Video Game Designers

Write the blueprints for computer games Decide the mission, theme, and rules of play Work with a team of workers to create the game Need excellent writing and speaking skills Some colleges have developed undergraduate and graduate programs in video game design A new video has been released for this occupation. It shows a young woman describing interesting experiences she has had in the job. General Description Video game designers write the blueprints for computer games. They decide the mission, theme, and rules of play. They write a document which fully explains what will happen in the game. Video games are big business. Contrary to popular belief, it isn't just kids who are playing them. According to some studies, the average age of video game players is now 33. Game sales have risen steadily since the mid 1980s. In 2004, for the first time ever, the video game industry made more money than the entire movie industry in the United States. Most video games are developed by teams of workers. Usually there is a lead programmer and a lead designer. In addition there are artists, musicians, and a lot of programmers. The lead designer develops the overall concept and feel of the game. Depending on the game, the lead designer develops a story line or rules. For example, a game with characters and a goal needs a story line. It determines how the characters get to the goal and what happens to them along the way. In contrast, a card game generally doesn't need a story line. One of the main tasks of the lead designer is to produce a "design document." In addition to the story line, this document contains charts, graphs, and sketches. The purpose of the document is to explain the vision of the game in detail. This way the programmers and artists know exactly what their tasks are. The lead designer is unlikely to create all of the art or design samples in the document. Instead the designer generally assigns this work to other game designers called level designers. These designers work on their assigned projects and meet with the lead designer to discuss their work. In the end, the design document can be hundreds of pages long. Surprised by all this writing? Most people are. Of course designers also spend a lot of time evaluating games as they develop. As you now know, designers need excellent writing skills. In addition, they need good speaking skills because they spend a lot of time talking to others about the games. They must be able to communicate their ideas and needs clearly. While designers don't need programming skills, they do need to understand technology. Often designers need to figure out how to solve a situation where the parts of the program are in conflict. For example, loading certain graphics may slow the game too much. Designers need good analytical skills to understand and solve these types of problems--after conferring with their coworkers. In addition, designers need to be flexible. Sometimes they need to change the story or design as flaws are discovered. Video game design is a highly competitive field, but the demand for talented game designers is rising. In recent years, some colleges have developed undergraduate programs in video game design. A few schools have even added master's degree programs. Many people in this occupation are self-employed. Career Cluster and Pathway Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications      Visual Arts Pathway Information Technology      Programming and Software Development Pathway Hours & Conditions Video game designers often work long hours to meet deadlines. They are usually paid a salary, meaning they are not paid overtime for working more than 40 hours a week. Work Locations Video game designers usually work in comfortable, well-lit offices. Pros & Cons This occupation does not have the level of detail of our other occupations. As new information about this occupation becomes available, we will add it to the occupational profile.