VIDEO GAME DESIGNER

 

VIDEO GAME DESIGNER

Video game designers create games that run on computers and gaming consoles.  They work in teams in office environments developing flowcharts and storyboards for games, writing code, and fixing glitches.  Video game designers essentially take a concept and turn it into a playable game.  Designers may work on specific sections of a game or contribute to the entire product, depending on the position.  For example, one designer could focus on the game’s settings, another could focus on characters, and another could focus on visuals.  

Video game design can become hectic, especially with the number of people playing video games today.  There was on outage at PlayStation Network in 2011—caused by an external intrusion—that lasted for weeks.  This outage had to be rectified by video game designers, and there was a plethora of growing outrage during the time of the network being down.  Video game designing may sound like a fun, laid-back profession but it is an important job today.

Soft skills:

• Teamwork

• Problem-solving

• Creativity

Hard skills:

• Programming languages – should be fluent in at least one coding language (e.g., C++)

• Analytical skills – math and analytical skills are essential to any coding-heavy profession

• Software Development Skill – video game designers should understand the basic principles of software development

Average salary:

The overall average salary of video game designers is $67,050.  The average with 5-9 years of experience is $78,030.  The average with 10-19 years of experience is $90,220.