What You'll Do

  • Review or evaluate competitive products, film, music, television, and other art forms to generate new game design ideas.
  • Provide test specifications to quality assurance staff.
  • Keep abreast of game design technology and techniques, industry trends, or audience interests, reactions, and needs by reviewing current literature, talking with colleagues, participating in educational programs, attending meetings or workshops, or participating in professional organizations or conferences.
  • Create gameplay test plans for internal and external test groups.
  • Provide feedback to designers and other colleagues regarding game design features.
  • Balance and adjust gameplay experiences to ensure the critical and commercial success of the product.
  • Write or supervise the writing of game text and dialogue.
  • Solicit, obtain, and integrate feedback from design and technical staff into original game design.
  • Provide feedback to production staff regarding technical game qualities or adherence to original design.
  • Prepare two-dimensional concept layouts or three-dimensional mock-ups.

Essential Skills

Programming 4.0/5
Active Listening 3.88/5
Reading Comprehension 3.75/5
Critical Thinking 3.75/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.62/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.62/5
Active Learning 3.5/5
Systems Analysis 3.38/5
Time Management 3.38/5
Writing 3.25/5
Systems Evaluation 3.25/5
Speaking 3.12/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Artist: Creating original work and expressing ideas feels natural.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.
  • Leader: Taking charge and moving ideas forward motivates you.

Common styles

Adaptability/Flexibility, Cooperation, Attention to Detail, Initiative, Achievement/Effort

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Fluency of Ideas 4.12/5
Written Comprehension 4.0/5
Originality 4.0/5
Near Vision 4.0/5
Oral Comprehension 3.88/5
Written Expression 3.88/5
Information Ordering 3.88/5
Oral Expression 3.75/5

Technologies & Tools

3D graphic design software Adobe ActionScript Adobe After Effects Adobe Creative Cloud software Adobe Illustrator Adobe Photoshop Advanced business application programming ABAP Atlassian JIRA Autodesk 3ds Max Autodesk Maya Autodesk Scaleform Balsamiq Studios Balsamiq Mockups Blackboard software C C for Graphics cg C# C++ Extensible markup language XML Git Graphical user interface GUI design software

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Adaptability/Flexibility (High importance: 4.5/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 4.45/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.4/5)
  • Initiative (High importance: 4.35/5)
  • Achievement/Effort (High importance: 4.3/5)

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How to Become One

Most employers require a bachelor's degree in a relevant field. Some positions may also require experience through internships, co-ops, or entry-level work to strengthen your candidacy.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Computer Game Designer Computer Video Game Designer Concept Artist Content Creator Design Director Designer Environment Artist Environmental Artist Game Design Consultant Game Designer Game Developer Game Engineer Gamemaster Gameplay Engineer Interactive Multimedia Designer Level Designer Mobile Game Engineer Video Content Creator Video Game Creator Video Game Designer Video Game Developer Video Game Engineer Video Game Maker Video Game Tester Videogame Designer World Designer