, and even a professional gamer.
Is there a future in game design? ›Top Game Development Trends in 2022
Game developers predict streaming will become the dominant platform by 2025. Remote teams across time zones are the new normal. Most game dev teams are doing at least some of their development in the cloud. Creatives are a larger part of the game development process than ever before.
What is a Game Designer's salary? Game designers earn a salary between $86,000 and $70,000 every year. Compared to the national annual wage of $39,810, video game designers have a very comfortable salary.
Is there money in game design? ›Video game designers earn an average of $40.13 per hour, monthly salary start from $3,559 and go up to $11,227. The average annual salary is $83,470 and can go up to $134,723 per year.
Do video game designers need a college degree? ›Typically, video game designers need a bachelor's degree. Some employers also prefer certifications in C# programming or UX design. Like other tech-oriented jobs, education can sometimes be substituted for experience.
How long do video game designers work? ›Usually work more than 40 hours per week. Overtime is common. Usually work a set schedule.
What college is best for video game designer? ›
The University of Southern California game design program ranks the best in the US. It offers two bachelor's degrees and two master's degree programs that prepare students for a future in game design. The Interactive Media and Game design program are offered through the school of Cinematic Arts.
Is being a game designer worth it? ›Yes, a bachelors in game design is worth it for many students. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is projecting an employment growth in computer systems design and related services, specifically 22% in the applications software development industry over the next 10 years.
Is the game industry worth it? ›14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As per study of Zion Market Research, Gaming industry garnered revenue worth nearly US$ 201 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to gain returns about US$ 435 billion by 2028. In addition to this, Gaming Market is prognosis to record CAGR of almost 12.1% in 2022-2028.
Do you have to be a gamer to be a game developer? ›Absolutely not. The main reason is that today, most games are made by teams, even is such team is merely two people. You do not need everybody on the team to be a gamer. For example, I know quite a few coders who just like the challenge of programming, but could not care less about the story or gameplay.
Is it easy to find a job in game design? ›“Although it is continually growing, the game industry is a competitive one…it is nearly impossible to get a game designer or producer job without prior development experience…if you have a portfolio of work you've done on your own, and many people have entered the game industry through entry-level jobs…”
How do I get a job as a game designer? ›- Post your work on discussion boards.
- Start a gaming blog.
- Build your own indie games.
- Get an entry-level job as a Game Tester.
- Get an internship at a video game studio.
- Get a video-game related college degree.
- Get a traditional college degree.
- Get a job at a gaming studio in a non-game development position.
- Creativity.
- Artistic vision.
- A passion for video games.
- Storytelling ability.
- Wide-ranging knowledge of gaming trends.
- Strong analytical frame of mind.
- Excellent programming skills.
- Ability to work as part of a team.
- Game Designers. Plots, situations, and characters are created by video game designers. ...
- Quality Assurance Testers. ...
- Game Developers. ...
- Game Programmer. ...
- Game Artist. ...
- Game Animators. ...
- Lead Designers.
In ten years, live streaming and virtual reality will define the way games are designed and played. Gamer-friendly and affordable headsets will be common by 2030. With streaming, VR will also get a boost, and gamers will no longer need a powerful gaming machine under their desk.
What career is best for gamers? ›- Marketer.
- Audio engineer.
- Voice-over artist.
- 3D animator.
- Quality assurance engineer.
- Concept artist.
- Management analyst.
- App developer.
What is the future of the video game industry? ›
As technology advances, we will see games become a completely immersive experience. Imagine fully encompassing make-believe worlds that you control with your mind and body. Advances in technology and the rapid growth of the esports gaming community will help shape the future of gaming.
Do you need to know coding for game design? ›Recommended, not required
But the best game designers do have a range of skills. It doesn't have to be programming. It could be some other game dev areas like art, or creative writing or user experience. The best advice might be just to learn a little bit of everything.
The video game industry has grown from niches to mainstream. As of July 2018, video games generated US$134.9 billion annually in global sales. In the US, it earned about $9.5 billion in 2007, $11.7 billion in 2008, and US$25.1 billion in 2010, according to the ESA annual report.
Who is the richest game designer in the world? ›1. Microsoft Valuation: $1 trillion. Microsoft is the number one richest game developer in the world today.
How much do video game designers make out of college? ›Video game designer salaries range from $50,000 (entry-level jobs) to $100,000+ per year (senior/lead designers). And some companies pay their game designers even more – a lot more.
Do game designers need math? ›How important is maths in video game design? Maths is one of the most important foundations to building a successful video game. Without this, it would be impossible to create the characters or environments that appear on screen, let alone make them move or interact with the world around them.
What code do game designers use? ›C++: C++ is an object-oriented programming language. Its speed, ease of use, and widespread adoption make it stand out as a highly desirable language. According to Game-Ace, it is widely considered the gold standard in game programming, and many call it the best coding language for games.
How much do video game designers make a week? ›As of Oct 6, 2022, the average weekly pay for a GAME Designer in the United States is $2,144 a week. While ZipRecruiter is seeing weekly wages as high as $3,279 and as low as $846, the majority of GAME Designer wages currently range between $1,384 (25th percentile) to $2,480 (75th percentile) across the United States.
How much money does a video game designer make a month? ›While ZipRecruiter is seeing monthly salaries as high as $14,208 and as low as $3,667, the majority of GAME Designer salaries currently range between $6,000 (25th percentile) to $10,750 (75th percentile) across the United States.
What will gaming be like in 10 years? ›In ten years, live streaming and virtual reality will define the way games are designed and played. Gamer-friendly and affordable headsets will be common by 2030. With streaming, VR will also get a boost, and gamers will no longer need a powerful gaming machine under their desk.
Do video game designers make a lot of money? ›
Salary Ranges for Video Game Designers
The salaries of Video Game Designers in the US range from $21,413 to $576,759 , with a median salary of $103,918 .
Video game designers usually work in an office environment. Computing professionals with an interest in software development may enjoy video game design careers. The job is well-suited for collaborative workers, since game design is often a team effort. Typically, video game designers need a bachelor's degree.
How fast is the video game industry growing? ›...
| Report Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Revenue forecast in 2030 | USD 583.69 billion |
| Growth rate | CAGR of 12.9% from 2022 to 2030 |
| Base year for estimation | 2021 |
| Historical data | 2017 - 2020 |
As technology advances, we will see games become a completely immersive experience. Imagine fully encompassing make-believe worlds that you control with your mind and body. Advances in technology and the rapid growth of the esports gaming community will help shape the future of gaming.
What do you think is the future of game development? ›Top Game Development Trends in 2022
Game developers predict streaming will become the dominant platform by 2025. Remote teams across time zones are the new normal. Most game dev teams are doing at least some of their development in the cloud. Creatives are a larger part of the game development process than ever before.
High-fidelity graphics will shape the future of gaming. High-fidelity games feature advanced gameplay and graphics. The increase in high-fidelity games is driven by the new generation of advanced smartphones, gaming systems, high-performance graphics chips, and processors.
Who is the richest game designer in the world? ›1. Microsoft Valuation: $1 trillion. Microsoft is the number one richest game developer in the world today.
What is the highest paying job? ›...
Here are the highest paying jobs of 2022:
- Anesthesiologist: $208,000.
- Surgeon: $208,000.
- Obstetrician and Gynecologist: $208,000.
- Orthodontist: $208,000.
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon: $208,000.
- Physician: $208,000.
- Psychiatrist: $208,000.
A Bachelor of Science in Game Design degree can provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to start designing games professionally, but so can a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, or a Master of Science degree.
What time do game designers work? ›Game developers typically work during regular business hours—so 40 hours a week. They may put in extra hours in the evenings and on weekends when a release deadline is nearing. How many hours do game artists work? Game artists typically work during regular business hours—so 40 hours a week.
How many years of college do you need to be a videogame designer? ›
A bachelor's degree is the most popular pathway to game design. Game design degrees at this level teach both foundational and advanced concepts in the field, and usually take four years to complete. Transfer students with associate degrees should be able to complete their bachelor's degree in two years.
Is video game designing easy? ›Game design is hard because of the amount of disciplines one needs to learn in order to complete a game. These disciplines can include but are not limited to art, programming, music production, video editing for trailers, and marketing.
Is the game industry worth it? ›14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As per study of Zion Market Research, Gaming industry garnered revenue worth nearly US$ 201 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to gain returns about US$ 435 billion by 2028. In addition to this, Gaming Market is prognosis to record CAGR of almost 12.1% in 2022-2028.
Is the gaming industry the biggest industry? ›In summary, we conclude that the gaming industry is already one of the largest entertainment industries in terms of global revenues. It is also the fastest-growing entertainment industry based on the growth rate over the last decade.
What is the gaming industry worth 2022? ›Revenue in the Video Games segment is projected to reach US$197.00bn in 2022.