"Complete Guide On How To Become A Game Designer"

How To Become A Game Designer

Introduction:

Gaming industry is bigger than the music and film industries. It is the fastest growing industry in the last 2 decades. As a result everyone wants to pursue their career in game development.

One of theo important demanding fields is game design. It is a creative field and requires a person's natural abilities to come up with new ideas.

A Lot of newcomers don't know the right path of becoming a game designer.

In this article I will give you the complete guide on how to become a game designer. Also I will tell you about all the skill and qualities required for becoming a game designer. For complete knowledge read the article completely.

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How To Become A Game Designer

What Is A Game Designer ?

The game design is a process which describes the rules, mechanics and overall gameplay. It is one of the most important parts of game development. A game designer takes all the decisions of the game, How it's going to look like, how it will feel. It all depends on the game designer.

Game design is a tough process, so big studios have multiple game designers working together to make awesome games that holds players' attention. A game design is the first phase of the game development where important decisions are made. Such as concept, story, gameplay mechanics, level design, characters, UI, art and sounds and many more.

Now there are a bunch of things going on, so let me break down game design in three parts.

Gameplay:

It is the interaction between the player and the game environment.

Mechanics:

These are the rules, system and objectives of the game. For example, the controlling player is a mechanic.

PLayer experience:

It deals with how users feel when they play the game.

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What Does A Game Designer Do?

Now you know about what a game designer is, let's know who game designers actually do. A game designer is the central and most important part of the team. It conceptualized, planned, and defined the features, rules, and mechanics of the game.

Depending on the size and complexity of the game, there may be multiple game designers working in a team.

Let's talk about the work of a game designer more deeply by breaking it down into smaller parts.

Conceptual development:

Game designers brainstorm, generate unique ideas, and conceptualize game story, characters and world. All they planned is written down on a paper which is called a game design document.

Game Mechanics:

It's the game designer's job to think about the game mechanics, which include how the player will move, interacting with NPCs or weather systems in an open world, and many more. These all are game mechanics.

Story:

In big studios, writers write the story (the only thing they do), but in general game designers are the one who planned the story, add characters and if satisfied, implement it into the game through the help of programmers.

Level Design:

In general, level design is another subject on its own. Levels are the world which are designed by level designers but conceptualized by game designers.

User Interface:

Game designers are also responsible for designing the User interface which includes menu, hods and controls. A bad UI can lead to a bad experience. So design it carefully.

Collaboration:

You need to be an extrovert to be a game designer because game designers only think and just think. All the stuff that they visualized either mechanics or story are implemented and programmed by programmers, level designers, sound designers and playtesters.

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Is It Easy To Become A Game Designer?

It is difficult and hard to say that being a game designer is a difficult job. It depends on the size of the game, if you are working alone then all the things you have to do on your own.

But if you are working in a AAA studio then you have a team of game designers and other artists which will make your work easy. Game design is all about generating ideas and if you are good at it, then it's the easiest job on the planet.

Which Degree Is Best For Making Games?

Well you can not get a job with just skills or by knowing how to use Unity or Unreal Engine even if you make some good games. You still need a degree to prove yourself that you have a strong base in games. Going to college, earning a degree and doing an internship will give you experience working in industry.

There are so many degrees which can grant you a job. Some of them are given below, you can do bachelors in any of these programs.

Game Design:

It deals with the game mechanics, story, UI and game design fundamentals. The advantage of this is it teaches you directly applicable skills to game creation.

Computer Science:

This field deals with programming, algorithms, software development, and data structures. This degree will give you a strong technical foundation, and a strong command on multiple programming languages which will help you in understanding game engines.

By the way, after getting a Computer science degree you can also work on game engines.

Interactive Media:

It focuses on user experience, user interface and multimedia content creation. This degree will give command on UI and UX, allowing you to study player experience in game which will allow you to also apply as a UI designer.

Animations:

Games without animations are just pictures. Getting a degree in 2d,3d art, animations, visual effect ,and character development, will help you to get a job as an animator or 3d modeler. You can also learn Blender or Maya to improve your skills.

Computer graphics:

In this degree you will learn about graphics programming, 3d development and rendering techniques. This degree will allow you to get a job as a technical artist for optimization in video games.

Software Engineering:

It focuses on software engineering, software development and testing. The benefits are strong hold on programming languages, and ability to manage large projects.

Audio Engineering:

It teaches you sound design, music creation and composition. Getting a degree will land you a job as a sound designer in the video game industry.

Do Most Game Designers Go to College?

Yes Most of the game designers go to college or university to get a degree related to game development such as software engineering or computer science.

And you often think about How long it takes to get a degree in game design. A normal bachelor's degree takes up to 4 years but some institutes offer a 2 year degree.

Alternative Ways:

Now most of the game developers are hired on their skills and portfolio rather than a degree or any other formal education. So if you don't want to spend 4 years of your precious life then there are some steps you can take.

Short Courses:

You will find short online/ offline courses on game design or programming. Most of these courses duration is up to 6 months or a year. They teach you specific skills. Along this you can also learn from youtube, high quality tutorials are available.

Pro tip:

Pro tip to get a job is to make some good games and make a portfolio (a website) and do a short course offline on communication skills. This is how I got my job.

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What Is A Dame Design Document?

A game design document is a blueprint which help in the team coordination and keep them on the same page. It outlines the game mechanics, story, rules and fundamental principles of game design. A game design document contains the information about the following aspects of the game.
  • Name
  • Mechanics
  • Story
  • Rules and Reward
  • Level design
  • Art and Sound design
  • Finance
  • Marketing

Do You Need To Be Good At Math For Game Design? 

You often think of this “Does game design require math?”To be a game designer you don't need to be an expert in math but having knowledge of basic operations is important.

Areas where math is required:

Programming:

You will use basic algebra creating algorithms, managing variables and writing code. Geometry for calculating angles, movement in 3d space. Linear algebra is required for matrices and vectors which are used to create graphics and rendering.

Game Physics:

Newton laws and classical physics concepts are used in games for movement, and other basic mechanics. Calculus is also used for more complex mechanics.

Areas where math is not required:

In writing a story and creating art, assets, and characters for a game you don't need math at all. So if you are not good at math and want to pursue a career in game design, you can master any one of these artistic fields.

Is Game Design A Stem Degree?

Game design is considered a stem degree when it focuses on technical aspects. Such as programming, computer sciences, algorithms. Because these aspects of game design cover math and physics which are under the stem umbrella.

How To Become A Game Designer

What Skills Do You Need To Become A Game Designer? 

 To become a game designer you need to have a diverse set of skills, some of them are formal and some are natural. You can easily learn these skills. The top seven skills are given below:

1. Creativity:

Creativity is the natural ability of a person to make something unique and valuable. Game designers should be creative enough to think out of the box and make unique game mechanics.

2. Communication:

It is defined as transmission of information. Game designers work in teams and have different departments. Each department has its unique function. To communicate with them, game designers should have better communication skills.

3. Problem Solving:

When game designers think out of the box for new mechanics, there is always the probability of glitch and technical issues to rise. To solve these, game designers should have technical knowledge and deep problem solving skills to work with programmers.

4. Critical Thinking:

Game designers are responsible for every decision they make and implement in a game. Their little decisions widely impact gameplay. So game designers must think about the desinio and its consequences.

5. Programming:

As a game designer, you will be working with a group of people including programmers, artists, level designers and sound designers. To work effectively with them you should have basic knowledge of programming, and familiarity with game engines like Unity or Unreal engine.

6. Storytelling:

Storytelling is the activity of sharing stories as entertainment. Each game, small or big, has interesting stories. Looking at Call of duty modern warfare games, the character ‘GHOST” is the best character ever made in the industry. Game designers should have the ability to create interesting stories and knowledge of pacing in video games.

7. Maths and Physics:

When working on mechanics that are similar to the real world, then classical physics is used. For example, to move a character you must have knowledge of vectors and basic algebra.

Some other tips:
  • You should know what makes a game fun.
  • Have great communication skills.
  • Have basic drawing skills to communicate ideas visually.
  • Have a basic knowledge of programming, and game engines.
  • Have problem solving skills and attention to detail.

Do Game Designers Make Money? 

At this point you will be thinking that do game designers make money? Yes they make good money and can live a good life. Salaries depend on your experience, workload and of course size of the company.

Based on data, the average salary of a game designer in America ranges from 50000$ to 100000$. This figure is good enough to live a good life and this shows that game designers are not underpaid.

Game designers have 4 stages with different salaries.
  • Entry level : 40000$ to 60000% annually
  • Mid level : 60000$ to 90000% annually
  • Senior Level : 90000% to 120000% annually
  • Lead directors : 120000% to 150000% annually 
Salary also depends on some factors like:
  • Location
  • Size of the company and Reputation
  • Game sales and profit sharing
  • Bonuses and Rewards

How To Get A Game Designer Job In The Industry?

Now, let's talk about How to get a game design job in the industry, the most interesting question. To get a job, do the following things, I will guarantee you will get the job.
  • Earn a degree in Computer related field
  • Familiarize yourself with industry standard game engines.
  • Make games and add to your portfolio.
  • Practice communication skills.
  • Apply for a game design internship.
  • Have all the above skills I have mentioned above.

Is Game Design A Competitive Field?

Game design is one of the most demanded jobs but at the same time it is very easy to secure a job. Many gamers want to show their passion and contribute to making games. Game design is a growing field and has a market value of 350 million $. So a lot of gamers want to make a career. Below are the some factors that make it a competitive field.
  • High skills demand
  • Popularity
  • Adaptability
  • Limited positions
  • Portfolio importance

One of my friends works in HR at a big studio in the US. He says to me that he got 500 CV ’s for a lead game designer post, but 80% of them did not answer the basic questions. It shows that you should only apply for a job that is relevant to you.

What Are The Cons Of Game Design? 

There are pros and cons of becoming a game designer also. The advantages are good salary and other stuff but in this heading I will talk about cons of game design.

To meet deadlines and under high pressure game designers work for long hours which leads to stress. Sitting on a chair is also not good for physical health and also mental health. It also leads to burnout and decreased balance between work and life.

The industry is also full of competition and job security is also very poor. This also leads to burnout and stress.

Will AI Replace Game Designers?

Since the rise of chatgpt, AI has undergone surprizable progress. From graphic designing to content writing, AI also has entered the gaming industry causing tension among the game developers.

Unity and Unreal Engine also started new features which are supported by AI , and you can generate assets with these tools within a minute. This raises the question, “Will AI replace game designers“.

The answer is complicated, I am not sure about other aspects of game development, but game design cannot be replaced by AI at least in the next 30 years. Because as I have mentioned above the qualities of a game designer, AI cannot possess these human traits.

Ai can do programming, make art, generate sound but it cannot do creative decisions like we humans do. So don't worry, your job is not going anywhere.

Where Do Most Game Designers Live?

The most game designers live in USA, Canada and Europe. Because a large number of big and small studios are located there, especially in the US. Here are top cities based on big studios:
  • Sans Francisco, Electronic Arts
  • Los Angeles, Blizzard
  • Seattle, Valve
  • Austin, Retro Studio
  • Montreal, Ubisof
  • New York. Rockstar
  • Paris, Ubisoft

A Day In The Life Of A Video Game Designer:

You will be very interested to know how game designers spend their day. It depends on the role of the game designer and in which company he/she works. Let me give you a general routine of a game designer.

Morning:

In the morning, a bunch of game designers sit and talk to each other about the progress, brainstorming about new ideas. They do conceptualization of new mechanics, characters, and other elements. They write down their ideas on paper.

Afternoon:

In the afternoon, they talk to artists, programmers, and level designers and guide them on what to do, and how to implement the ideas which they conceptualize in the morning. They also talk to playtesters and collect feedback from them.

Evening:

In the evening, they examine the prototype and update the game design document. Their general task is to come up with ideas and make sure everyone is on the same stage.

Average Game Designer Salary UK:

If you want to work as a game designer in the UK, the salary varies and depends on many factors such as location, size of the company, and sales.

According to data, you can earn up to 20000 euros to 30000 euros in the beginning. As you gain experience, and level up, the salary may increase to 50000 euros. The seniors get up to 80000 euros yearly.

Average Salary Of Game Designers:

Game development is a good field and a high-paying career. You can earn a good amount yearly to become financially independent and support your family. According to LinkedIn, the average salary I have calculated worldwide is 70000 $. But this salary is only valid for the US and Europe because game developers are mostly underpaid in some Asian countries.


Game Designer Bootcamp:

What Is A Bootcamp?

A boot camp is a short training program designed to teach students practical knowledge of a specified field. The concept of boot camp arises from military training.

What Is A Game Designer Bootcamp?

A boot camp for game designers is a program where students apply their learning practically to become game designers. These boot camps are short and interesting and cover various topics such as game mechanics, prototyping, development process, and game engines.

You should participate in game jams and boot camps to gain benefits and practical learning. This will give you experience and improve your communication and collaboration skills.

Game Designer Books:

Game design is a complex process, and it can be learned by designing many games and learning from your mistakes. But you can easily learn by reading books. These books cover all the principles and rules of designing games. I have an article on the 20 best game design books, You should read especially if you're a beginner.

What Are The Benefits Of Being A Video Game Designer?

Creativity:

As a game designer, you will always be thinking and brainstorming about new ideas and mechanisms. It improves your creativity.

Collaboration:

You will be the major figure in the development team above the programmers, level designers, and artists. You will take every decision and collaborate with them to implement these ideas. It will also improve your communication skills as you will talk to many people and share ideas with them.

Management skills:

Being a game designer, you will be responsible for managing and updating the game design documents. Collaborate with teammates, keep everyone on the same stage and manage meetings.

Cons Of Being A Video Game Designer:

There are also some cons you should know about before you make a
career in game design. The major problem I have faced personally
is burnout. The majority time you will be sitting and sitting on
your chair. This is not good for your physical health. As a game
designer, you will be responsible for reporting to the higher
authority of the company, and completing deadlines is stressful.
These are some dark facts about being a game designer.

Conclusion : 

In short, game design is a creative field that combines creativity, storytelling and passion for creating games. Game designers work to bring their ideas to life, making fun games for the people.

The field has also cons like working long hours to meet deadlines. How to become a game designer, the complete knowledge I have provided in this article. If you find it valuable keep subscribing to our blog.



Hi ! I'm Maaz Ayub , a technology and gaming content writ over 2+ year of professional experience in content writing