Game designer
Create games which might be played by millions of people on computers, consoles and mobiles.
About the job
A day in the life – Game designer
What it's like
From FIFA to Fortnite or Minecraft to Mario, video games have gone from being just a hobby to a way of life for people of all ages. No longer reserved for the latest games console, you can now play games anywhere: on computers, consoles, the internet, or mobile phones.
As a games designer you’d create ideas, characters and stories or work on animations. You might come up with your own ideas or work from an existing concept, like a game based on a film.
Games can take months, or even years, to produce and you’d get involved with many stages of development before a game is finally released.
You’d work as part of a team alongside developers, programmers, animators and quality assurance testers and you’d all work together to make sure the game is produced on time and within budget.
You could also work freelance or become an ‘Indie’ or independent games developer. These aren’t easy options and would rely on experience and networking.
Your tasks might include:
planing and developing different elements of a game, such as levels, characters and plots
deciding what a game will look like
designing storyboards and writing scripts
creating the code to make the game work
presenting and selling your ideas to the rest of the team
working with quality assurance (QA) testers to fix any bugs
working with developers, artists and programmers to build a game prototype
developing and writing the rules of the game
Hours
You'll generally work between 30 and 40 hours per week. You might need to work overtime at weekends and evenings to meet deadlines.
Environment
You'll spend most of your time working at a computer, usually in a studio. You'll work in a team including artists, programmers, developers and testers.
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Digital technologies Creative
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- attention to detail
- problem solving
- innovative
- designing
- creative
- written communication
- working with technology
- verbal communication
- cooperating
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Art and Design
Computing Science
Graphic Communication
Foundation Apprenticeship: Software Development
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you’ll need.
There are a number of ways to get qualified for this job, via college / university study or through work-based qualifications, such as apprenticeships. Game designers will often have a degree in the following subjects:
computer games art
computer games design
computer games development
computer games technology
computer science
interactive media
Others often get into this role through routes such as quality assurance (QA) testing roles, 3D modelling or programming which all provide experience of how a game is made.
Employers will consider people without a HND or degree if they can demonstrate awareness of games and industry trends across all gaming platforms and experience of playing and making games, as well as the technology involved and any limitations and abilities of different platforms.
For creative roles in this industry, it is helpful to have a portfolio detailing your skills and experience through any work or projects you have done in order to show off your skills and creativity – include your best work and keep it up to date.
As technology is ever changing, it is necessary to keep up with these advances throughout your career.
While not all employers list specific qualification requirements they do ask for relevant experience, usually work based, that demonstrates a range of transferable skills.
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