That could come in the form of a higher salary, being part of a large-scale studio project, or even managing your own team of developers. It’s a career full of potential and opportunity, and it can all start with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Media online from Maryville University. Entry-level programmers often struggle to break into the video game industry because most major studios need expertise. Some new programmers find their first professional positions in smaller studios and create short, simple games for mobile devices and social networking sites. One way to get a head start in the competitive job market is to network on the blogs, forums, and websites most visited by game developers.
Some games have hand-drawn elements, while others have a more retro gaming feel, but still rely on pixelated graphics and blocks powered by advanced gaming engines. You can develop these artistic skills yourself or you can find someone more focused on these elements of video game development. From that point on, you can start gliding into the role of a project manager who assigns work to artists and others. Creating a video game can seem like a daunting task without any coding skills or formal education in game development.
While video game designers and developers work hand in hand, the role of developer is the more technical of the two. Learning how to become a video game developer involves becoming an expert in various disciplines of technology and design. In your work, you’ll usually be part of a collaborative creative team of game designers and artists.
You’ll also have verifiable references that are helpful in finding a job and that will strengthen a college application. In fact, all you really need is a computer, an internet connection, and the next big idea. You’ll also need a lot of computer skills, including computer programming, knowledge of 3D graphics, artistic sensitivity, and much more. Once game dev salary you’ve completed a bachelor’s degree in computer science or video game development, you have a few options. If you already have a game in development and you think it will work out, you can try to get a job with your technical skills while completing the game. Keep in mind that it can take several years to prepare your game for the big moment.
These professionals are in demand today, and the average salary of video game developers is well above average, at about $89,190 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As a game developer, you use a variety of computer programming software and languages for different purposes. In a career as a game developer, you’ll always learn new coding languages and new software as technology advances.