What Do Video Game Designers Do?
Position Description 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.
Life as a Video Game Designer: What Do They Do?
- Consult with multiple stakeholders to define requirements and implement online features.
- Prepare two-dimensional concept layouts or three-dimensional mock-ups.
- Conduct regular design reviews throughout the game development process.
- Keep abreast of game design technology and techniques, industry trends, or audience interests, reactions, and needs by reviewing current literature, talking with colleagues, participating in educational programs, attending meetings or workshops, or participating in professional organizations or conferences.
- Create and manage documentation, production schedules, prototyping goals, and communication plans in collaboration with production staff.
- Oversee gameplay testing to ensure intended gaming experience and game adherence to original vision.
Video Game Designer Needed Skills
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.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Computer Video Game Designer
- Mobile Game Engineer
- Senior Game Designer
- Gameplay Engineer
- Video Game Programmer
Is There Going to be Demand for Video Game Designers?
In the United States, there were 287,200 jobs for Computer Workers in 2016.
New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9.3% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 26,600 new jobs for Video Game Designers by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 22,400 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Computer Workers are Washington, California, and Texas.
Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Wyoming, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Video Game Designer Make?
The typical yearly salary for Computer Workers is somewhere between $47,350 and $144,820. A Video Game Designer median salary is $90,270.
How much do Computer Workers make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
|
District of Columbia |
$117,540 |
|
Maryland |
$113,330 |
|
New Hampshire |
$112,440 |
|
Virginia |
$105,270 |
|
California |
$103,270 |
|
Colorado |
$102,470 |
|
Connecticut |
$100,340 |
|
New Jersey |
$99,210 |
|
Alaska |
$98,830 |
|
Massachusetts |
$92,110 |
|
South Carolina |
$92,100 |
|
Washington |
$91,620 |
|
New York |
$90,750 |
|
Texas |
$90,290 |
|
Georgia |
$90,140 |
|
Hawaii |
$89,960 |
|
North Carolina |
$88,650 |
|
Alabama |
$87,060 |
|
Pennsylvania |
$87,040 |
|
Nebraska |
$86,230 |
|
Arizona |
$85,010 |
|
West Virginia |
$83,660 |
|
Missouri |
$82,610 |
|
Ohio |
$82,440 |
|
Minnesota |
$81,650 |
|
Rhode Island |
$81,290 |
|
Mississippi |
$81,280 |
|
South Dakota |
$81,250 |
|
Idaho |
$80,610 |
|
Maine |
$79,790 |
|
Oregon |
$79,610 |
|
New Mexico |
$79,540 |
|
Kentucky |
$79,420 |
|
Indiana |
$79,310 |
|
Kansas |
$79,300 |
|
Florida |
$78,900 |
|
Iowa |
$78,810 |
|
Oklahoma |
$78,490 |
|
Utah |
$76,890 |
|
Michigan |
$76,400 |
|
Wyoming |
$75,780 |
|
Wisconsin |
$74,600 |
|
Tennessee |
$74,000 |
|
Arkansas |
$73,670 |
|
Nevada |
$72,610 |
|
Vermont |
$72,220 |
|
North Dakota |
$70,730 |
|
Montana |
$68,430 |
|
Louisiana |
$66,600 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Video Game Designers
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Video Game Designers:
- Microsoft Project
- Microsoft Office
- Job control language JCL
- JavaScript
- Practical extraction and reporting language Perl
- Microsoft Visio
- Advanced business application programming ABAP
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Outlook
- C++
Where do Video Game Designers Work?
References
Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons
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