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Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Video Game Designers

Part of Information Technology, in the Information Support and Services pathway.

Bright outlookJob zone 4: considerable preparationO*NET 15-1255.01

What the work is

Design core features of video games. Specify innovative game and role-play mechanics, story lines, and character biographies. Create and maintain design documentation. Guide and collaborate with production staff to produce games as designed.

On a typical day

  • Review or evaluate competitive products, film, music, television, and other art forms to generate new game design ideas.
  • Provide test specifications to quality assurance staff.
  • Keep abreast of game design technology and techniques, industry trends, or audience interests, reactions, and needs by reviewing current literature, talking with colleagues, participating in educational programs, attending meetings or workshops, or participating in professional organizations or conferences.
  • Create gameplay test plans for internal and external test groups.
  • Provide feedback to designers and other colleagues regarding game design features.
  • Balance and adjust gameplay experiences to ensure the critical and commercial success of the product.

What it pays

$100,960
Median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro
New workers start near $59,300
Experienced workers reach $165,320
  1. $59k10th
  2. $76k25th
  3. $101kMedian
  4. $140k75th
  5. $165k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $59,300, 25th $75,680, Median $100,960, 75th $139,720, 90th $165,320

About 330 people do this job in the San Antonio area.

Job outlook

Alamo region (Bexar and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034. U.S. figures from the BLS for comparison.

+18.8%

employment change in the Alamo region, 568 to 675 jobs · U.S. +7%

49

openings a year in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 9,100

568

employed in the Alamo region in 2024 · U.S. 128,900

Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

  1. Programming3.9
  2. Active Listening3.9
  3. Reading Comprehension4.0
  4. Critical Thinking3.9
  5. Complex Problem Solving3.9
  6. Judgment and Decision Making3.6
  7. Active Learning3.6
  8. Time Management3.5

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

  1. High school or less25%
  2. Some college10%
  3. Associate degree10%
  4. Bachelor's degree55%

Job zone 4, considerable preparation: Usually a bachelor's degree, sometimes a strong associate plus experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

  • Northeast Lakeview
  • Northwest Vista
  • San Antonio
  1. Computer Science

    Transfer pre-major · Science & Technology

  2. Digital Marketing Level 1 Certificate

    Certificate · Online option · Science & Technology

  3. Social Media & Digital Marketing

    Degree · Online option · Science & Technology

  4. Computer Science

    Degree · Certificate · Online option · Science & Technology

  5. Digital Media

    Degree · Certificate · Online option · Creative & Communication Arts

  6. Communication Design

    Degree · Certificate · Creative & Communication Arts

  7. Computer Information Systems

    Degree · Certificate · Online option · Science & Technology

  8. Computer Programming

    Degree · Certificate · Online option · Science & Technology

  9. Computer Science

    Transfer pre-major · Science & Technology

Apply to Alamo Colleges

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