Video Game Designers
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.
Sample of reported job titles:
Design Director, Designer, Game Designer, Level Designer, World Designer
Occupation-Specific Information
Tasks
- Review or evaluate competitive products, film, music, television, and other art forms to generate new game design ideas.
- Provide test specifications to quality assurance staff.
- 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 gameplay test plans for internal and external test groups.
- Provide feedback to designers and other colleagues regarding game design features.
Technology Skills
- Analytical or scientific software:Virtual Battlespace 2 VBS2
- Configuration management software:Perforce Helix software
- Data base management system software:MySQL
- Data base user interface and query software:Blackboard software,Microsoft SQL Server,Structured query language SQL
- Development environment software:Adobe Systems Adobe ActionScript,Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Suite,Autodesk Scaleform,C,C for Graphics cg,Microsoft High Level Shader Language HLSL,Microsoft Visual Studio,Scheme,Simple DirectMedia Layer SDL,Unity Technologies Unity
Occupational Requirements
Work Activities
- Thinking Creatively:Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Working with Computers:Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems:Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates:Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Getting Information:Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Detailed Work Activities
- Analyze market or customer related data.
- Collaborate with others to determine design specifications or details.
- Communicate project information to others.
- Design video game features or details.
- Develop testing routines or procedures.
Work Context
- Electronic Mail:95% responded"Every day"
- Face-to-Face Discussions:90% responded"Every day"
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled:90% responded"Every day"
- Work With Work Group or Team:76% responded"Extremely important"
- Structured versus Unstructured Work:75% responded"Some freedom"
Worker Requirements
Skills
- 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.
Knowledge
- Computers and Electronics:Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Design:Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
- English Language:Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Communications and Media:Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
- Psychology:Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Education
How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation? Respondents said:
- 57%Bachelor's Degree
- 19%Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
- 10%Some College Courses
Worker Characteristics
Abilities
- Originality:The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
- Fluency of Ideas:The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
- Near Vision:The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Oral Comprehension:The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Oral Expression:The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Interests
- Artistic:Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
- Enterprising:Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Work Values
- Achievement:Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
- Independence:Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
- Working Conditions:Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Work Styles
- Innovation:Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
- Attention to Detail:Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
- Initiative:Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
- Analytical Thinking:Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
- Cooperation:Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
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