Becoming a Video Game Designer
What to Study and Do from High School, Before Submitting a Resume
People with good problem-solving skills, math ability, an eye for art, imagination, and with good problem solving and programming skills are on the right track
Every video game player has picked up a game and regretted paying the purchase price. The sheer amount of games that have been released in recent years means a number of bad games have been released. Many gamers decide to start an exciting career in video game design to help combat this problem.
What these fledgling video game designers often do not know is what subjects and talents they need to have to become video game designers. A video game designer must have good programming and good problem solving skills, be imaginative, have a good understanding or mathematics and be willing to learn about rapidly changing technologies.
Subjects to Study in High School to Become a Video Game Designer
Being a good artist helps when creating a new video game, but it is not strictly necessary. Computer programmers and artists are employed by most software companies producing console and PC games. Knowing how to create digital images never hurts. A person who is a good artist as well as a good programmer has a stronger position when applying for a job with a video game development company.
The video game designer needs to focus on mathematics and computer concepts. The most realistic games use physics, calculus, and many other subjects that most students think they will never use in real life. The average player does not need to know how to play the games, but while math is important, the video game designer should take all the computer courses he can in high school. Modern video game designers use C/C++, or some scripting language, but it is important to learn the basic computer programming concepts taught in BASIC and Pascal courses that most high schools offer.
What the Video Game Designer Should Study in College
Many colleges are now offering course on video game design that focus on the mathematics, the programming languages, and the most commonly used graphic programs necessary to be a video game designer, but these same things can be learned in the computer science curricula offered by more traditional universities. The perspective college student whose career goals include video game design can minor in arts or obtain the required information through creative electives.
Video Games Design is a Competitive Field
Because computer programming is a major element of video game design, a character should also have good problem solving capabilities and be able to follow processes in a logical manner. This can be honed in schools and through playing games that increase an individual's problem solving ability, but the perspective video game designer must possess a certain innate talent or he or she should look into pursuing another career.
Much like writing or commercial art, there are many people who earn their living as video game designers now and only the best make by creating the latest video games. The perspective video game designer must polish his skills and be creative enough to pitch his product to a perspective software company.
A few video game designers have started their own companies successfully, but these companies are rare exceptions. Persistence is the key to getting someone to accept an idea for a game, but with any other creative effort, rejection is part of the game, unless a video game designer gets extremely lucky.
Resouces:
Animation Arena – Becoming a Video Game Designer
Game Design Discovery – Video Game Designer
