0:00:00.260,0:00:06.139
If there's one question I get asked more than[br]anything else, it's this: "how do I become

0:00:06.139,0:00:07.640
a game designer?".

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I get emails from kids and teenagers and people[br]bored of their jobs who would love to turn

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their passion for games into a career and[br]be the ones who actually design the mechanics,

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systems, and levels that I talk about on this[br]show.

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Unfortunately, I'm not really equipped to[br]answer this question.

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However!

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I do have some contacts who can help.

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So over the last month I've been talking to[br]an enormous number of game designers, level

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designers, employers, recruiters, educators,[br]and students - all in the hope of answering

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the most fundamental questions about getting[br]into the biz as a designer.

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Starting with the most important question[br]of all…

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What does a game designer actually do?

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The answer to this question is going to depend[br]entirely on the size of the studio, the type

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of games they make, and the structure of their[br]teams.

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Because depending on where you work, the design[br]role might be a very general position - or

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an extremely specialised one.

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On a very small mobile game, for example,[br]the game designer might be responsible for

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every aspect of design.

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But on a larger title, the role is likely[br]to be split between game design and level

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design.

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Go even bigger, and those roles might be split[br]up even further.

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There are gameplay designers, who focus on[br]second-to-second interactions, and systems

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designers, who look after over-arching concepts[br]like progression.

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Level designers might be split into quest[br]designers and open world designers.

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You might have narrative, UX, economy, and[br]technical designers - who are a bridge between

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design and code.

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There's no saying how specific these roles[br]can be - on Red Dead Redemption II, there

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were people who focused exclusively on designing[br]systems for the horse.

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But, okay - what do these people actually[br]do?

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Well if we look at game designers, their job[br]is to come up with ideas for mechanics and systems.

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If those are approved by the creative leads,[br]the designers will create detailed design

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docs and asset lists to help programmers and[br]artists turn those ideas into reality.

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Once those features exist, designers will[br]be given tools to manipulate the mechanic

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further: perhaps a simple scripting language[br]to plan out interactions or a spreadsheet

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of stats to change.

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Level designers on the other hand are going[br]to be creating environments for the player

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to explore and traverse - using the toys provided[br]by game designers.

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On most big games, levels are made in "greybox"[br]- simple, untextured geometry that will be

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dressed up by artists.

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Level designers may also do scripting for[br]specific encounters, or to tie missions together

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in an open world.

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Both roles are highly collaborative, because[br]designers will be working closely with artists,

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animators, programmers, writers, and others[br]to turn their ideas into something pretty and playable.

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And highly iterative, as ideas will be endlessly[br]tweaked and changed in response to play-testing.

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Okay, if that sounds interesting to you - let's[br]ask the next question.

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How do you become a designer?

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It's the million dollar question.

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And from speaking with my industry experts,[br]I reckon you really need four things to get

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a job as a designer.

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You need to be able to think in terms of design.

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You need soft, or interpersonal skills like[br]communication.

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You'll need a strong portfolio to show what[br]you can do.

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And for a lot of roles, you'll need some level[br]of experience in the games industry.

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I'll come back to the first two when I'm talking[br]about interviews.

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But for now, let's chat about portfolios and[br]experience.

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If there's one piece of advice I got from[br]pretty much everyone I talked to, it's this:

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make stuff.

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Show people that you have the ability to design[br]a game or level - and then put that together

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in a portfolio.

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For example - this is Perses, a super short[br]game with fully destructible environments,

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which helped Zachary Preece land a job on[br]Watch Dogs: Legion.

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So if you want to be a game designer, your[br]portfolio should include small projects like

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this that show your ability to come up with[br]an interesting mechanic or system.

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These days it's entirely possible to actually[br]make these games, using tools like Unreal

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Engine and Unity.

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But if you really don't want to learn how[br]to code, you could use the PlayStation 4 game

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Dreams, or use Tabletop Simulator to make[br]board and card games.

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These don't need to be full games - they can[br]be vertical slices, game jam projects, and prototypes.

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You can also work with others to make a game[br]- but when it comes to your portfolio, you

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need to clearly explain which bits you personally[br]came up with.

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Whatever the case, you've got to show your[br]working - make sure you have clear documentation

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for how you dreamt up, designed, implemented,[br]and refined your ideas, so you can show potential

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employers proof of your design thinking skills.

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For level designers, it's all about making[br]an actual level.

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Again, you can use something like Unreal or[br]Unity, but it's perfectly acceptable to use

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modding tools and level editors for existing[br]games.

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And if you can make a level that's relevant[br]to the company you're going for, even better

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- I spoke to one designer who got the job[br]because they'd made a level for the firm's

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previous game.

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Whatever's on your portfolio, make sure your[br]stuff is finished - even if it's incredibly

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short.

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Try to focus on your best work, and always[br]pick quality over quantity.

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And while downloads and documentations are[br]great, employers can't play and read everything

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so pack your portfolio with videos and screenshots.

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Now let's talk about experience.

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While some studios will absolutely have entry[br]level positions for design, they're uncommon

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and highly sought-after.

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So you can boost your chances of getting hired[br]by getting experience in the industry.

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One way to get this is through placements[br]like internships, trainee positions, and work

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experience posts - which can absolutely turn[br]into full-time roles at the company if you

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do well.

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Another common approach is to start in quality[br]assurance (or QA, or game testing).

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This gives you experience in the biz and a[br]first-hand look at how studios operate.

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Again, it's not uncommon for QA testers - especially[br]those embedded in the development team - to

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impress their bosses and get moved into design[br]roles at the same company.

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But remember that QA is a vitally important[br]role in of itself, and shouldn't be seen as

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just a stepping stone to design.

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Perhaps the best advice is to remember that[br]your first job probably won't be designing

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games at Blizzard or Bungie.

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You can't be picky at this stage, so get experience[br]at places making mobile games, or kids games,

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or even gambling games before making the leap[br]to the studios making your favourite blockbusters.

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Now, there's one pretty stellar way to get[br]both a portfolio and experience.

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And that's university (or college).

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In 2021, there's a huge number of courses[br]for game design all around the world - like

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DigiPen in Washington, Teeside University[br]in the UK, Breda University in The Netherlands,

0:07:05.100,0:07:07.100
and RMIT in Australia.

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If you take these courses you'll be taught[br]game design theory and enough programming

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to get you started, by people with industry[br]experience.

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You'll make a strong portfolio of work, using[br]your end-of-year projects - Perses from earlier

0:07:19.770,0:07:23.950
was actually Zac's project at Staffordshire[br]Uni in the UK.

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You'll also get to meet friends to build games[br]with and you'll make connections in the industry.

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And you'll often get access to work experience[br]posts and graduate positions.

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This is a strong and increasingly popular route into the[br]industry, but almost everyone I spoke to - including

0:07:38.810,0:07:44.310
the lecturers themselves - warned that the college[br]diploma itself isn't the important bit.

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Instead, it's about making the most of the[br]opportunities and connections you're provided.

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And it's about having the time to really focus[br]on building out your portfolio.

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So ultimately, a game design degree is not[br]a guarantee of a good job in the industry.

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And it's also definitely not a requirement[br]for many positions: which is good, because

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depending on where you live university can[br]be an expensive proposition.

0:08:07.620,0:08:12.840
If you do decide to study game design, make[br]sure you research the school carefully.

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Look at who is teaching and their credentials[br]and experience.

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Look at which studios the university has good[br]connections with, and where graduates have

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ended up.

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And definitely look out for predatory for-profit[br]colleges in the US.

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Always do your research before you enrol.

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It's worth mentioning that other skills and[br]educational backgrounds can help you stand

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out as a candidate.

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For example, while coding is rarely needed[br]as a designer, some ability to program will

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help you communicate better with engineers,[br]and help you understand the scripting tools

0:08:43.510,0:08:44.779
you'll be using.

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Same goes for understanding other roles and[br]pipelines, like art and audio.

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Also, knowledge of relevant disciplines such[br]as economics, architecture, art, and psychology

0:08:55.640,0:09:00.070
could make you a better candidate when going[br]toe-to-toe with those who have exclusively

0:09:00.070,0:09:01.730
studied game design.

0:09:01.730,0:09:05.130
And finally, we can't discount the social[br]side of things.

0:09:05.130,0:09:08.530
The classic "It's not what you know, it's[br]who you know".

0:09:08.530,0:09:12.630
Making strong connections in the industry[br]through networking events and social media

0:09:12.630,0:09:16.240
can open up doors that others can't even see.

0:09:16.240,0:09:21.280
But okay - you've got your CV, your portfolio,[br]perhaps some experience under your belt, perhaps

0:09:21.280,0:09:23.700
you've even got a degree in game design.

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You've applied for a job and you've got an[br]interview.

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Congratulations! And so…

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How do you ace a design interview?

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When you're interviewing for a design position,[br]employers are really looking for those two

0:09:36.770,0:09:41.890
skills I mentioned earlier - design thinking[br]and interpersonal skills.

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For the latter, you'll get questions that[br]are all about judging your personality to

0:09:46.060,0:09:50.520
see if you have the right attitude, and will[br]fit the studio's existing culture.

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So the interviewer wants to know if you're[br]a team player who can resolve conflict, and

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adapt to someone else's vision.

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Do you have good communication skills, including[br]confidence in pitching your ideas?

0:10:01.900,0:10:04.690
And are you resilient to feedback on your[br]work?

0:10:04.690,0:10:09.700
Don't be surprised if the employer dismantles[br]your portfolio pieces to see how you'll react

0:10:09.700,0:10:11.610
to criticism of your ideas.

0:10:11.610,0:10:16.460
For design thinking, the employer really wants[br]to know if you can think about games on a

0:10:16.460,0:10:19.560
deeper level than a typical fan or consumer.

0:10:19.560,0:10:21.310
Do you get how games work?

0:10:21.310,0:10:25.770
Do you understand how changes can impact on[br]other aspects of a game?

0:10:25.770,0:10:30.440
I've heard more than one studio ask candidates[br]"what would happen if you remove one of the

0:10:30.440,0:10:35.040
options in rock paper scissors?" to see how[br]they'd work through the problem, and show

0:10:35.040,0:10:37.140
that they understand game balance.

0:10:37.140,0:10:40.270
It's common to be asked about the games you've[br]been playing lately.

0:10:40.270,0:10:45.230
This isn't small talk - it's a chance for[br]you to show some analysis, criticism, and

0:10:45.230,0:10:47.340
understanding of design!

0:10:47.340,0:10:51.930
You can practice this by analysing, reviewing, and[br]breaking down the games you play - like some

0:10:51.930,0:10:54.120
kind of knock-off GMTK.

0:10:54.120,0:10:57.880
If you nail the interview, you may be given[br]a design test.

0:10:57.880,0:11:02.510
This is where you're asked to prove your design[br]skills - usually on paper, but perhaps in

0:11:02.510,0:11:05.070
a scripting tool or level design tool.

0:11:05.070,0:11:10.560
For a game design position you may be asked[br]to take an existing game and add a new mechanic,

0:11:10.560,0:11:14.280
or show how you would change some aspect of[br]the game.

0:11:14.280,0:11:18.670
For a level design test you may be asked to[br]plot out a map for a short level that includes

0:11:18.670,0:11:20.910
a new mechanic or an enemy encounter.

0:11:20.910,0:11:27.100
It will usually involve the studio's existing[br]games, so be familiar with their back catalogue.

0:11:27.100,0:11:32.120
These can be pretty stressful - especially[br]if you're asked to do it on-site at the studio,

0:11:32.120,0:11:34.080
and if it's under a time constraint.

0:11:34.080,0:11:38.800
So I've included a link to a great GDC talk[br]about what to expect from design tests, to

0:11:38.800,0:11:39.800
help you prepare.

0:11:39.800,0:11:43.880
Now, if you don't get the job - that sucks,[br]make sure you get some feedback so you can

0:11:43.880,0:11:45.240
improve in the future.

0:11:45.240,0:11:47.050
But if you do get the job, hooray!

0:11:47.050,0:11:48.150
You're in the industry!

0:11:48.150,0:11:49.651
And so the question to ask is…

0:11:49.651,0:11:53.089
Is game design a dream job?

0:11:53.089,0:11:57.670
If you follow gaming news at all, you'll definitely[br]have seen some headlines that might put you

0:11:57.670,0:12:00.120
off the games industry for good.

0:12:00.120,0:12:05.060
Working in game development involves crunch[br]- which is when you work extremely long hours

0:12:05.060,0:12:07.080
before major milestones.

0:12:07.080,0:12:11.690
Game studios frequently have mass lay-offs[br]or full-on studio closures.

0:12:11.690,0:12:14.420
Game designers may receive threats and abuse[br]online.

0:12:14.420,0:12:18.440
And there are even stories about sexual harassment[br]in the workplace.

0:12:18.440,0:12:24.440
And it's certainly true - game development[br]is volatile, extremely hard work, often thankless,

0:12:24.440,0:12:28.370
and not as diverse or as inclusive or as safe[br]as it needs to be.

0:12:28.370,0:12:32.800
But, when I posed these issues to people in[br]the industry, they told me that while these

0:12:32.800,0:12:37.899
problems exist, they should not discourage[br]you from joining the business, and that strides

0:12:37.899,0:12:41.480
are being made to improve these practices,[br]across the board.

0:12:41.480,0:12:46.680
You can also protect yourself, to some extent,[br]by carefully researching studios before taking

0:12:46.680,0:12:49.310
a job to see how you'll be treated.

0:12:49.310,0:12:53.920
Look to sites like Glassdoor, and talk to[br]former or existing employees.

0:12:53.920,0:12:57.810
Another challenge for game development is[br]that you may not have opportunities where

0:12:57.810,0:12:58.810
you live.

0:12:58.810,0:13:03.589
There are few game developers and even fewer[br]game design courses in places like India and

0:13:03.589,0:13:05.390
South America, for example.

0:13:05.390,0:13:09.620
So you may need to move around to get the[br]best jobs - but you could potentially get

0:13:09.620,0:13:13.310
experience in small studios where you currently[br]live.

0:13:13.310,0:13:19.690
But, then again, it's worth remembering that[br]you don't need to work at Ubisoft or Rockstar

0:13:19.690,0:13:21.680
to be a game designer.

0:13:21.680,0:13:27.430
The thousands of indie games released every[br]year are proof that individuals, tiny teams,

0:13:27.430,0:13:31.940
and small companies can put together games[br]without industry involvement.

0:13:31.940,0:13:37.029
And I promise you that the solo designers[br]of Axiom Verge, Stardew Valley, and Gunpoint

0:13:37.029,0:13:41.790
had way more creative control than the dude[br]working on Red Dead Redemption's horses.

0:13:41.790,0:13:45.100
That's not to say that this route is any easier[br]than getting hired.

0:13:45.100,0:13:49.310
And it's not a guarantee of making a living[br]wage let alone becoming a millionaire.

0:13:49.310,0:13:53.130
But, maybe this is how you want to be a game[br]designer?

0:13:53.130,0:13:56.400
For now… that's a whole other video.

0:13:56.400,0:13:59.170
So… hopefully that helps!

0:13:59.170,0:14:03.370
If you want to become a game designer you[br]should make stuff, do game jams, download

0:14:03.370,0:14:08.080
modding tools, practice your design thinking[br]skills, make friends and connections, and

0:14:08.080,0:14:12.280
maybe get started with a different role, or[br]study game design at school.

0:14:12.280,0:14:15.300
It's a difficult and competitive industry[br]to enter.

0:14:15.300,0:14:19.930
And it will be different for every company[br]on the planet - the advice in this video is

0:14:19.930,0:14:27.340
the best, most general advice I can provide[br]- but it's not going to apply 100% to every person.

0:14:27.340,0:14:30.420
It's also a job that's not without its challenges[br]and hardships.

0:14:30.420,0:14:36.339
But it can be a very rewarding career: you[br]won't just be playing games, you'll be helping

0:14:36.339,0:14:42.850
make the experiences that the next generation[br]of players will be obsessing over.

0:14:42.850,0:14:45.960
A huge thank you to everyone who helped me[br]with this video.

0:14:45.960,0:14:50.620
I couldn't have done it without Steve, Emma,[br]Peter, Sean, Vicky, Richard, James, Yasmin,

0:14:50.620,0:14:52.140
Nick, and so many more.

0:14:52.140,0:14:56.330
If you're a game designer in the industry[br]and have advice to share, please drop it in

0:14:56.330,0:14:59.380
the comments below and I'll pop a heart on[br]the best stuff.