If you want to become a game designer then you will need to gain the appropriate education. While some game designers have gained stable employment by simply showing their portfolio, this situation is becoming increasingly rare. Nowadays employers want to see where and what you have studied and where you received your degree. Of course, they will also want to see your portfolio which means working on games in your spare time or as study projects is the best way to present yourself to an employer once you’ve received the proper education. Most good game design schools now incorporate work experience into their courses and as such you will leave school with real world practical experience as well as the knowledge learned at school or college.
Where to Get a Game Design Education
More and more game design schools are popping up around the n so knowing which to choose can be difficult. Some of the better schools and colleges include:
International Academy of Design and Technology
The Art Institute Online
Full Sail University
Westwood College Online
Ex’pression College for Digital Arts
ART CENTER COLLEGE OF DESIGN
Savannah College of Art and Design
Johns Hopkins University
Pratt Institute
Animation Mentor
AGA Digital Studios, Inc.
University of Texas at Dallas Arts and Technology
ITT Technical Institute
Digital Media Arts College
Collins College
The above colleges, universities and schools focus on game design and development in specific courses dedicated to the subject.
The Collins College has a Visual Arts degree program where students can major in Game Art. It also involves game audio and project management and uses tools like 3D Studio Max and 3D Modeling. They have top class facilities like computer labs, animation labs and video labs. The degree takes about 2.5 years to complete full time and upon completion, will allow you to search for work as a Game Designer.
The Savannah College of Art and Design is located in Savannah, GA and was ranked by 3D World magazine as one of the top 3 animation schools in the USA. They train students using a wide range of tools including After Effects, Anime Studio, Pixar Renderman, Flash and more.
You can choose from an associates degree or a bachelor’s degree at many of these programs. In addition, many game design schools also offer certifications instead of a full degree. You will need to decide what fits best into your plans. Many game designers choose to begin with a certification as they are often quicker and then if they choose to do so later, complete a fully fledged 4-year degree. It really depends on where you’re at now and what your plans are.
Computer game design is a growing industry and as such more and more skilled people are required to fill positions. Computer and console games are becoming more complex as time goes by so by improving your skills and gaining employment at reputable gaming development companies will ensure that you are in a great position to make a career out of this exciting work.