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What does a game designer actually do?
You might think that a games designer is solely responsible for the creation of ideas. While this forms part of the role, it is by no means the only part. Once ideas have been created, they have to be documented in order to be passed on to the other members of the team. It is then the designer's responsibility to ensure that ideas are implemented correctly and actually work.
Finally, a designer is mostly responsible for the actual gameplay of the product - building the levels, balancing the difficulty and most importantly of all, ensuring that the game is enjoyable to play. |
What qualifications/skills do I need to become a Games Designer?
There are no specific qualifications we ask for in our Game Designers, but a good all-round education is beneficial. Our own designers come from a wide range of educational backgrounds. All subjects have their own value, but English and Art are probably the most important and relevant in this field - English to convey ideas and for verbal communication, Art for creative imagination and visual expression. Computer literacy is also expected, although this can be learnt or developed.
Non-educational attributes are probably more important, with the ability to create great ideas for all aspects of a game and a belief in your vision essential. We also look for people who possess open minds with the skills to observe and adapt in a rapidly changing workplace and industry. You don't have to be a good games player to be a good games designer; you just have to understand what makes them work.
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Are there any courses/universities that you would recommend?
Some universities do now offer courses in game design, but these are relatively new and seem quite technical. Although this may be more appropriate elsewhere, Rare tends to focus its designers on the creative side and leave the technical issues to the technical people. In more general terms, any course or skill-building opportunity that improves artistic or creative ability would be useful. |
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