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How to Become a Video Game Designer

By March 14, 2022January 16th, 2023Game Design

Game design is an exciting and in-demand career. It requires wide-ranging skills that encompass the technical, the aesthetic, and the conceptual. Receiving a college education is among the more reliable ways to build the skills necessary to succeed in this competitive and rewarding field. Employers want game designers with skills to match their passion and creativity.

Game design vs. game development

To become a video game designer, you should understand what skills it requires and how to acquire those skills. Choosing the right path to a career in game design starts with a good grasp of what a game designer contributes to the creation of a game.

There is a tendency to confuse game design and game development. Understanding the difference is important to evaluating what educational path is best for you. Game design and game development are related (and in some cases overlapping) fields but require different skills and have different job descriptions

Foremost, getting into game design and/or game development means making a commitment to building technical, design, and people skills.

Game developer job description

Becoming a game developer means developing games for mobile, PC, or console, although it’s possible to learn all three. A game developer’s job is to code the basic engine or platform that the game will run on, with computer languages such as Python, C ++, and Javascript. Developers can also be involved in animation, character design, and game testing.

Game designer job description

Becoming a game designer means playing a heavy role in the creative vision and execution of a game. They develop the feel of the game through visual and plot elements like narrative, characters, and storyline. They also play a technical role, performing 3D texturing, modeling, and rendering as part of their duties. Game designers also have input on game rules and settings that will dictate how the game is played.

Villa Maria College’s game design program can help you build the skills necessary for both game development and game design. Our program prepares you to work in most aspects of the game creation process, from development, to design, to production, to distribution.

How to become a game designer

You don’t have to be a lifelong gamer to get into game design or development. Although, many get into game design by enjoying the final product and considering what went into creating top-notch playable content.

A better way to determine whether game design is the right career for you is to consider the kinds of skills needed to meet the job description. Note that even if you feel like you’re not strong in all of these areas currently, the right educational environment can help you grow. For instance, if you’re a prospective or current student with learning differences, Villa’s Achieve Program is here to support you with the resources to help you excel in college academics.  

Additionally, a game design program like Villa’s, with its 9:1 student to faculty ratio, focuses on empowering every student to achieve their dreams, wherever they are in their development as people and professionals.

The skills required for becoming a game designer involve both “hard” skills like coding and game-engine building as well as “soft” skills like relating to people and thinking strategically. At Villa, we focus on building these important skills for game designers and developers:

  • Creativity and vision
  • Sense of narrative and visual storytelling
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Exceptional communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Understand what people want from their gameplay experience
  • Read and interpret data
  • Accept and build on feedback
  • Aesthetics and world-building
  • Knowledge of gaming industry trends
  • Business and operational strategic thinking
  • User experience knowledge and skills

Learn these skills and more in Villa’s four year Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Game Design with courses in:

  • Animation
  • Game development tools and techniques
  • Texturing and modeling
  • Web design and programming
  • Game engines
  • Gaming history

Our commitment to student success

Villa’s friendly and engaged professors and staff can help with the decision to focus on one or more aspects of game development with a diverse, open, and supportive program that respects its students as individuals with unique talents and needs.

Be better equipped to follow trends and stay at the forefront of the gaming industry with up-to-date and career-ready skills. With Buffalo, NY’s only game design program, Villa can help you build the career you want closer to home.