Video Game Designer Education: Programs, Skills, and Career Pathways

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So, you’re thinking about becoming a video game designer.

Maybe your sister’s boyfriend mentioned something about it recently.

Or maybe you’ve wanted to be involved in the creative process for video games ever since you first started playing them.

Regardless of how you arrived here, this article will give you a good look at different types of video game designer education programs to launch your career.

The Requirements for Game Design

It’s worth going into a little detail about what it is game designers actually do.

If you want to learn even more about it, Udemy offers a course that serves as a quick introduction to what game design really is. We’ll outline it quickly below.

A game designer is responsible for the majority of a game’s cohesion.

I still remember the first time I tried to design a level in a simple game editor. I spent hours sketching layouts and imagining the challenges players would face. That hands-on tinkering really helped me understand what makes a game feel cohesive.

As a game designer, you are responsible for figuring out the game’s makeup.

• What elements exist in the game?
• Why are the elements there?
• What is the game play like?
• What are the rules?

You will typically work with a team of designers, and this team is tasked with coming up with and defining essentially all of the pieces of the game.

By “pieces” we mean things like:

• Characters
• Story elements
• Setting
• Game structure
• Game rules
• Stuff in the game like vehicles and other objects

The designers are pretty much responsible for coming up with everything.

Game Designer Qualifications

Other times, the game’s main elements are already created, and it’s up to the designers to figure out the best way to build the game using those ingredients, within certain parameters. The parameters are typically things related to budget and timeframe.

Once the game’s vision is fleshed out, it’s up to the designers to communicate the vision to the programmers, the artists, and the rest of the production team.

The game goes through a few different development stages. It’s up to the designers to make adjustments when they’re needed.

Maybe the technology isn’t capable of handling an ambitious project, or maybe the budget or time window isn’t large enough for the time needed. Either way, the design team works with the programmers, artists, and the rest of the crew to make the necessary tweaks.

As you can see, this is a position that requires a lot of collaboration, a good bit of creativity, and problem-solving skills. We’ll cover those and other skills needed to be a videogame designer – read on!

Where to Start Your Game Design Education

The team over at CreativeSkillSet.org has put together a great list of education requirements for game designers. When I first joined a small indie project, I learned the importance of communication the hard way. Misunderstandings over a character’s design taught me how crucial clear feedback and collaboration are. Here are some of the video game design skills they mention:

• Communication skills
• Critical skills (accepting and giving constructive feedback)
• Presentation skills
• Storytelling skills
• Basic visual design skills
• Basic drawing skills
• Basic scripting or programming skills
• User interface designing skills
• Strategic thinking skills

Basic Video Game Designer Requirements

• Moderate fluency in 2D and 3D animation and graphics packages
• Awareness of game platforms and the technology out there
• Understanding of gameplay theory
• Relevant health and safety procedures, and legislation

The role some of these skills have on the job is obvious. You’ll need to be able to communicate and present your ideas to the rest of the development team in order to get approval for the game to move forward.

You will probably have to do this more than once throughout a design process.

Bigger games can take years to develop.

With a mix of basic skills needed to be a videogame designer, like user interface design, programming, and drawing, the game designer has a grounded, realistic sense of what a team can produce within the time window and budget constraints.

Common Game Design Education Questions

Do You Need a College Degree to Be a Game Designer?

It is possible to enter the video game developing world without taking any specific game designer education programs.

This option is becoming less prevalent, as more and more colleges are offering video game designer education.

Now, a great way to show a company you have the tenacity to stick with a project long-term, and to show a company you’re serious about this career, is to undergo specialized game designer schooling.

Degrees in fields like computer science and computer programming aren’t bad options if you’re looking to become a game designer.

However, since an abundance of colleges now offer actual video game designer education and game development degrees, we will focus on those for now.

How long does it take to get a fame design education?

Getting into game design is unique because there’s no standard “game designers’ education pathway” to get you there. Most of your decisions will come down to personal preferences and unique criteria.

One of the varying factors is the length and type of video game designer education you pursue.

Different Game Design Education Paths

Two Years – Associate’s

The Associate degree approach is not a bad start on your game-designing path.

Two-year programs fulfill most education requirements for video game designers. They ensure you receive decent exposure to the fundamentals that will be driving your career.

You’ll experience industry software, and you’ll be introduced to creative concepts surrounding successful game creation. Coding, scripting, design theory, and illustration are other things you can expect to dabble in during your two-year stint in an associate program.

The only prerequisite for entering into an associate program is a high school diploma or a GED. It’s worth noting that a game designer position is a coveted position. In most cases, you will not be able to walk out of college with your degree and land a job as a game designer.

It’s significantly more likely that you’ll grab a position somewhere in the game-developing field. From here, you’ll be able to accrue some invaluable industry work experience to qualify for more advanced game design degree requirements. It’s these years of getting your feet wet in the industry that will really help you on your path to get higher video game designer education and land a true game designing job.

Still, even with the emphasis on industry experience, you can get a job that acts as a logical stepping stone towards your dream position with these types of game designer qualifications. For video game designers, a two-year degree will be better than nothing, especially with the competitive trends showing up in the job market.
A two-year degree will be better than nothing, especially with the competitive trends showing up in the job market.

Four Years – Bachelor’s

Pursuing a Bachelor of Game Design means two more years of exposure to programming languages courses (as compared to an associate’s degree).

It will also give you more time to explore traditional art courses and gain experience to meet more specialized video game designer requirements.

Two more years also means twice as much time to develop your portfolio. Completed games or detailed proposals are extremely helpful in showing potential employers what you can do. As we mentioned, video game designer requirements are getting increasingly more difficult with even more competition.

Video games are a multi-billion dollar industry. People want in. Any chance you have to make yourself stand out, you should take.

Like the associate’s degree, you will need to have your high school diploma, and most schools will be looking for SAT and ACT scores as well. If you’re looking for a traditional, campus-based college or university, here is a list of some top options. There are plenty of varied locations in there.

With schools from California to Rochester and Utah to Pennsylvania, You’ll likely be able to find a video game designer education program that works for you.

• What if you want to forego campus life?
• What if you’re employed full-time in a different field?
• What if you have a family or other obligations?

Time to welcome the beautiful world of online courses.

There is a wealth of benefits in going to a video game design school. There was a time when online schools weren’t taken seriously, but that stigma is rapidly fading.

When it comes down to it, you just can’t beat the convenience.

There’s also a price factor.

Traditional expenses, like lodging and meal plans, aren’t weighing on your wallet when you don’t need to leave your home to attend college. It’s like you’re already getting experience with time and budget constraints. Throw that on your resume (Just kidding)!

If you don’t mind foregoing the campus experience, or you’ve already experienced it once and you’re looking to go back to school, online schooling is a great option.

The Recap

For the sake of having a very quick, very crude rundown of the video game designer requirements we just discussed, let’s go back over a few things:

• An associate program will get you out into the industry the fastest.
• A bachelor’s program will give you more time to develop your skills and build your portfolio, and open you up to pursue your master’s degree.
• An online degree for either associate or bachelor of game design means increased flexibility and potential savings.

The Game Design Master’s Program

As is typically the case for master’s programs, to enroll you’ll have to meet certain video game designer education requirements, preferably a bachelor’s degree in game designing.

A primary difference in the master’s program (as compared to a bachelor’s program) is the inclusion of business and management course material. Study.com put together a list of courses one could expect to take in a game design masters program:

• Game marketing
• Video game design mechanics
• Production techniques
• Production management principles
• Human resource management

Obtaining your master’s degree, especially if you have good experience in the field, gives you a better chance to pass advanced video game designer requirements to work professionally right out of the program.

A Master’s education for a game designer can make you a valuable pick-up for a video game production company.

Training and Skill Development Courses Outside of College

What About Training and Skill Development Courses Outside of College?

Whether you’re looking for training to supplement your degree or supplant your degree pursuit entirely, there is a wealth of game development courses and online education for game designers to help you along. Lynda.com, for example, has over 30 game design courses with over 1,200 video tutorials.

They offer many game designer education programs in everything from prop creation to level design. Lynda.com offers a free trial, so you can give it a test run and see what you find on there.

Then there’s Udemy. Instead of being subscription-based, you pay per class. Most of seeming fairly inexpensive for the several hours of game designer education content they offer. Udemy lets you know the difficulty level for different courses, too. It varies from beginner to expert.

Then there are sites like The Game Institute, which is dedicated solely to the world of games. This boasts a reasonably priced flat fee for 6 months or a year depending on how much you want to bite off at once. There’s also a 30-day no-risk money-back guarantee.

The benefit of using a service dedicated to the gaming industry, like the Game Institute, is that you’ll have access to forums full of other like-minded individuals. Puzzling out your problems with other aspiring game developers will serve you well as you’ll continue to collaborate in a professional setting.

Start Your Game Design Education Today

With over 59% of Americans playing video games, there has never been a better time to start your game designer career path. There are ways for you to get started no matter where you are in your game designing education pathway.

Training and skill courses for video game development can be taken before you receive any formal game designer qualifications. A great way to introduce yourself to professional video game designer requirements is to mess around with design software yourself. Forums, too, give you access to a real treasure trove of free information.

If you still aren’t sure if game designing is right for you, you should try and connect with a game designer currently working in the industry.

Look at the development teams for three or four of your favorite games and see if you can get contact information for any of the designers that worked on the game. If you live nearby, you could take them out for coffee and pick their brains about what they actually do. If they are far away, ask them for a quick five-minute phone call or skype session.

Chances are you’ll find someone willing to answer your questions, and they’ll be able to tell you exactly what you want to know about video game designer education.

I still remember emailing a designer from one of my favorite games as a teen. They took the time to explain their workflow and career path, which completely shaped how I approached learning game design. “What’s the work culture like? How much time do you spend doing X or Y? Would I be better off pursuing an X degree or taking Y courses?”

People like to help other people, it’s a human thing, so start tracking some people down and making some moves.

Hopefully, you’re inspired and excited to take the next steps.

Go get ‘em!

FAQ

What education do I need to be a videogame designer?
A videogame designer typically needs a foundation in creative and technical skills. Many pursue degrees in game design, computer science, or related fields, while others supplement their learning with online courses, certifications, or practical experience. Important skills include programming, visual design, storytelling, and understanding gameplay mechanics.

What is the most common level of education video game designers earn?
The most common educational background for video game designers is a bachelor’s degree in game design, computer science, or interactive media. Some start with shorter programs and gain experience through internships or online courses before advancing their careers.

Which course is best for game design?
The best course depends on your goals. Degree programs provide comprehensive training, while online courses and skill-specific programs offer flexibility and focused learning in areas like game programming, level design, or 3D animation.

Is video game design a hard major?
Video game design can be challenging because it combines creativity with technical skills. It requires problem-solving, collaboration, and the ability to adapt to changes in technology and project requirements, but it is manageable with dedication and interest.

Is game design a lot of math?
Math is part of game design, especially in programming, physics simulations, and gameplay mechanics. While expertise in math is not required, understanding basic concepts is helpful for creating functional and engaging games.

Is game design a good career?
Game design can be rewarding for those passionate about creating interactive experiences. It offers opportunities to work on creative projects, collaborate with diverse teams, and contribute to a thriving industry. Career success depends on skill development, experience, and networking.

What salary does a game designer make?
Salaries vary depending on experience, location, and the size of the company. Designers in larger studios or specialized roles generally earn higher pay, while entry-level positions provide a foundation for growth as skills and experience increase.

Do game designers make money?
Yes, game designers earn money and can achieve competitive compensation, especially as they gain experience, develop specialized skills, and work on successful projects. Income can also grow with career advancement and leadership opportunities within development teams.

Sources Utilized

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