Video Game Design Schools

If you are an addicted internet surfer, one of the many things you've certainly noticed is the explosion of online video games. They are everywhere, advertised and sold by mega online and offline retailers. Games like Halo, Grand Theft Auto and Guitar Hero have all become household names. (You could probably expect a Dark Knight game soon).

The rise in interest is accompanied by career opportunities for those who have a passion for both art and technology. So I decided to take a look to see skills and compensation in the video game industry.

The video game design professional has evolved along with what is now a full-fledged industry. In other words, there are many opportunities and a rewarding career and the days of the hot shot programmer/developer are long past. The gaming industry now extends well into the motion picture industry, actively employing actors, composers and others.

According the GuidetoOnlineSchools.com, the video game design profession now involves a wide variety of fields: game theory, game mechanics, visual arts, programming, and multimedia. Video game design also focuses not only on video consoles in addition to the growing popularity of handheld gaming devices, mobile phones, and computers. Game designers are typically involved in developing game play, narrative elements, visual layout, and the core gaming environment. Education in video game design also includes instruction in programming, prototyping, writing, and art.

Designers with an Associates or Bachelors degree can expect to earn a salary range of $40,000 to $82,000 depending on the type of expertise required.

The more complex a game and the more complex a gaming system, more people are needed to transform that game from an idea to a reality. From story development to background design to animating characters, there are various job opportunities within the video game design industry. The creation of a video game now seems to require a unified team of employees with a range of skills and abilities.

You will need to determine which aspects of game designing you'd like to target. As with any specialty, your job description and responsibilities will vary depending on the size and type of your employer. The game designer is indeed the primary force behind the creation of the game(s). However, if you strongly feel that the entire process is most attractive to you, then perhaps a good option may be to consider project management where you direct both the team and the project as a unit.

As with any major educational endeavor, you'll need to do your research before enrolling or committing dollars to an online or offline game design school. You should also know that being accomplished player or gamesman is just not sufficient to insure a successful career in the video game industry. Nor is working in the industry likely to be as carefree as playing a video game. Your job will most likely require a completely different set of skills than those involved in playing video games for a full work day.