Game Design: More Than Just Video Games

In the exciting and colorful world of interactive media, action-packed and special-effects laden games are created for young adults as well as those who have developed a life-long love for electronic gaming in its many amazing forms. A game design education does not just help prepare you to work on entertaining video games like World of Warcraft or Batman: Arkham Asylum. There are other career paths within this competitive field where game design training can provide you with technical skill and know-how. A few areas for career opportunities within this field are:

Programming
Alright, so you can write code and make an electronic video game work. Have you considered how these skills might come into play in other industries? Think of the interactive designs out in the world today in arenas such as Automated Control for machines and devices used in the public sector, such as ATMs and self check-out lanes in grocery stores, and interactive kiosks used in museums and libraries. Computer system programming that allows for the interface between human and machine will grow as technology continues to advance in the next century.

Graphic Design
You're great with color and line and form, and you have some fantastic ideas for characters, costumes, weaponry and spaceships for games. Where else can these skills be applied? Graphic designers can improve the look of websites, CD cover art, and even book covers. Graphic designers also create signage for all manner of public projects, as well as logos and brand designs for all sorts of packaging and marketing campaigns. Basically, anything that is "in print" either physically or electronically can benefit from a good graphic designer.

Sound Design
So you're the one who created that 'defeated, wilting sound' made so famous in Pac-Man when Mr. Pac-Man gets eaten by one of his pursuers, eh? A sound engineer creates or records the sounds that are used throughout electronic gaming systems and games. They also are responsible for most of the sounds you hear on radio and TV, and even the movies – at least the sounds that are not made by the actual actors talking. Sound design is a fascinating profession that is often overlooked in our oh-so-visual world, yet we have two ears as well as two eyes, and careers for sound designers abound in the civilized world – from special effects for TV and movies to recording engineers who work in studios with musicians and singers.

QA Testing
Most people don't think this sounds like an exciting part of the electronic gaming industry, but without quality assurance and the testers who conduct QA protocols, how many games would YOU be returning to the store this year? Quality assurance is about diligence and patience, and following rigid protocols in order to leave no stone unturned when it comes to making sure a manufactured product works as it is designed to work. From this ground floor practice comes the ability to manage projects, supervise deliverables, and follow timelines. In short, many of the most important skills required to work in most industries today. Developing and demonstrating the fundamentals of Quality Assurance enables an individual to enter many lines of work in the modernized world today.

This article is presented by Collins College. Contact us today if you're interested in developing marketable knowledge and career-relevant skills with an industry-current degree program from Collins College.

Collins College cannot guarantee employment or salary. All trademarks are property of their respective owners.