What does a game designer do?
A video game designer is responsible for making a concept of a video game and creating the storylines, scenarios, maps, character development, user interfaces, and in-game objectives. Typical responsibilities include adding computer scripting using computer software, which will then generate events, objects, commands, and characters that end-users can choose from to interact with during the game. Additionally, you will write code using different computer programming languages and designing characters, animation, and levels. To become a successful video game designer, you must be creative, innovative, and ambitious.
Game designer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real game designer resumes:
- Lead brainstorming meetings to develop new ideas and concepts.
- Manage the bug tracking database for the entire design team.
- Lead the design of world-class social games on the Facebook platform.
- Manage creative team including lead illustrator, lead painter, animation and sound design.
- Manage QA and drive testing plans, which deliver a high quality product on time.
- Design the project's path, and manage an android programmer, a graphic designer and a musician.
- Write XHTML, HTML, CSS, XML, and modify JavaScript code.
- Develop microtransaction system using SQL queries andembed HTML.
- Experience designer for unannounce PC downloadable product.
- Design a platformer in HTML5 Java script.
- Lead campaign designer for PC strategy game demo reel
- General debugging, tools, optimizations, etc.
- Source and destination data are both in JSON.
- Develop map building scripts with python, bash scripts.
- Work with DDMS and Logcat in debugging the application.
Game designer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Game Designers are proficient in Unity, UI, and Game Development. They’re also known for soft skills such as Detail oriented, Problem-solving skills, and Analytical skills.
We break down the percentage of Game Designers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Unity, 10%
Animated prefabs using Unity animation tools.
- UI, 6%
Developed scripts for enemy AI, item collection, objective tracking, and UI event handling in C#.
- Game Development, 6%
Participated and cooperated in all lines of game development/production.
- Game Mechanics, 6%
Created and maintained design documents delineating game mechanics, mission objectives and assets required from artists and programmers.
- C++, 5%
Created and tested mathematical outcomes to assure quality and that accurate calculations are achieved through excel and c++ programming.
- Math, 4%
Helped facilitate original and modification math development with in-house statisticians.
"unity," "ui," and "game development" are among the most common skills that game designers use at work. You can find even more game designer responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. game designers are also known for analytical skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to game designer responsibilities, because "graphic designers must be able to perceive their work from their consumers’ point of view to ensure that the designs convey the client’s message." A game designer resume example shows how analytical skills is used in the workplace: "analyze game mechanics and come up with news ways to eliminate negative player experience as well as finding new investors. "
Communication skills. A big part of what game designers do relies on "communication skills." You can see how essential it is to game designer responsibilities because "graphic designers must communicate with clients, customers, and other designers to ensure that their designs accurately and effectively convey information." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical game designer tasks: "supervised game development by overseeing artists and programmers and making sure communication and assets are delivered both timely and efficiently. "
Creativity. Another crucial skill for a game designer to carry out their responsibilities is "creativity." A big part of what game designers relies on this skill, since "graphic designers must be able to think of new approaches to communicating ideas to consumers." How this skill relates to game designer duties can be seen in an example from a game designer resume snippet: "managed creative team including lead illustrator, lead painter, animation and sound design. "
Artistic ability. Another skill commonly found on game designer job descriptions is "artistic ability." It can come up quite often in game designer duties, since "graphic designers must be able to create designs that are artistically interesting and appealing to clients and consumers." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day game designer responsibilities: "used trello to communicate and coordinate with a team of 4 artists regarding the artistic and ui needs of the game. "
The three companies that hire the most game designers are:
- Riot Games50 game designers jobs
- Amazon11 game designers jobs
- Activision Blizzard9 game designers jobs
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Compare different game designers
Game designer vs. Video game creator
A User Interaction Designer works with product management to develop and implement innovative solutions for product direction and visuals. They execute all visual design stages.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between game designers and video game creator. For instance, game designer responsibilities require skills such as "unity," "ui," "game development," and "game mechanics." Whereas a video game creator is skilled in "video content," "youtube," "una," and "adobe premiere." This is part of what separates the two careers.
The education levels that video game creators earn slightly differ from game designers. In particular, video game creators are 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a game designer. Additionally, they're 1.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Game designer vs. User interaction designer
A designer is someone who creates a master plan of the look or workings of something before it will be made. It could be tangible or intangible objects, products, procedures, laws, events, games, graphics, services, and even experiences. Designers are creative thinkers with a great eye to configure the skeletal and structural properties of the targeted output. They work in several fields, such as fashion, architecture, web graphics, and user experience. In spite of the variety of professionals in the design industry, all of them are artistic, passionate, inspiring, and emotionally connected to their projects and brands.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that game designer responsibilities requires skills like "unity," "game development," "game mechanics," and "c++." But a user interaction designer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "html css," "visual design," "invision," and "xd."
User interaction designers earn a lower average salary than game designers. But user interaction designers earn the highest pay in the automotive industry, with an average salary of $102,312. Additionally, game designers earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $89,462 annually.In general, user interaction designers achieve similar levels of education than game designers. They're 3.3% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 1.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Game designer vs. Video game developer
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, game designers are more likely to have skills like "unity," "ui," "game development," and "game mechanics." But a video game developer is more likely to have skills like "video content," "r," "youtube," and "development language."
Video game developers typically earn similar educational levels compared to game designers. Specifically, they're 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Game designer vs. Designer
Even though a few skill sets overlap between game designers and designers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a game designer might have more use for skills like "unity," "ui," "game development," and "game mechanics." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of designers require skills like "customer service," "css," "powerpoint," and "html css. "
Designers enjoy the best pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $87,754. For comparison, game designers earn the highest salary in the technology industry.In general, designers hold similar degree levels compared to game designers. Designers are 4.0% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of game designer
Updated January 8, 2025
