Sorry about the off-topic stuff. Some people made some rather silly claims and I thought it was prudent to discuss them.

Perhaps it would help to read a game design job description from a well-established game company (High Voltage). It''s posted below:




Game Designer sounds like the ideal job. It may well be: You get to sit around dreaming up amazing games, storylines, creatures, environments, worlds, funny quotes, and the next Lara Croft. And when you''re done and can pull that game off the store shelf, there''s no greater reward.

Okay, cool. You''ve got this vixen jumping over a fire pit and letting into this giant lizard guy with a sword. How fast did she run? How many animations does she need? How close does she have to be to hit the guy, and can you prove that your number is fair? How many levels, scenarios, environments and difficulty levels can this game support? Can you estimate whether everything you''ve dreamed up fits into the schedule and the target platforms'' capabilities?

It takes a patient and creative mind to come up with the flashy stuff that everyone wants to see. And it takes foresight, determination and a gift for detail to see it all through.

Major Responsibilities and Duties

Duties range from level design, character and/or vehicle design to AI behavior and interface design and testing. Must be able to work well with teams and have strong organizational abilities. Writing documents including: design documents, concept/sales documents, flow charts of game and menu systems, outlines of all major art, sound, and programming requirements.

Knowledge and Skills Required

Education/Experience:
Extensive gaming experience a must. BA in English/Creative Writing or Multimedia Production Art background a plus.

Special Skills/Requirements:
Huge interest in the video game industry. Vast knowledge of existing games. Ability to put two words together (or more) a must. Familiarity with MS Word, MS Excel, MS Project, Photoshop, C++, or 3D Studio Max doesn’t hurt. Must have a strong desire to make and play games. Experience in game design preferred (card, board, or video games).

Sample Guidelines

Applicants should send three samples of design work and/or game writing. Of course, that could be almost anything. Published work is the best, whether completed games, design/sales documents, official game levels, or any other published computer or non-computer game work. If you don’t have that, or can’t show it due to non-disclosure arrangements, get as close as possible. Include a cover letter explaining what these things are, and what role you played.

For example: Write a compelling five-page document selling a game idea to mindless money-grubbing suits. Build a fun level for a published game (Quake, Starcraft, whatever). Write a document painstakingly detailing two new Street Fighter characters for the programmer who is writing the code and the artist who needs to build them. If you really want to impress, write a one-page document that convinces anyone who reads it that a game titled “Car Washer” would actually work. Warning: Unpublished pen-and-paper RPG material is everywhere; don’t bother unless it kicks ass.

I have a friend, after describing my career aspirations, that strongly recomends I study technical writing. Would this be a good idea on it''s own, or at all? Should I do this as well as studies in creative writing as well? Do I ABSOLUTELY NEED to have artistic merit? How about aptitude with computer software?

Gamasutra article, if you haven''t already read it.

quote: Original post by Kugels
What kind of attitude is well suited for a game designing career?
> love games. love thinking about games. don''t mind working REALLY hard to get a game done.

Greetings,

To: blackhammer

Designer - is preson who generates gameplay ideas! That what makes him/her good or bad... And only after that knowledge of technology can help create guidelines for graphics and art.

1) Imagination and hudge game experience. Game fanatism!
2) Excellent oral and writing communication skills. To deliver your idea to the teammates.
3) General knowledge of technology participate in development.
4) Marketing skills. To get the stream, the needs of consumers.
5) Ability to trust collegues and objectevly view their ideas.

In my oppinion, game designer is something natural... You cannot become a great programmer.. You have to be born as a programmer. Same is with game designer.
About education.. I''m from Russia Games, Movies, Cartoons and Books can educate you, develop your imagination...