What are careers in game development?

Game design, 3D character art, and QA game testing are all careers in game development. These careers all focus on different aspects of developing, producing, and completing many different parts of a video game for consumer usage, but they all focus on different aspects and require different skill sets.

• Game Designer

  A game designer focuses on the function of a game and then creates systems, rules, and gameplay. They need to be highly technical and great at problem-solving. Most game designers have a degree in software development and have experience working in software. On average, a game designer makes around $60,000 per year.

• 3D Character Artist

  3D character artists created digital 3D models of characters for video games. These models are often based on sketches from concept artists, so character artists work closely with others. Typically, character artists hold bachelor's degrees in graphic design, fine arts, or illustration. They make anywhere from $32,000-$98,000 annually.

• QA Game Tester

  Quality Assurance (QA) game testers ensure that a game is user-friendly and bug-free before it is released to the public. They determine any technical issues and must have a solid background in project management and game development.

  A degree is not required, but it is helpful to have a background in software development. Game testers make $50,000 per year.