Game Design As A Career

[lisalover1]

I have recently been considering abandoning my current major (Electrical Engineering) to pursue studying Game Design. Yeah, it's a pretty big change, but I'm still not certain of it yet. It seems like something that would be perfect for me: I love deconstructing the mechanics and systems of a game and figuring out how they function. I love studying the psychology of play, as well as the narrative benefits of an interactive medium. That said, I have heard a lot of horror stories about working conditions in the game industry. Apparently, the average time one spends worki in the field is a measly 5 years. That's some pretty awful job security, and it has made me afwully gunshy about making the switch. Can anyone weigh in on this matter?

[dsheinem]

Do you have a game-related department on your campus? Talk to faculty there and see what they have to say. Maybe pick it up as a second major so you have more options...

[isiolia]

Personally, I went from Computer Science to Graphic Design in college. Now I work in IT. It's far from uncommon to switch your major.

Main thing I would look at is the kind of chance you'd even have in getting hired based on a degree. Offering Game Design has become popular, but outside of long-standing institutions like Digipen I'm not sure of the actual placement rates. Like you said, the industry isn't exactly the most stable for jobs anyway.

Most creative positions are far more concerned with your portfolio than they are your degree.

As an alternative, maybe try your hand at producing some games as a hobby (if you haven't). Between "game maker" software and relatively accessible stuff like XNA or iOS, it's easier than ever. A hit indie game would probably give you more cred than a degree ever would.

[Menegrothx]

Main thing I would look at is the kind of chance you'd even have in getting hired based on a degree. Offering Game Design has become popular, but outside of long-standing institutions like Digipen I'm not sure of the actual placement rates. Like you said, the industry isn't exactly the most stable for jobs anyway.

Most creative positions are far more concerned with your portfolio than they are your degree.

This is true, traditionally papers haven't gotten you very far in the game industry and many people who work in the industry quit school or didn't go to one to begin with. Being able to show an indie game you made is much more secure way to get a job.

Can you program, do 3D modelling, animation, draw, do music/sound effects or anything like that? I reckon it's quite hard for a "nobody" to apply to a job as a designer if you haven't got any other practical skills. Once you've established a name by getting a game with your name in the credits out, it should be much easier to get jobs doing just design from that point on.

[BoringSupreez]

I have to agree with the above two posters, having a hit indie game in your portfolio will do you more good than any degree.

[gtmtnbiker]

I went to school as an EE but have always done software development all my life. Personally, I think it would be better to pick up a Software Engineering degree and then try to get into game development versus picking up a gaming degree. I tend to think you make more money and have better job security with a regular software job rather than one in the gaming industry.

[Ivo]

If you like EE but just think you would rather do game design, I think you should stick to your degree (unless you actually dislike it), but try to inch over to get software development into your degree as much as you can; i.e. focus on programming over hardware, and stuff like that. In EE I think you could pretty much get to do game design as part of projects for some courses etc., right?

Ivo.

[Erik_Twice]

Don't quit your day job - Steve Jackson on being a game designer

Game design is not a solid career. Not only are the conditions terrible and the actual work soul-crushing for an aspiring artist but with so much people coming in, it's only likely to get worse and making it even harder to actually design. When people like Yu Suzuki, Tim Schafer or the Wasteland guy are out of a job, nobody is goig to give you one, nobody is going to give you a team of thousands for you to command and even the level design positions are going to be highly coveted.

There are very few designers out there. For each game you have at most a small group and only a couple at best are going to have any creative decisions. Your chances of making it in are incredibly slim.


Which is why I agree with everyone else: Stick to Electrical Engineering and create games on your free time. As someone who almost jumped ship to get into writing, I saw it was a huge mistake and it's better to have security first and try your dreams later. Were you to avoid EE to study design chances are you will find yourself with either a terrible job with no creative input or completely devoid of any demanded skills.

To be frank, I doubt they will teach you anything useful there. Most courses smell of money grab and other than programming, which you can learn separatedly, everything else is better learnt by actually making games. There are books out there that teach you how to make a game like pong or a basic platformer and you can work for there, I'm sure it shouldn't be hard to find something.

You should also look into expanding your understanding of design. Play boardgames, read Sid Sackson's books, try roleplaying and pinball. That kind of stuff.


TL;DR: Portfolio is everything.

[Menegrothx]

You should also look into expanding your understanding of design. Play boardgames, read Sid Sackson's books, try roleplaying and pinball. That kind of stuff.

The most important thing: playing DnD and table top RPGs Seems like just about every RPG game designer played a lot of DnD

[J T]

A degree will give you some career flexibility, but if games are the career you want above all else, then start making games right now. Go. Do it.

I say that because you get work by having done work, by having something to show. Make indie games. Be broke. Do it because you love it. Hopefully one day something will make you some money. While you're doing that, get just enough part time work to get by and fund your project.

The world needs more engineers, yes, so if you think you might want to keep that in your back pocket, then do it, but life's about taking chances. I don't think you become a successful game designer without taking a few career risks. I've read a few stories of indie developers that worked jobs here and there to fund their projects, but once they were confident in what they could do, it was quitting their day jobs and going full force that made the difference. There are a million failure stories too, but if it is your dream, your true dream, something you are willing to become penniless over, then you owe it to yourself to give it the pure shot.