Computer Game Design Job Description

Game Design Home | Getting Started | Industry Info | Find Game Design Schools

What's a Computer Game Design Job Like?

"Work isn't supposed to be all fun and games." Sound like something your parents told you about being a "responsible adult?" Well, times have changed, and one career that is looking for kids-at-heart is computer game design.

Of course, this isn't to say that a computer game design job won't challenge you. Legendary games like Grand Theft Auto and Halo don't come together without computer game designers putting in long hours and lots of hard work. To succeed in computer game design, you'll need to be dedicated. It may not be a good career fit for casual gamers. But if you're passionate about video games, you'll be happy to know that "being a responsible adult" and being a gamer aren't mutually exclusive.

Everyday Computer Game Design Tasks

What you'll do each day in a computer game design job depends on the career path you choose. You'll find job opportunities at every phase of the computer game design process, from the initial planning, to designing characters and environments, to programming. The following tasks are all part of producing an enjoyable video game:

• Designing elements such as characters, levels, puzzles, etc.
• Art and animation
• Coding and programming
• Project management (budgeting, time management, and communication with other departments)
• Testing

Skills Needed

Enthusiasm and Knowledge – The thousands of hours you've spent playing video games are about to pay off. You've probably absorbed several important game design principles just by playing. You've experienced first-hand which things frustrate users and which excite them. You're ready to be a great computer game designer simply because you know how players think. Experience and enthusiasm are definite assets for a game designer. You'll need both as you embark on a computer game design career—which can require long hours and a commitment to staying on top of new developments in the game industry.

Computer Skills – Technology is an integral part of the computer game design industry. Whether you're writing code or creating graphics, you'll definitely need technical knowledge and an aptitude for learning new software.

Artistic Ability – Graphics and animation are a crucial component of computer game design. They can make or break a user experience. Video game characters and virtual environments are more complex than ever, which means that artistic people are in demand in the video game industry.

Teamwork – Working in a collaborative environment comes with the territory in a computer game design. There are a lot of moving parts in a game design project. You'll be cooperating with many people to meet goals and deadlines, and you'll need to communicate your ideas clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing.

Is a Computer Game Design Job for You?

If you already spend a large portion of your waking hours playing video games, why not get paid for it? In a computer game design job, you'll definitely work hard, but having the opportunity to earn a living while working in an industry you love can make all the difference to your job satisfaction and overall enjoyment of life.

Game Design Home | Getting Started | Industry Info | Find Game Design Schools