Video Game Designers
Design core features of video games. Specify innovative game and role-play mechanics, story lines, and character biographies. Create and maintain design documentation. Guide and collaborate with production staff to produce games as designed.
At a Glance
Video Game Designers earns a median of $98,090/yr with +7.0% projected growth. Typical entry: Bachelor's degree. Top skills: Working with Computers, Thinking Creatively, Making Decisions and Solving Problems.
$98,090/yr
+7.0%
9
Bachelor's degree
Skills & Requirements
Skills (11)
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Knowledge (6)
Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Abilities (14)
The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Technology (31)
Category: Data base user interface and query software | Hot Technology
Category: Object or component oriented development software | Hot Technology | In Demand
Category: Enterprise application integration software | Hot Technology
Work Activities (16)
Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
Work Styles (1)
A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related obligations.
Careers with Overlapping Skills
These occupations share the most skills. A career transition between them means many of your skills transfer directly.
Software Developers
Computer and Mathematical · 220 shared skills
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
Computer and Mathematical · 219 shared skills
Information Technology Project Managers
Computer and Mathematical · 215 shared skills
Computer User Support Specialists
Computer and Mathematical · 215 shared skills
Computer Programmers
Computer and Mathematical · 214 shared skills
Computer Systems Analysts
Computer and Mathematical · 214 shared skills
Web Developers
Computer and Mathematical · 214 shared skills
Computer Systems Engineers/Architects
Computer and Mathematical · 212 shared skills
Explore Key Skills
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