Game Designer Salaries and Outlooks
A game is basically a structured form of interactive play, normally undertaken for fun or entertainment, and at times used as an educational tool as well. Games are very different from work, which is normally undertaken only for remuneration; and from literature, which is usually more of an expression of personal or aesthetic thoughts. Games enrich our experience of the real world by making us feel good and having a positive effect on our minds. They involve playing as a group or as individuals, challenging each other, helping to build each other up and generally having a great time. But what exactly do we need to know before we start playing games?
To be able to start learning a game, we need to be able to distinguish between what we want to learn and what we want to play. This is not always easy to do, especially if you’ve never been particularly good at distinguishing between the two. If, for example, you really want to be a better player, then you probably wouldn’t pick up a baseball game, a chess game or a movie. If, on the other hand, you really want to learn how to fly a plane, then board games, a car game or a video game would most likely be more appropriate. Learning requires a variety of different tools, some of which overlap and some of which are separate. Some of these overlap notably when it comes to learning a game.
Games help us to learn about the world and how it works by creating a narrative, by providing plot devices and by providing characters, locations and vehicles for the player to explore. They provide opportunities to use logic, to express ourselves creatively and to learn about different aspects of life. They also help us to develop important skills such as problem solving, decision-making, persistence, analysis and interpretation and social skills. In addition, games can help us relax and enjoy ourselves.
If you’re interested in game design, though, you’ll probably have a lot of dreams of flying planes and conquering continents. If so, then you’re already well ahead of the game. However, if you’re new to game design and have no interest in becoming an astronaut, then you should probably start with board games.
Board games require relatively little design, in fact most can be designed using only a pen and a sheet of paper. If you’re looking to create your first board game, then board game design software is the way to go. There are plenty of different titles to choose from, so you should easily be able to find one that suits your interests and also has a reasonable price.
Although a game designer career is a popular dream, it isn’t quite as lucrative as computer programming jobs. In addition, game design is rarely considered as a legitimate profession. There are, however, several full time positions available at game design studios. In most cases you will need to provide several years of industry experience before you can start earning money in this field, but you may still be able to land a position that allows you to gain experience in advance. You could even train for a computer programming job before heading into the game design field. Even if you don’t land the job that requires a degree, you’ll be sure to learn a great deal about what is needed to succeed in the industry.
