Is Video Game Design Education Enough?
Not all types of jobs will require qualifications but there are many that do. Even those that do not require the education, the companies will ask for something to prove that you are capable of doing the job that you are applying for. Video game design education is vast and can be fun but is one of those qualifications that is not always required.
A person who designs video games is different to the person that creates them, and this is something that you should bear in mind. The designer will create the style of the game and rules associated with it, which means doing a lot of things at the same time. There are different types of skills that you will need to have and select types of education can be difficult to cover it all.
Coding is not something that you definitely need but it can help. The truth is that you will not have anything to do with the creation of the code for the game. You will do the behind the scenes work. Many designers need to have skills in the art department to be able to create storyboards for the video frames. They will also need to know how to manage projects and deal with paperwork and specifications.
Companies that do ask for qualifications will usually look for someone who has a degree in computer science. The benefit is that this degree covers a number of different areas and will look into the whole project life cycle. However, not all companies will ask for the same qualifications. The benefit is that it is possible to learn on the job and there are apprenticeships that can be taken.
Many video game courses are actually done online, which can help many people who are working and learning at the same time. This also benefits those who are bettering their skills for that pay rise. There are many individual companies that will offer courses to learn this subject or you can gain the qualifications through colleges. You will need to do your research into any course that you look at.
There are many companies that will claim to offer you what you need to gain a job in the games design but you will have to watch for some. It is worth taking the time to look into each company and find out more about the qualification that you will come out with. It is very important to check that the company is accredited to a college or business and find out more from the Better Business Bureau.
Check with previous and current students to find out more about the course that you will be taking. This is the best way to learn more and decide whether it is worth your time and money. You want students that will recommend the courses and the institution.
It is worth looking around for the types of qualifications that jobs are after and also about the experience that they will require. Just because you have a video game design education does not mean that you will have enough to get the role that you want. There are many that will need experience so you may need to volunteer and create a portfolio for that.
