Game Designer and Developer
Have you ever played a computer game and wished you could change something about game? Perhaps you have invented new characters that you’d like to see come to life. If so, you are thinking like a Game Designer and Developer! Game Designers and Developers get use their creativity and technical skills to create digital games for others to play and enjoy.
There are many ways to use the skills for a game designer and developer. People can work for the military, in medicine, or in education. Game Designers and Developers work in teams and it can take years before a game is released! As the game gets closer to being finished, working long hours are often needed to meet deadlines that are set many years in advance. Designers and Developers must make the game hard enough so that it is fun to play, but not so difficult that players are bored.
Game developers must know many computer languages such as C++, OpenGL, DirectX and other scripting tools. A bachelor’s degree (4 years) or master’s degree (bachelor’s + 2 years) are popping up in many colleges and universities. Some game developers think that a degree in computer science, math or physics is better for graduates to find jobs in the field. Majoring in these areas can also give graduates more job choices.
Find Out More:
Learn about some of the Projects Game Design Developers are Working On - Click the link below to read about experiences from designers and developers. As you read their stories, note the variety of industries in which they apply their skills!
Design and Develop a Game - The websites below provide tools that you can use to build your own games. To get inspired, you can also explore games which others have created. There are many tutorials and other resources to get you started.
AgentCubes is a tool to build 3D video games, simulations and interactive demonstrations. Video tutorials and manuals are also provided. Click the second link to view a video about students who are using the software and creating their own games.
Alice is a 3D programming environment that makes it easy to create an animation for telling a story, playing an interactive game, or a video to share with others on the web.
Gamestar Mechanic from E-Line Media provides software for you to create your own games and share them with others in the Gamestar community. The second website below includes a how-to guide to help you get started.
Scratch is a programming language that makes it easy to create games, interactive stories, animations, music and art to share with others on the web.
Stagecast allows you to create video games. This site provides an overview of the software, and offers some fun examples of games which others have created!
Enter a Competition - The National STEM Video Game Challenge is one of the biggest youth video game competitions in the country. Explore the website to see videos about contest winners and access game development resources.
