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Video game design is a well-paying profession that combines creativity with a high level of technical expertise. The $188 billion video game industry is also a leading driver of innovation in today’s commercial entertainment sector. Games even integrated virtual reality and artificial intelligence (AI) well before the two tech trends started making waves elsewhere.
A career in game design requires highly specialized skills, so many companies prefer to hire gaming professionals with at least a bachelor’s degree in game design or game development. But what about a master’s in game design?
A master’s can give you a broader understanding of where video games have been and where they might be headed. This degree can also set you up for a supervisory role like art director or game project manager.
In this article, we explore careers for game design master’s graduates and discuss what it takes to earn a master’s degree in game design.
What Is a Game Design Master’s Degree?
A master’s degree in game design is an advanced diploma centered on the art, narrative structure and technology of video games. Students learn the individual components of game design—like graphics, programming and sound design—at a level beyond what they would get from a bachelor’s program. A game design master’s prepares students for successful long-term careers in a thriving and competitive industry.
A master’s program requires at least 30 credits for completion, usually earned over two years of full-time study. Coursework often concludes with a thesis project in the form of a fully realized game, created either individually or in collaboration with fellow students.
Admission Requirements for a Master’s in Game Design
Admission requirements for game design master’s programs differ among schools but usually include at least the following:
- A bachelor’s degree in game design or development, computer science or fine arts
- A minimum GPA
- At least one letter of recommendation
- A statement of purpose
- A portfolio of work
Common Courses in a Game Design Master’s Program
Required and elective classes in game design are likely to include, but aren’t limited to, some version of the following:
Game Design
This foundational course covers how games work and what makes for a satisfying interactive experience. Students begin with core theories of game design and explore narrative strategies, critique the formal elements of designs, and assess historic successes and failures in the medium.
Game Development
This introduction focuses on specific technical and programming skills like graphics and interface design. The curriculum also covers workflows such as translating design specs into software that can be tested and revised following user feedback.
Games in History
This comprehensive survey examines the role of games through history, from ancient board games to today’s most sophisticated interactive productions. Assigned reading exposes students to a body of relevant literature from which they can gain an interdisciplinary perspective on video games and gaming.
3D Animation
This overview introduces the principles and techniques that go into creating vivid characters and telling compelling stories. Character modeling and other procedures teach both industry-standard animation software and the workflow for 3D character creation and animation. Students should come away understanding the importance of animation to successful game development.
Board Game Design
Remember analog games? This class covers the conception, development and production of the kind of board games, card games and wargames that require several players sitting around a table. Using professional-standard design and prototyping tools, students in this course may create a viable tabletop game.
Master’s in Game Design vs. Master’s in Game Development: What’s the Difference?
Game design and game development overlap in many ways. In practice, these fields work together to create all video games that come to market. Even so, a master’s in game design differs from a master’s in game development in a few key respects.
Video game design centers on what a game looks and feels like—graphics, fonts, characters—while video game development focuses on the code that underlies the look and feel and makes things happen in the game.
Consequently, the curriculum in a game development master’s program builds on developers’ grounding in computer science. Course subjects might include advanced algorithms, 2D and 3D game console programming, math for game development and even virtual reality development.
What Can You Do With a Master’s in Game Design?
Unless otherwise noted, the following salary data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Payscale or Glassdoor.
Game Designer
Average Annual Salary: Approximately $67,500
Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s in computer science, graphic design or another related field
Job Overview: Game designers conceive of and build new games through artistic vision and technical know-how. Fluent in programming languages themselves, they collaborate with software developers all through the game development life cycle. Game designers advocate for their projects in meetings with clients and funders, and in new product development meetings.
Art Director
Median Annual Salary: $105,180
Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in communications or a fine arts field; master’s degree sometimes preferred
Job Overview: Art directors determine the visual imagery and styles we see in print, electronic and digital media, from TV and video games to product packaging and advertisements in public spaces. Art directors typically oversee the big-picture design or “direction” and delegate its individual components (such as layout, illustrations or typography) to junior employees on staff or freelancers.
Game Engineer
Median Annual Salary: Approximately $107,800
Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s in computer science, engineering or information systems
Job Overview: Game engineer is a more technical position than game designer, one that pairs artistic and technical abilities with a command of programming languages like C++ and Java. Game engineers may help with a game’s narrative and/or design, but they are primarily charged with translating the designer’s vision into functioning game code for apps, consoles or desktop computers. They also troubleshoot code and address bugs or other issues that arise during user testing.
Video Game Project Manager
Average Annual Salary: Approximately $81,000
Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
Job Overview: Video game project managers don’t just know the creative and technical end of game development; they also have the business and communications acumen to lead teams and oversee a product’s workflow from inception through launch. Additionally, they’re expected to understand product strategy development so they can liaise with the company sales and marketing teams.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Game Design Master’s Degrees
What degrees are best for game design?
The answer to this question depends on your long-term goals and how far you’ve traveled along your career path. If you want a solid entry-level job in game design or development, a bachelor’s degree in game design or computer science is the logical step. However, if you’ve already been working in game design for a few years and want to move your career forward, you might consider an MA in game design and development, an MFA in game design and development, or an MS in animation and game design.
Is it worth getting a master’s in game design?
A master’s degree in game design involves a large commitment of time and money. What you’ll get in exchange is a broader and deeper knowledge of advanced game theory, design and production, not to mention software coding. The degree furthers your understanding of game design to make you a stronger candidate for higher-level positions in the industry.
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