Become aGame Designer

Choosing to become a Game Designer is choosing a career filled with creativity, innovation, and fun. You’ll get to turn your wildest ideas into playable adventures, bringing joy and excitement to gamers around the world. If you love problem-solving and have a passion for storytelling, this career allows you to combine these skills in a unique and impactful way. Plus, the gaming industry is growing rapidly, offering plenty of job opportunities and the chance to work on cutting-edge projects.

• Bring creative worlds and characters to life.
• Combine storytelling with interactive experiences.
• Influence the future of entertainment and education.
• Work in a rapidly growing, innovative industry.

As a Game Designer, your job involves creating the concepts, rules, and content of video games. You’ll start with an idea, develop it into a full game concept, and then work with a team to build the game. Your tasks might include writing the storyline, designing characters and levels, and creating the game’s mechanics and rules.

You’ll also playtest your game to ensure it’s enjoyable and debug any issues. Essentially, you’re the mastermind behind the game, ensuring it’s both fun and functional.

Game Designers have the flexibility to work in various exciting industries. Your skills can be applied in different areas where interactive and engaging content is needed.

Video Game Development: Creating games for consoles, PCs, and mobile devices.

Virtual Reality: Designing immersive experiences for VR platforms.

Education: Developing educational games and interactive learning tools.

Entertainment: Working on game-like experiences for films and theme parks.

Marketing: Creating gamified marketing campaigns and interactive ads.

Simulation: Designing training simulations for industries like healthcare and aviation.

To succeed as a Game Designer, you’ll benefit from a mix of creative and technical skills.

• Creativity
• Storytelling
• Problem-Solving
• Programming
• Collaboration

Studying the right subjects can set you on the path to becoming a successful Game Designer.

Computer Science: Learn the basics of programming and software development.

Art and Design: Develop your visual design skills and creativity.

Mathematics: Understand the algorithms and calculations behind game mechanics.

English: Enhance your storytelling and narrative skills.

Physics: Learn how to create realistic movement and interactions in games.

Develop unique game mechanics
Create exciting, original gameplay elements that challenge and entertain players, from puzzle-solving to action-packed combat systems.

Collaborate with artists and writers to build worlds
Work closely with concept artists and narrative designers to develop immersive game worlds full of detail, lore, and vibrant characters.

Test gameplay and tweak levels for balance
Playtest your game designs to ensure a smooth, engaging experience, adjusting levels, challenges, and pacing to keep players hooked.

Experiment with new technologies like VR and AR
Push the boundaries of traditional gaming by designing experiences that immerse players in virtual or augmented reality environments.

Create storylines that players control
Design branching narratives where players’ choices affect the game’s outcome, making each playthrough feel personal and unique.

Work on indie or AAA game projects
Get involved in creating games for both large-scale, high-budget productions and smaller, innovative indie projects, each offering a different creative challenge.

Leena van Deventer
Leena is a game designer, writer, and educator known for her work in interactive storytelling. She has made significant contributions to the Australian gaming scene, advocating for diversity and inclusion in games.

Nicole Stark
Nicole is the co-founder of Disparity Games and has worked on numerous successful indie titles. She is known for combining strong narrative elements with innovative gameplay mechanics, making her a leader in indie game design.

Jennifer Scheurle
Jennifer is a multi-award-winning game designer and creative director. Her work focuses on meaningful player experiences and the ethics of game design, shaping the industry’s approach to player engagement and storytelling.

Lisy Kane
Lisy is a producer and game designer who co-founded Girl Geek Academy. She has contributed to various game development projects, mentoring young women in the industry and advocating for greater female representation in gaming.

Being a successful Game Designer isn’t just about having the right skills; it’s also about having the right personality traits. Here are some traits that will help you thrive in this career:

• Creative
• Open-Minded
• Collaborative
• Persistent
• Detail-Oriented

A university degree in game design, computer science, or digital media is a strong starting point for those who want to enter the field. These degrees provide a balance of technical knowledge and creative skills needed to design engaging games.

Bachelor of Creative Arts (Game Design)
This degree focuses on the principles of game design, narrative development, and interactive storytelling. Curtin University offers a program that emphasises both the artistic and technical aspects of game creation, giving students the opportunity to work on real-world projects.

Bachelor of Computer Science (Game Programming Focus)
For those interested in the technical side of game development, this degree teaches students how to program games, create game engines, and develop interactive experiences. Edith Cowan University (ECU) provides a detailed course in game programming, focusing on coding, software development, and game mechanics.

Bachelor of Digital and Interactive Media
This degree covers a broad range of digital content creation, including game design, animation, and interactive media. Murdoch University offers a course that blends design theory with hands-on practical skills, preparing students for roles in the gaming and digital media industries.

Game Design is a unique field that benefits greatly from an interdisciplinary approach. By combining studies in different areas, you can develop a well-rounded skill set that will make you an outstanding Game Designer. For example, pairing a degree in Computer Science with courses in Art and Design can give you both the technical skills to build games and the creative skills to design captivating visuals. This combination is particularly powerful as it allows you to understand and bridge the gap between the artistic and technical aspects of game development.

Another exciting interdisciplinary option is to combine Game Design with Storytelling or Writing. This path is perfect if you’re passionate about creating compelling narratives and characters. Understanding how to craft engaging stories can elevate your games, making them more immersive and enjoyable for players. You can take courses in creative writing, screenwriting, or literature alongside your game design studies to develop these skills.

Additionally, integrating studies in Psychology can provide valuable insights into player behaviour and motivation. Understanding why players make certain choices and how they interact with games can help you design more engaging and user-friendly experiences. This interdisciplinary knowledge can give you a unique edge in creating games that resonate with a wide audience.

Studying to become a Game Designer is a journey where you’ll learn a variety of skills and concepts such as game theory – which is learning how to create engaging and balanced gameplay mechanics.

Courses in computer programming will teach you how to bring your game ideas to life using various programming languages and software tools. You’ll also explore art and animation, learning how to create stunning visuals and realistic characters. Additionally, you’ll study narrative design to understand how to craft compelling stories and characters that captivate players.

If practical experience is sounding more like your way of learning, for aspiring Game Designers you could look into work experience during high school, internships, part-time jobs, or volunteer opportunities in game development studios that provide hands-on experience and valuable industry insights.

You might work as a junior designer, tester, or assistant, helping with various aspects of game development. Participating in game jams and hackathons is another excellent way to gain experience. These events challenge you to create a game in a short amount of time, allowing you to practise your skills, collaborate with others, and showcase your creativity.

Not everyone follows a traditional university path to become a Game Designer. Here are two main alternative pathways:

Vocational Training and Certifications

For those looking for practical, hands-on learning, vocational training and certifications provide a faster route into game design. These pathways often focus on specific skills required for game development and include industry placements.

Diploma of Digital Media Technologies
This diploma provides training in digital tools used in game design, including 3D modelling, animation, and game mechanics. It offers practical skills that are immediately applicable in the industry.

Certificate IV in Digital and Interactive Games
Focused on game design fundamentals, this certificate covers game development, digital art, and the technical aspects of building games, providing a solid foundation for entry-level positions.

Micro-Learning and Online Courses

For flexible learning, micro-learning platforms offer short, focused courses on game design and development.

Game Design Essentials
This course provides a foundational understanding of game mechanics, level design, and player engagement, making it ideal for aspiring designers.

Unity Game Development
Learn how to create games using the Unity engine, one of the most popular game development platforms in the industry.

On-the-Job Experience

Working directly in the industry through internships, apprenticeships, or entry-level positions can provide valuable hands-on experience. You can start by working on small indie projects or joining a game development studio to learn the ropes.

Australia
Australia’s gaming industry is growing rapidly, with game design studios creating both indie and AAA games. Companies like SMG Studio are known for developing critically acclaimed mobile and console games, providing opportunities for game designers to work on innovative and creative projects.

National Expansion in Gaming and Digital Media
As the gaming and digital media industries expand across Australia, there is increasing demand for skilled game designers. Studios like Wargaming Sydney focus on large-scale online multiplayer games, offering game designers the chance to contribute to high-profile international projects.

Global Game Design Careers
Globally, the gaming industry is a multi-billion-dollar market, with game designers playing a crucial role in its growth. International companies like Ubisoft and Blizzard Entertainment are always on the lookout for talented game designers who can bring new ideas and innovative mechanics to their games. This offers Australian game designers the chance to work on major global franchises and contribute to the next generation of interactive entertainment.