Video Game Designers

Course Advisor; United States; On-site; USD 47,350 - 144,820; Full time

Job summary

Course Advisor is seeking a Video Game Designer to design core features of video games and create engaging gameplay mechanics. The position involves collaboration with artists and production teams to ensure the game's vision is realized. Candidates should possess strong programming skills, critical thinking, and a knack for problem-solving. The salary range for this role in the United States is between $47,350 and $144,820 annually, varying based on location and experience.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of programming and game mechanics required.
• Ability to work collaboratively with production and artistic teams.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and critical thinking are essential.

Responsibilities

• Design core features of video games and create design documentation.
• Collaborate with artists and production staff to produce games.
• Devise missions, challenges, or puzzles for gameplay.

Skills

Programming

Active Listening

Complex Problem Solving

Critical Thinking

Reading Comprehension

Active Learning

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Python

C

Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator

Job description

What Does it Take to Be a Video Game Designer?

Design core features of video games. Specify innovative game and role-play mechanics, story lines, and character biographies. Create and maintain design documentation. Guide and collaborate with production staff to produce games as designed.

A Day in the Life of a Video Game Designer

• Devise missions, challenges, or puzzles to be encountered in game play.
• Develop and maintain design level documentation, including mechanics, guidelines, and mission outlines.
• Collaborate with artists to achieve appropriate visual style.
• Provide test specifications to quality assurance staff.
• Create gameplay prototypes for presentation to creative and technical staff and management.
• Provide feedback to production staff regarding technical game qualities or adherence to original design.

Video Game Designers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Programming: Writing computer programs for various purposes.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Types of Video Game Designer Jobs

• Designer/Writer
• Video Game Developer
• Game Designer
• Lead Game Designer
• Video Game Creator

What Kind of Video Game Designer Job Opportunities Are There?

In the United States, there were 287,200 jobs for Video Game Designer in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9.3% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 26,600 new jobs for Video Game Designer by 2026. There will be an estimated 22,400 positions for Video Game Designer per year.

The states with the most job growth for Video Game Designer are Washington, Utah, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Maryland, or Mississippi. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for a Video Game Designer

The typical yearly salary for Video Game Designers is somewhere between $47,350 and $144,820.

Video Game Designers who work in District of Columbia, Maryland, or New Hampshire, make the highest salaries.

What Tools & Technology do Video Game Designers Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Video Game Designers may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Outlook
• Python
• MySQL
• Microsoft Project
• Microsoft Visio
• Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
• C
• Practical extraction and reporting language Perl
• Blackboard