What Do Video Game Designer Do?
Video Game Designer Example 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.
A Day in the Life of a Video Game Designer
- Oversee gameplay testing to ensure intended gaming experience and game adherence to original vision.
- Develop and maintain design level documentation, including mechanics, guidelines, and mission outlines.
- Consult with multiple stakeholders to define requirements and implement online features.
- Document all aspects of formal game design, using mock-up screenshots, sample menu layouts, gameplay flowcharts, and other graphical devices.
- Prepare two-dimensional concept layouts or three-dimensional mock-ups.
- Provide feedback to designers and other colleagues regarding game design features.
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Skills Needed to be a Video Game Designer
Below is a list of the skills most Video Game Designers say are important on the job.
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.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Game Designer
- Lead Designer
- Video Game Designer
- Video Game Maker
- Senior Game Designer/Senior Environmental Artist
Job Demand for Video Game Designers
There were about 287,200 jobs for Video Game Designer in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9.3% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 26,600 new jobs for Video Game Designer by 2026. There will be an estimated 22,400 positions for Video Game Designer per year.

The states with the most job growth for Video Game Designer are Washington, Utah, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Maryland, or Mississippi. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Video Game Designers Make A Lot Of Money?
The average yearly salary of a Video Game Designer ranges between $47,350 and $144,820.

Video Game Designers who work in District of Columbia, Maryland, or New Hampshire, make the highest salaries.
How much do Video Game Designers make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $87,060 |
Alaska | $98,830 |
Arizona | $85,010 |
Arkansas | $73,670 |
California | $103,270 |
Colorado | $102,470 |
Connecticut | $100,340 |
District of Columbia | $117,540 |
Florida | $78,900 |
Georgia | $90,140 |
Hawaii | $89,960 |
Idaho | $80,610 |
Indiana | $79,310 |
Iowa | $78,810 |
Kansas | $79,300 |
Kentucky | $79,420 |
Louisiana | $66,600 |
Maine | $79,790 |
Maryland | $113,330 |
Massachusetts | $92,110 |
Michigan | $76,400 |
Minnesota | $81,650 |
Mississippi | $81,280 |
Missouri | $82,610 |
Montana | $68,430 |
Nebraska | $86,230 |
Nevada | $72,610 |
New Hampshire | $112,440 |
New Jersey | $99,210 |
New Mexico | $79,540 |
New York | $90,750 |
North Carolina | $88,650 |
North Dakota | $70,730 |
Ohio | $82,440 |
Oklahoma | $78,490 |
Oregon | $79,610 |
Pennsylvania | $87,040 |
Rhode Island | $81,290 |
South Carolina | $92,100 |
South Dakota | $81,250 |
Tennessee | $74,000 |
Texas | $90,290 |
Utah | $76,890 |
Vermont | $72,220 |
Virginia | $105,270 |
Washington | $91,620 |
West Virginia | $83,660 |
Wisconsin | $74,600 |
Wyoming | $75,780 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Video Game Designers
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Video Game Designers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- JavaScript
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Python
- MySQL
- Microsoft Project
- Microsoft Visio
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Structured query language SQL
- Linux
- Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
- Extensible markup language XML
- PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor
- C
- Practical extraction and reporting language Perl
- Blackboard
How to Become a Video Game Designer
Are there Video Game Designers education requirements?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Video Game Designers Sector

Video Game Designers work in the following industries:

References:
Image Credit: Intel Free Press via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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