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What Does a Career in Game Design Entail?
Video Game Design is nothing if not a multi-disciplinary pursuit. Game designers can be involved in computer game design and development, game production, fine art, computer graphics, art and animation, visual storytelling and visual effects, virtual environment creation, real-time interactive simulation, voice casting, programming or other support roles, and video direction, to name a few disciplines; not to mention that they must stay up to date with top game design and interactive design improvements. In effect, creating a video game is not unlike producing a film or television show. The key difference is that you need to create an experience that provides challenges for the player through interactive media design. This may be done by building a user interface, the mechanics to play the game, content to view and explore, or even developing a featured structure for social interaction on games or applications.
This can take a great deal of expertise, and there are state of the art computer game design and development degree programs offered to students by schools and colleges across the US. These are available as undergraduate and graduate programs, as a minor in game design or as a general certificate, two-year program, bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, and more from a state university, department of computer science, college of arts or media studies, or a specific computer game design program that offers a focus on interactive design and game development. Another great fact about these programs is that many of them offer online or distance learning for online-only students. Some only offer online courses and students must complete a hybrid program (online and on-campus learning) in order to complete their degree, but others offer 100% online options for students from around the country.
Like film production, a career in game design entails long hours devoted to conceptualizing, planning, and scripting before the actual production begins. Then, your job will involve working with your human models and voice actors, writing code, drawing and painting the scenes and sets, and more. Some game developers work with a whole interactive design and game development team and others do all the art and design work themselves. Some will spend their off time creating online gaming experiences that sometimes become sensational hits. Game design is a field that is richly rewarding for creative types and can be financially rewarding if your game becomes a success.
Components of A Successful Career In Video Game Design
Success as a video game designer can be manifested in many ways. For some, the very act of creation is validation and success enough. This is an artisan approach, which independent game developers embrace. They create incredible, cutting-edge games and sell them online for a song, hoping to gain a small, yet often dedicated, audience.
Artisanal designers of video games may also be successful in winning awards and gaining critical acclaim for small indie games accessed through online portals such as Steam and Epic Games. Their games are often so cutting edge that they inspire more mainstream teams and thus they impact their industry through leadership in very deep and meaningful ways. However, their success might not pay for a flashy home or car unless a larger company comes along and buys their whole setup for a tidy price.
Other video game creators seek success on a larger scale. They often work with a team to create games or experiences for companies based on movies or sports figures and reap enormous monetary rewards. They still employ their creative vision, but within the confines of a specific franchise or genre restrictions. This is a still-growing field at the moment as digital media moves into the realm of 3D and continues to grow in more easily accessible sectors and game design schools and colleges continue to flourish.
Still, others find the best of both worlds. The creator of Minecraft, for instance, produced a simplistic and outdated-looking online game that caught the imagination of the world. Children and adults were drawn to its novel approach to gaming, and now it is a large part of contemporary culture. The wild success of that one game earned its designers and creators millions, if not billions, of dollars and international acclaim for their vision and creativity.
How to Become Video Game Designer
What Can I Do with a Video Game Design Degree
A video game design degree, whether earned on campus or online, teaches future video game designers how to take a project from conception to completion. Students learn to work in teams, where everyone's input has equal weight and must be in synch in order to create a dynamite final product. As game design students in a video game design program develop their individual skills, their group projects become more effective and arresting to audiences.
Specific skills from video game design can translate into other areas, as well. Artists can work as illustrators for marketing firms or for themselves in fine arts, and coders can shift their skills into other forms of software engineering. Many video game designers find that the process of designing games and full game creation itself can be immensely educational and prepare students to work as project managers, or in other managerial positions within the gaming industry.
Typical Online Game Design Degree Requirements
Since video game design can be quite a broad-based degree, you may need to satisfy a large number of requirements to qualify for graduation. These required courses will provide the fundamental tools you will need to succeed as a video game designer and offer you insights into the various disciplines needed for a successful game launch. Some required courses include, but are not limited to:
- Design Courses – these may be focused on game art, game mechanics, and fine arts in game design as just a few examples
- Practicum – multiple courses where you bring a project to completion
- Computer Science – can include studies in AI and Programming
- Graphic Art
- Fine Art
- Physics
Typical Game Design and Certifications Needed
Game creators don't necessarily need any specific certifications. This is still a field where a prodigy can teach themselves with online tools and appear out of nowhere, with no formal training, and create the next Minecraft or Fortnite. However, as the industry matures, you can save yourself quite a bit of time and energy by following a curriculum and learning the skills you need to succeed from instructors steeped in their individual disciplines.
Academic Standards for Online Game Design Degrees
Degrees in game design can have very high academic standards. After all, game design students must develop and master a diversified set of skills to complete the degree. That means that you must be an excellent student who has a high degree of discipline that you can focus in a variety of ways. For instance, you need be able to shift from your work in computer programming to your work as a designer and artist.
One school requires that incoming freshmen have a minimum SAT score of 1280 or ACT scores in the 29-34 range. It's also recommended that you have taken some computing courses and pre-calculus is required, as a minimum standard.
Exam/Experience Needed for Game Designers
To be a successful game designer, you need to skillfully apply your knowledge to games or other forms of interactive entertainment. Your degree will require that you create games or other online or interactive media along the way. This academic experience will help you succeed when you finally land your dream job in a video game studio. While you are still a student, you might seek internships or other experiential learning opportunities where you can get a real-world feel for the daily life of a game designer.
If you are having trouble finding opportunities, you might strike out on your own and create your own mobile or online interactive media for small businesses, friends, or family members. Creating a simple mobile app might be the exact right portfolio piece you need to launch a stellar career.
Important Questions To Ask (FAQ)
How long does it take to earn a Game Design bachelor's degree online?
If you work towards a game design bachelor's degree online, you can expect to take up to 29 months. Those 2+ years don't necessarily include time off for summers or spring break, for instance. However, if you work full-time on your studies, you will emerge with a solid foundation of knowledge and skills that you can immediately apply to game production.
How much does an online Game Design bachelor’s degree cost?
A Bachelor's in Game Design can cost around $30,000 for a degree from an in-state university, assuming you complete your core curriculum in a community college. That number increases to upwards of $300,000 if you attend an elite private school in an expensive location, such as New York City.
As an alternative, you could attend a college that is not fully accredited. This is a risky proposition because your courses will likely not transfer to a fully-accredited institution. However, if you find that the education is adequate training for your career, it might be worth a look. These programs often are more affordable, but you should be aware of the risks.
Game Design Bachelor's Degree Coursework
As you work towards your online bachelor's degree, you will naturally take a lot of tech-related courses, but also loads that are directed towards art and design. This is the beauty of studying game design – the interdisciplinary nature of the degree. Though each program is sure to have unique offerings, you might expect to take some of the following courses:
- Graphic Design
- Studio Art
- Illustration for Game Design
- Animation
- Project Management
- Algorithmic Problem Solving
- Interactive Media
- Data Structures for Game Development
- Artificial Intelligence for Game Environments
- Level Design
- College Physics
Does the online school have the major(s) you’re considering?
Game design is a rather specific major. You can find it offered through art colleges, but also through technical universities. While you could major in something related, such as fine art, computer science, design, or animation, your resume would not reflect a knowledge-base that is prepared to create video games.
Ultimately, you want to find a program that offers the exact major you are looking for: Game Design. Game design programs are often regimented in such a way that your sequence of classes builds with each term. Your knowledge base and skill sets evolve in a way that is considered optimal for becoming the very best game designer.
How many students graduate “on time,” in four years?
These days, the norm is to graduate within approximately six years. In fact, when the government studies the length of time it's taking students to finish their four-year degrees, they start with six years as the standard for comparison. However, colleges with the most competitive admission standards tend to graduate students quicker than those with less-restrictive admissions. Schools with open admission standards fare the worst, with few students graduating in six years or less.
What kind of accreditation does the online program hold? How is it regarded in the field?
Your school's accreditation can make the difference between long-term success and struggling with your further education or career. That is, a fully-accredited game design program will provide you with quality credits that you can apply to graduate school, or that will enable you to otherwise progress in your education or career. If your school is fully accredited there's a good chance that it is respected in the field.
There are also schools that are accredited as career schools. This sort of accreditation means that the institution has been inspected and certified for a certain program, but not to full academic standards. However, these schools might be respected in the field. To ascertain how the industry views them, first determine how many graduates are currently creating video games for either large gaming companies, such as Electronic Arts, or smaller independents. Ask your admissions counselor for any information regarding alumni they have available.
Professional Game Design Organizations
IDGA
International Game Developers Association (IDGA)
The IDGA is an association designed specifically for the video game industry. Members are eligible for discounts on events, books, and other products or services. The key benefit is the ability to network in the industry through its network of chapters and online forums. If you are still a student, there may be a campus chapter near you.
SIGCHI
Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction (SIGCHI)
SIGCHI is a group that is operated by the Association for Computing Machinery. SIGCHI endeavors to create a community with a highly diverse group of professionals that include: computer scientists, software engineers, psychologists, interaction designers, graphic designers, sociologists, multi-media designers, and anthropologists. Their goal is to create an inclusive community who work together to create useful and productive technology.