If you want to become a game designer then you'll have to go to a school to learn the trade. Usually the best schools for game design are art schools.
However, before you decide to attend any school you really need to make sure the school is right for you.
It is possible to take a couple courses in game design and then try to make a living as a game designer. However, this isn’t the right way to do it. Unless you are extremely talented you will most certainly fail by taking this path. You will be at a serious disadvantage when competing against all the other designers who actually attended and graduated from a video game design college or program.
You can choose to physically attend a game design school or you can take classes online. It’s up to you. Whatever you decide, we've listed a few of the major factors to consider when making your decision.
Not all game design schools are created equally. Some are great at teaching one aspect of game design while another might be great at character or game plot development. Make sure you do your homework and that you attend a school that specializes in what you want to specialize in.
College Faculty
Be sure to spend a lot of time researching the faculty at each school you’re considering. These are the people you will be learning from . Not only do you want people who know what they’re talking about, you also want people who know how to teach.
School Location
Some people like to go to school close to home while others want to move from their current location. Decide which is right for you and then pick your school accordingly. You should also consider the area surrounding the school. What is near the school? Is it a big city, a small city, or a small town? Which one is right for you?
In a perfect world, you wouldn’t have to worry about the cost of an education. But this isn’t a perfect world. Therefore, cost has to be a consideration for you. Remember to consider all the costs too, not just tuition. Don’t waste your time looking into a school that you can’t afford. And if you're planning on taking out student loans, make sure you'll be able to earn enough when you start out as a game designer to be able to pay your loans back. You should check-out a student loan calculator to find out what you're minimum payment will be and review our article on game designer salaries.
Game Design Facilities
What is the actual campus like? How are the facilities? Are students given access all the time? Are the facilities new and state of the art? As a game designer, you will be working with computers. So you'll want to make sure the school you attend has a state of the art technology center. These are all the types of things you have to consider when choosing the right game design school for you.
Job Training for Video Game Designer
Finally, you want to find out what kind of on-the-job training the school will provide for you. You want to have at least one internship with a game design company before graduating. This will help ensure you can find a job when you are done with game design school.
To summarize, the main factors to consider when choosing top video game design programs or schools for you include; what you want to study, faculty, location, costs, facilities, and training. Consider these factors and make sure you choose the game designer school that’s right for you.
The International Academy of Design & Technology offers online degrees in video game design. Choose from an associate's or bachelor's program in game design and help transform your design talent into the skills employers want. Learn more about IADT | Request free info
