In America alone, video game sales account for more than $7 billion annually and new games are rolled out each month. No wonder that video game designers are in high demand and are well-compensated for their talent. Designers typically attend two or four year formal game design training programs leading to certifications and college degrees. Coursework is comprehensive and can include both 2D and 3D design as well as a programming curriculum.
Top salaries for game designers and animators can actually top $200,000 a year for those at the top of the profession, according to Animation Arena. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that among all graphic designers, those with animation experience will have the best job opportunities through 2014. Most entry-level positions, the BLS reports, go to people with bachelor's degrees, although associates degrees and certifications in from a graphics, game design, or trade school training program can certainly open doors.
Game design school programs traditionally offer coursework in 3-D modeling and animation tools, human anatomy, costume and character creation, game engine programming, lighting, sound, and texture creation. Training programs typically offer hands-on training in software used by both PC and console game production companies.
Students entering a game training program should have a strong familiarity with the gaming field, an artistic bent, the knowledge of computers, and a good aptitude for math. In addition to the more common animation and design curriculum, computer gaming design school programs also offer courses in myth and literature as a way of teaching character development.
