Since they first began to appear, video games offered a fun, engaging method of entertainment which quickly evolved into a fast-growing industry that emphasizes innovation and creativity. Video game design influences both how a project is conceptualized and how the final product looks, feels and plays.
The video game industry is on the rise in Canada, and game companies contribute $3.7 billion to the country’s annual GDP. As the field grows, companies will be looking for qualified professionals to join their teams, and video game designers have a variety of different career paths to choose from. If you’re interested in getting involved in a career in video game design, read on to find out some of the most exciting job options in a thriving industry.
1. Consider a Game Designer Career in 3D Video Game Animation
Video games have come a long way since Pac-Man. As new technologies and ideas are introduced and adopted within the industry, video game companies are exploring the different ways to present and design their projects, and that includes 3D animation.
3D animators use software to mock-up and animate the different levels and worlds of a video game, and they rely on certain technical skills to make sure the visuals and content of the final product offers an exceptional gaming experience. Video game design courses can prepare you with industry-ready skills in specialized software, retouching systems, graphic palettes and individual cell painting of 2D or 3D animated drawings.
2. Start a Rewarding Career as a Game Tester
In order to ensure that the final game is ready for their audience to enjoy, many companies employ people known as game testers. Game testers play a crucial role in spotting technical glitches such as screen freezing, character movement and sound issues in the game before it is released to the public.
Oxford College helps prepare students for a variety of careers in video game design
Although it may seem like playing video games for a living sounds too good to be true, game testers must have a good eye for detail and enough patience to repeatedly play through multiple levels of a game to make sure they don’t miss any errors
3. Combine Creativity and Technical Skill as a Video Game Storyboard Artist
Video games often incorporate many artistic elements, from stories and narratives to character design, world building and the overall atmosphere of the game. Companies specializing in video games need to keep their projects streamlined and organized, and one of the best ways to do this is by using a storyboard artist.
Storyboard artists use their skills to create a rough outline of how the visuals of the game will look. A video game begins with an idea which turns into a story, and storyboard artists help keep that story flowing smoothly from start to finish by providing a sequence of drawings that demonstrate different levels of the game as well as scenes and goals.
Video game designers can use their creativity and attention to detail for a successful career
4. Become a Character Designer after Video Game Design Courses
One of the most important aspects of any video game is its characters. Characters allow gamers to relate to and interact with the game on a deeper, more engaging level, and character artists must have certain skills and training to help them understand the characters they are creating as well as how they fit into the overall world of their game.
Character designers need to have extensive knowledge and familiarity with the necessary programs and software that helps them create their characters, and a game design program can provide the skills you need to succeed in a video game design career, from producing computerized images, to understanding conceptual mock-ups and aiding design concept development.
Are you interested in learning more about starting your game designer career?
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