4 answers
Davion
Student
Virginia Beach, Virginia
1
Question
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where should start for game designing
I like to play xbox I love music and I love to watch horror movies #film
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4 answers
Doc Frick
Career Coach and Mentor
1348
Answers
California, CA
Updated
Doc’s Answer
Davion while some employers require a bachelor's degree in video game design or computer science, a high school diploma is the minimum requirement. As the video game industry grows, more universities are creating curricula to support careers in video game design. These courses are usually offered within the computer science or media departments. Video game designers typically have a bachelor's degree in game design, computer engineering, or computer science which takes four to five years to complete. Courses in a game design degree program may include project management, integrated video design and technology, game prototyping and level design.
You'll may need to have experience working in computer science, programming, or art. There are also a number of abilities and skills which are critical for aspiring video game designers. For example, you need to be creative and be able to practically apply this creativity. It is also important that game designers have the ability to tell a story, as many games are story-based. Game designers are an important part of a comprehensive team of designers and developers that coordinate the complex task of creating a new video game. Game designers have duties like designing characters, levels, puzzles, art and animation. They may also write code, using various computer programming languages.
Many computer game designers admit they began their careers as avid gamers who were looking for a way to make money doing what they loved, playing computer games. Interest and experience in gaming is a must. Artistic and technological ability, a desire to collaborate with other professionals and imagination are all necessary skills to be successful. Perhaps one of the most important skills for a video game designer is to be cooperative. Since game designers usually work in groups, it is vital that they are able to work effectively as part of a team. This means that communication skills and a team-oriented attitude are important for aspiring designers. In order to practically apply these other skills and design games, it is also necessary to have some understanding of programming languages, software programs, and 3D modeling programs.
Hope this helps Davion
Davion certificate programs are also popular and usually take a year or less to complete. In a certificate program, you should expect coursework to cover topics such as C++ programming, game mathematics and storyboard development. Those seeking an associate degree may also study computer-aided drafting and design (CADD), computer animation and creative writing in addition to basic computer science.
You'll may need to have experience working in computer science, programming, or art. There are also a number of abilities and skills which are critical for aspiring video game designers. For example, you need to be creative and be able to practically apply this creativity. It is also important that game designers have the ability to tell a story, as many games are story-based. Game designers are an important part of a comprehensive team of designers and developers that coordinate the complex task of creating a new video game. Game designers have duties like designing characters, levels, puzzles, art and animation. They may also write code, using various computer programming languages.
Many computer game designers admit they began their careers as avid gamers who were looking for a way to make money doing what they loved, playing computer games. Interest and experience in gaming is a must. Artistic and technological ability, a desire to collaborate with other professionals and imagination are all necessary skills to be successful. Perhaps one of the most important skills for a video game designer is to be cooperative. Since game designers usually work in groups, it is vital that they are able to work effectively as part of a team. This means that communication skills and a team-oriented attitude are important for aspiring designers. In order to practically apply these other skills and design games, it is also necessary to have some understanding of programming languages, software programs, and 3D modeling programs.
Hope this helps Davion
Doc recommends the following next steps:
Leland Chee
Creative Executive
13
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Leland’s Answer
I worked in the games industry as a Games Tester in Quality Assurance for 3 years in the late 90's. When I was hired, I had a bachelor's degree in communication with 3 years of experience working professionally in television. At the company, there was a requirement for employees to work in the same department for a full year before being able to transfer to a different department. After a year, many of my colleagues were able to move into other departments in the company like level design, art, production, and sound. During my 3 years, I was promoted to Lead Tester, and had I stayed, it's possible that I could have become a manager or supervisor. As a Lead Tester, I supervised a team of testers that ranged in size from 1-20 people, depending where in the production cycle we were in the project. I was involved in the selection of the members of my team and in interviewing new hires.
When selecting new members of the team, I was looking for passion and breadth of knowledge of video games. As a tester, you likely won't be able to choose the project you're working on, so if you are looking at working for a larger game developer, it's helpful to know about multiple genres and platforms of games. At a smaller developer, the genre and platform might be very specific. If you don't have a college education, you will have to be able to demonstrate your knowledge of games coupled with the ability to communicate that knowledge. I remember one of the testers we hired didn't have a college degree, but they had worked at GameStop for years and their passion and knowledge of games was crystal clear during the interview. These days, I might look at potential hires to see if they had a Twitch stream, created video game mods, or were involved in esports.
To be a game tester you need:
Demonstrated passion and knowledge of video games
Effective written and verbal communication
Attention to detail
Ability to repeat an assigned task for hours
Ability to work large amounts of overtime (especially during "crunch" time)
When selecting new members of the team, I was looking for passion and breadth of knowledge of video games. As a tester, you likely won't be able to choose the project you're working on, so if you are looking at working for a larger game developer, it's helpful to know about multiple genres and platforms of games. At a smaller developer, the genre and platform might be very specific. If you don't have a college education, you will have to be able to demonstrate your knowledge of games coupled with the ability to communicate that knowledge. I remember one of the testers we hired didn't have a college degree, but they had worked at GameStop for years and their passion and knowledge of games was crystal clear during the interview. These days, I might look at potential hires to see if they had a Twitch stream, created video game mods, or were involved in esports.
To be a game tester you need:
Demonstrated passion and knowledge of video games
Effective written and verbal communication
Attention to detail
Ability to repeat an assigned task for hours
Ability to work large amounts of overtime (especially during "crunch" time)
Simeon Snow
Risk Assurance
1792
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Simeon’s Answer
Generally, you'll want a degree in game design, but you could try your hand at video game development. As a video game developer, it will help to develop your own portfolio of games you've made. I'd recommend checking out game jams like the one hosted by Game Maker's Toolkit on itch.io. He has a very successful Youtube channel and has had record-breaking numbers of participants in his game jams these past years. Game jams are multi-day events where entrants compete to make games that match the theme of the jam. You don't need any prior experience to participate and you'll find people, especially on Discord, who would be excited to point you in the direction of free resources. It helps to have a focused event like this to practice using a skill. It makes it easier to practice the skill and wrap your head around which parts of the coding process are giving you issues.
Jamie Clark
Visual Effects Artist
24
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Jamie’s Answer
If you're definitely interested in game design then I can recommend "The Guild Hall." I've worked with several designers who graduated from there and the professors are working industry professionals so you'll get the right instruction and make the right contacts to start your game design career.
But there are many roles in video game development. So it's difficult to know if game design is "for you."
One thing to note, as a game designer you will basically have skills to design games specifically so the knowledge doesn't really translate to another career.
Say if you decided you wanted to be an animator. You could work in video games, television, movies, commercials and probably a lot more industries.
If you were a programmer you could work virtually anywhere.
But being specific to game design, if you found that you didn't really like it after being in the industry, you'd have to kind of "start over" since those skills don't necessarily translate to other careers.
Something to think about, BUT if you KNOW you want to be a game designer because you've built some levels in Unreal or Unity (or any other available editor) I can recommend The Guild Hall.
But there are many roles in video game development. So it's difficult to know if game design is "for you."
One thing to note, as a game designer you will basically have skills to design games specifically so the knowledge doesn't really translate to another career.
Say if you decided you wanted to be an animator. You could work in video games, television, movies, commercials and probably a lot more industries.
If you were a programmer you could work virtually anywhere.
But being specific to game design, if you found that you didn't really like it after being in the industry, you'd have to kind of "start over" since those skills don't necessarily translate to other careers.
Something to think about, BUT if you KNOW you want to be a game designer because you've built some levels in Unreal or Unity (or any other available editor) I can recommend The Guild Hall.