Game designer qualifications vary based on company size and desired role. Large companies require industry experience, while smaller ones may accept education in game development. Qualifications may also depend on specific software or game engine experience.
Different game designer qualifications are usually based on the size of the company a person wants to work for and the type of designer they want to be. Large game developers, for example, tend to require a game designer to have significant industry experience, including working on at least one major title. Smaller developers may hire a game designer with less professional experience, although this is typically complemented by an educational background in game development. Some game designer qualifications may depend on the software used by a company during game development.
One of the most common game designer qualifications is a certain level of professional experience that someone is expected to have. This can be expressed as a number of years someone has worked in game development, as well as specific types of games someone is expected to have worked on. Some companies, however, may define game designer qualifications in relation to the types of games a person has worked on, such as one or more “AAA titles” or major industry releases. Smaller developers often lower the requirements, although a designer still needs to have experience working in game development or testing.
One’s educational background can also meet certain game designer qualifications depending on a developer’s requirements. In the past, most developers had software design and development experience, including education or programming experience. Recently, schools have started offering programs specifically for people interested in meeting game designer qualifications, which often teach the effective use of computer graphics programs and the programming code required to become a designer. A degree in game design is often required for people interested in working in the games industry, especially individuals who may not have extensive professional experience.
Some development studios may also have game designer qualifications based on the specific programs or utilities they use. Various graphics programs, for example, can be used in game development and some studios may require a candidate for a designer position to have experience using a specific program or very similar to it. “Engines” are types of software commonly used in the game development industry, which are usually involved in all stages of game development. Many companies may define game designer qualifications based on their use of a specific game engine. The use of similar scripting languages and the development of computer software, which can provide comparable experience to using a specific engine, may also be acceptable.
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