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.
Also known as: Computer Game Designer, Computer Video Game Designer, Concept Artist, Content Creator, Design Director, Designer, Environment Artist, Environmental Artist, ...
Annual Salary
Median annual wage (May 2024)
Job Outlook
Projected growth, 2024–2034 (Faster than average)
What You'd Do
- 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.
- Balance and adjust gameplay experiences to ensure the critical and commercial success of the product.
- Write or supervise the writing of game text and dialogue.
- Solicit, obtain, and integrate feedback from design and technical staff into original game design.
- Provide feedback to production staff regarding technical game qualities or adherence to original design.
- Prepare two-dimensional concept layouts or three-dimensional mock-ups.
- Present new game design concepts to management and technical colleagues, including artists, animators, and programmers.
- Prepare and revise initial game sketches using two- and three-dimensional graphical design software.
- Oversee gameplay testing to ensure intended gaming experience and game adherence to original vision.
- Guide design discussions between development teams.
- Devise missions, challenges, or puzzles to be encountered in game play.
- Develop and maintain design level documentation, including mechanics, guidelines, and mission outlines.
- Determine supplementary virtual features, such as currency, item catalog, menu design, and audio direction.
- Create gameplay prototypes for presentation to creative and technical staff and management.
- Create and manage documentation, production schedules, prototyping goals, and communication plans in collaboration with production staff.
- Consult with multiple stakeholders to define requirements and implement online features.
Top Skills
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Knowledge Areas
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Education Level Distribution
Percentage of workers in this occupation by education level
Technology & Tools
Software and tools commonly used in this role
In-Demand Technologies
Work Styles
Personality traits and work styles important for this career
Key Abilities
Cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities important for this role
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Work Activities
General types of job behaviors occurring on this job
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Work Environment
Physical and social factors that influence the nature of work
Related Careers
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Salary data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Outlook data: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.