Video Game Design and Development
Program Description
The purpose of this program is to provide students, interested in video game design and technology, the opportunity to get a certificate to enter the workforce with the skills needed to create and design video games.
This program provides graduates with the entry level skills needed for a specialized career in the video game design industry. Students will be familiarized with fundamental concepts of game history, sound design, digital arts, and programming concepts. This certificate also includes the specialized coursework in the following stackable certificates: Beginning Video Game Design, Video Game Art Design, Video Game Software Development, Video Game Sound Engineering, and Video Game Story Development.
Degree(s) / Certificates(s)
Career Outlook
Successful completion of this program can open doors to various employment opportunities, many of which require further higher education at the university level. Below are examples of related occupations and their annual mean wages in Arizona, based on career and wage data from Pipeline AZ, which utilizes government sources for its reports and forecasts.
Description
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.
Duties/Tasks
- Balance and adjust gameplay experiences to ensure the critical and commercial success of the product.
- Devise missions, challenges, or puzzles to be encountered in game play.
- Create core game features, including storylines, role-play mechanics, and character biographies for a new video game or game franchise.
- Solicit, obtain, and integrate feedback from design and technical staff into original game design.
- Conduct regular design reviews throughout the game development process.
- Develop and maintain design level documentation, including mechanics, guidelines, and mission outlines.
- Document all aspects of formal game design, using mock-up screenshots, sample menu layouts, gameplay flowcharts, and other graphical devices.
- Provide feedback to designers and other colleagues regarding game design features.
- Create and manage documentation, production schedules, prototyping goals, and communication plans in collaboration with production staff.
- Provide feedback to production staff regarding technical game qualities or adherence to original design.
Salary Information (AZ)
$67,220
$38,470
$61,320
$99,650
$32.32
$18.50
$29.00
$47.91
Typical Education Level
Bachelors Degree
Contact Information
Faculty/Staff Contact(s)
| Name | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nathan Whinnery | Professor of Video Game Design | (928) 317-5880 | Nathan.Whinnery@azwestern.edu |