Why pursue a degree in game design? Some of the most rewarding career choices couple a passion for the subject matter with a promising job that is both enjoyable and pays the bills. With the right skills and preparation, including an undergraduate degree in game design, becoming a Game Designer could be an excellent career choice for the passionate gamer.
Many game design schools in this area emphasize a strong mix of skills learned in the classroom and in practical application, resulting in a blend of the two at many programs. In other words, the best way to learn game design is to spend a lot of time designing games.
Here are some features to look for in a Game Design program that maximize your opportunities for learning and developing games:
One advantage to learning game design in a university environment is having early access to new technologies, or even developing those technologies. This means getting in on the ground floor for VR, AR, AI, and the next big thing, so that you can use those tools—or make a choice not to—in the work that you go on to develop. Look at schools that also have affiliated Masters and PhD students that share spaces with undergraduates, as you can directly learn from their gains and experiences, and see the sort of games (or tech) they're managing to produce.
Look for exciting opportunities for hands-on learning when you're in a collaborative game design environment. This can be as straightforward as getting immediate funding to work on projects, or they it can go toward internships and study opportunities with professionals. This experience will also help to build out your portfolio across various platforms from mobile to console to PC, ensuring that you've got something to show as you head into a competitive job market.
The ability to work successfully in a team is a beneficial “soft” skill that employers look for in game design and development, and in many careers. Look for opportunities to work across other disciplines, not just for the teamwork, but to spark new ideas and think about what sort of applications your ideas might have beyond games alone.
Speaking of going beyond games: not every major pursues game design as a career. Many programs work with other on-campus programs to leverage skills and technologies in different areas, and some even offer the opportunity to double major. The coding you pick up might move you toward robotics, or into mobile apps; your 3D modeling might pull you into animation.
Researching different game design programs can help you refine your list of target schools. Here are some more things to think about when comparing different colleges.
Keep in mind that Game Design majors can also consider an advanced degree in Game Design. (The Princeton Review ranks the best graduate programs in Video Game Design.)
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