Video Game Design Bachelor’s Degree Online
Is a Video Game Design Degree for You?
As the digital game production and design industry expands, more and more students are entering degree programs specifically for video gaming. Bachelor's degrees in video game design normally focus on the basic development of a video game. However, a video game design degree can involve a wide variety of subjects, including game theory, game mechanics, visual arts, and computer programming. Students who are most successful in a video game bachelor's degree program tend to be highly creative individuals who thrive in fast-paced environments, though it also helps to have an interest in science and technology. Additionally, students in video game design degree programs should enjoy working in groups, since most games are collaborative efforts. While an aptitude with numbers and equations is essential to video game design, strong communication is also important. Before choosing a program for a bachelor's degree in video game design, decide which specific area of gaming matches your desired career.
Advice for Earning Your Video Game Design Degree Online
Video game design is a fast-paced industry that’s experienced rapid growth as video games become more widespread. Employers want to see an ability to think creatively and technically while remaining prepared for changes and slip-ups. While there is no further accreditation after a bachelor's degree necessary for graduates of a video game design degree program, many individuals decide to pursue additional education. Some students choose post-graduate programs in computer programming, creative writing, graphic design, and others. These degrees are not essential to succeeding in the video game industry, but they can add to an your academic resume.
Required Courses
Some of the courses a video game design student may encounter in his or her bachelor's degree program include: prototyping, level design, visual development, game art, effects animation, character design, 3-D modeling, prop modeling, creative writing, computer programming, and more. Students should also expect to complete basic classes from several different departments, including literature, art, computer science, math, and others. Furthermore, students should anticipate several courses that require group work and projects as well as written exams and assignments.
Common Career Paths:
Video games have become so mainstream that they are single-handedly creating new careers and degrees for those interested in the field. A bachelor's degree in video game design may be used to start a career in multimedia, software engineering, animation, and graphic design. The skills acquired in video game design programs are not limited to the video game industry, either. A career in film, television, and other forms of multimedia production is also a distinct possibility for individuals with a degree in video game design. Some career options for degree-holders may include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Artist
An artist creates visual works as a way of expressing their ideas, thoughts, or feelings. They bring in a range of methods to do this, e.g., painting, sculpting, or illustration. An artist can fall into more than one category and can be hired by video game companies to create conceptual art used in the design of the game.
Also, art directors are also hired to articulate design concepts. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008, the median average annual salary for multimedia artists and animators was $56,330. The middle 50% earned between $41,710 and $77,010. The lowest 10% earned less than $31,570, and the highest 10% earned more than $100,390.
- Creative Director
The job of a creative director is to manage the copy chief, art director, and associated staff. They are expected to organize a company's market research and marketing strategy. They have their hand in multiple areas of business such as sales, advertising, and promotion. They sometimes have a say on matters like pricing, product development, and public relations. A creative director generally has a lot of insight into and experience with the creative process and can visualize the finished product before plans are even finalized.
In the video game business, a creative director is in charge of the design, vision, and direction of the product. They may serve as a lead designer, using their talents in one main area as opposed to spreading their knowledge in multiple areas. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008, the median annual wages of creative directors were $80,220. The industry that offers the largest median annual salary for creative directors was computer systems design and related services.
- Computer Programmer
Following computer software engineers and systems analysts designing software programs, it is a computer programmer who turns the creation into a logical series of directions that the computer can follow. All computer programmers code these commands in various programming languages – the number depends upon the need. Additional duties include updating, modifying, fixing, and expanding all of the existing programs. In the case of those who are working on a big project that needs multiple programmers, a computer programmer will use computer-assisted software engineering tools as a way of systematizing most of the coding process. Through using these devices, a computer programmer is able to concentrate more on writing the unique parts of a program.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2010, the median annual wages of wage-and-salary computer programmers was $71,380. The middle 50% earned between $53,940 and $91,420 a year. The lowest 10% earned less than $40,080, and the highest 10% earned more than $114,180.
