5 Reasons to Start a Game Design Career
What is it about gaming and gamers that makes a game design job so appealing?
It's very unusual for real-world jobs to be identified with fun and excitement, but a career in game design is one of the rare few.
Sheer enjoyment of the day-to-day aspects of the job isn't the whole story—game designers are part of an ever-evolving industry that's constantly presenting new challenges and rewards.
Take a look at these five benefits of working in the game design field:
1. Use your creative and analytical skills. Game designers are responsible for conceptualizing the themes, structure and rules of a video game—some specialize in more overtly creative areas such as scriptwriting or level design, while others work on game-play design or level mechanics. In either case, as a game designer you'll be using artistic and creative skills in addition to technological knowledge. Being analytical and organized is critical to planning how various aspects of the game will work—how a character confronts obstacles in the game, for instance, or how the player earns a score in relation to completing missions.
2. Work in an enthusiastic and casual environment. The game design culture is unlike the environment in any other industry. Employees are living their passion—they're dedicated, enthusiastic and creative, and as a game designer you get to experience the ultimate satisfaction of creating a product that you love and others will enjoy.
3. Enjoy a steady career in a dynamic industry. The game industry is always changing. There's never a dull moment, and you'll have the opportunity to learn throughout your career. At the same time, because the video game field is well established, you'll enjoy the security of a steady job.
4. Earn a competitive salary. Game developers are part of the larger field of software developers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics, the median national annual salary for software developers is $132,270. Actual salaries may vary greatly based on specialization within the field, location, years of experience and a variety of other factors. Designers who work for game companies on the West Coast, which is a mecca for the game design industry, can expect an even higher average salary.
5. Make a career out of helping people have fun. Interactive entertainment is about more than just escapism—it's about people of all ages enjoying themselves in an immersive environment, whether it's a fantasy world or a sports field. As Electronic Arts' head of European talent acquisition Matthew Jeffery stated in an article for GameCareerGuide, "What job is better than helping people have fun?"