Different game designer qualifications are often determined by the size of the company and the type of designer a person wishes to be. Large game studios, for example, typically require a game designer to have extensive industry experience, including work on at least one major title. Smaller studios may hire a game designer with less professional experience, though this is usually supplemented by a game development educational background. Some game designer qualifications may be influenced by the game development software used by a company.
One of the most common game designer requirements is a certain level of professional experience. This can be expressed in terms of the number of years someone has worked in game development, as well as the types of games they are likely to have worked on. However, some companies can establish game designer qualifications based on the types of games a person has worked on, such as one or more “AAA titles” or major industry releases. Smaller studios often have less stringent requirements, though a designer may still need to have prior development or game testing experience.
Depending on the developer’s requirements, someone’s educational background can also meet certain game designer qualifications. Most developers used to have a background in software design and development, as well as a programming education or experience. Schools have recently started offering programs specifically for people interested in obtaining game designer certifications, which typically teach both the effective use of computer graphics programs and the code programming required to become a designer. For those interested in working in the game industry, a degree in game design is frequently required, especially for those without extensive professional experience.
Some game development studios may also have qualifications for game designers based on the programs or utilities they use. For example, different graphics programs can be used in game development, and some studios may require that an applicant for a designer position has experience with a specific program or one that is very similar to it. Engines are types of software that are commonly used in the game development industry and are involved in every stage of the development process. Many businesses can establish game designer requirements based on the use of a specific game engine. It may also be acceptable to use similar scripting languages and computer software development to provide a comparable experience to using a specific engine.