Has anybody applied to be a game designer or knows a game designer

Mammoth

So I've always wanted to be a game designer. I know the job description and I apply to several places. I've produced several games wrote book books and have done a lot of creative stuff in my life.

What do the people really look for when they hire a game designer

Any help would be appreciated.

JohnPapiomitis

If your talking about an actually game company or corportation: Then bachelors degree in game development and design. graphic design degrees help, youll neeed years of experience, references, and a portfolio

if your talking about freelance then youll only need a great portfolio and references.

But yeah if your talking about the industries corportations and firms, with todays economy you have basically no chance of getting a job with no degree

RodrigoPerez

Well I'm not a GAME designer but I am a Graphic Designer and jobs both freelance and for a company are most interested in how may programs you are proficient in as well your body of work. Do you have a portfolio that stands out? Do you know Maya? Photoshop? Illustrator? If your answer is yes to these then your in good position to get work. That's my advice from a Graphic Designers point of view that deals with web and print design so it will be different in some respects to Game Designers.

Game Consulting Service

Mammoth

I have a lot of games that Are made and some are published. Wuld it be good to have games that are awesome at I cannot make by myself?

Xpandemic

Check this video out, tells you how to be a great game designer http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2443-So-You-Want-to-be-a-Game-Designer

The first thing I wanted to be was a game designer but later on I found out that they don't really do anything in producing the game, they just tell others what to do.

So I've changed my position to 3d artist and really love it, what books have you written?

quantumsheep

I've been a game designer for about 7 years now.

The escapist vid Xpandemic highlights is very good indeed.

There are different types of game designer - there's the ones that just write documentation and 'tell others what to do' - then there's others that populate levels - make them fun - be it in either 2D or 3D. And some do both!

Your most effective tool is communication. You *have* to be able to communicate well via spoken word AND through writing.

A certain level of charm/charisma/people skills also helps. You're dealing with people, and you want them to help you make an awesome game.

I think what most companies look for these days is someone with a proven record. Making GS games is nice 'n' all, but having worked on actual published games across a few systems to completion is what counts most.

i.e. experience.

It's a catch 22 situation of course. Companies need experienced people, but people can't get experience without actually getting employed to work on a game.

One way in is to start off as a tester. This is not a glamorous job, but certainly an important but undervalued one. Then work your way up from there.

Good luck! If your GS games are good, then they will be useful in showing you work well alone, and understand game mechanics and how to make games 'fun'. Which can be useful!

Mammoth

Thanks guys I have watched that video many times.

Quantum sheep. So you say you are a game designer right now. One question that I have is if I do get to work at a major studio will they let me make games on my own time. My gut says no but if you are in the industry and you get to make games. That sounds like the life for me.

Thanks again for your help

quantumsheep

Mammoth said:

Quantum sheep. So you say you are a game designer right now. One question that I have is if I do get to work at a major studio will they let me make games on my own time. My gut says no but if you are in the industry and you get to make games. That sounds like the life for me.

Thanks again for your help

Most contracts, when working for a games company, insist that anything new you come up with (techniques, prototypes, games, art, music, even *ideas*) are their property once you start working for them.

Which is why I keep a record of when my personal projects started just in case!

Also, being a freelance designer makes you exempt from this rule (usually - it's best to ask).

So there is a silver lining - it's just hard to get to!

QS

Mammoth

Yeah I pretty much figured. Ive been freelancing for the past 3 years and I just need a change. Im apparently "under review" for a couple of awesome jobs at a couple of big companies (At least it says on the online application form). So hopefully I get the job.

Would you have any more advice for me at this point?

Thanks

Dizko

Maybe this stuff will help you, Game Career Guide is a sub-site of Gamasutra, so you know it's pretty legit.

http://www.gamecareerguide.com/features/522/entrylevel_video_game_.php
http://www.gamecareerguide.com/features/260/game_design_career_preparation.php
http://www.gamecareerguide.com/features/278/so_you_want_to_be_a_game_designer.php

imGua

I've started as a tester and ended as a lead gamedesigner at the same project. When I was tester team noticed that im interested in gamedesign and when they give me chance to show my self as gamedesigner. I have shown good results. That's how I become gamedesigner. When our current Lead Gamedesigner decide to leave, It turned out that I am the best candidate for his position, and that's how I become lead gamedesigner.

If you interested what was in my curriculum vitae for the tester vacancy. It was some basic knowledge of some creative soft (Adobe Photoshop, Sony Vegas, Adobe Dreamweave etc.). And a big map\mod making background (mostly for Half-Life\Counter-Strike) I've even had win some mapmaking contests.

I'm sure "produced several games wrote book books and have done a lot of creative stuff in my life" will help to apply for this job.

Mammoth

Hi thanks for your input. How long did it take for you to become lead designer.

Is this the only way to become a game designer or can you just hop in?

I can clearly be a tester. The biggest problem is that my personality and skill set doesn't really fit the position. I had this happen before where I applied to a company and they gave me a lower position than what I wanted. The problem was is that I took that position way too seriously and the rest of the people just thought it was a "job".

imGua are you still a lead designer?

Mammoth

@ XPandemic. A few years ago I wrote 16 educational books on music education. I sold them all over Western north america. I made a few dollars. It was a great experience on how to make something and sell it

imGua

Mammoth said:
Hi thanks for your input. How long did it take for you to become lead designer.

1 year, but I'm sure it's a very rare case, and most of the time people need a lot more time to make that leap. And I'm sure time to make that progress depends on the size of the company.

Mammoth said:
Is this the only way to become a game designer or can you just hop in?

You can just hop in, altho I'm sure it depends on the type of game designer, that the company is looking for. If they looking for a lead game designer, I'm sure it's almost impossible to hop in if you didn't work in GameDev Industry before.

Mammoth said:
imGua are you still a lead designer?

I'm working in other company on position of game designer.

Mammoth

Awesome congrats on the success.

I know for sure that I will not be able to be a lead designer right away. The best possible situation would be a junior designer. Although I have applied for lead designer I don't think Ill get it.

But until then Im just working on some awesome quality games to make some money and add to my portfolio.

Thanks for the help everybody