Careers in Game Art & Design
Go from Player to Designer

Do you ever wonder how your favorite video games are made? Who develops the storylines? How are the characters animated? Do you have some ideas of your own to make the games better?

The extraordinary power of new game consoles and computers means that video games now can feature ultra-realistic, high-resolution visuals designed to blow the minds of gamers who have seen it all. The game industry is in need of new computer artists who combine artistic and digital skills with a fervent passion for creating–and playing–the next generation of video games. Game artists are imaginative, technically savvy people hard at work (or is it play?), creating the visually compelling worlds of today's popular games. From animated characters to the cockpit of a jet fighter, how this content looks and moves on the computer screen is designed by the game artist.

"The popularity of video and computer games has provided a market for artists who desire to create them," says Lee Crowe, coordinator of the game art & design and media arts & animation programs at The Art Institute of Atlanta. "The most popular of these games guide the player through adventures and stories, requiring them to put their game character through the classic mythic machinations of solving problems, defeating foes, and escaping danger."

A Growing Industry

The incredible growth of the industry reflects the fact that these games are not just child's play. According to Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association President Hal Halpin, the final numbers for the 2003 video gaming market show an 8 percent growth from 2002, which translates to over $11 billion in revenue. He added, "By comparison, the video gaming market in 2003 was the only sector of the entertainment market that showed growth. Hollywood's movie sector appeared flat and the music sector declined."

Research from the Interactive Digital Software Association (2003) found that 50 percent of Americans age six and older play computer and video games, 43 percent of game players are women, and the average age of a game player is 29 years old. This study also noted that in 2002, more than 221 million computer and video games were sold, or almost two games for every household in America.

Getting a Degree

Students with a passion for computer gaming who are interested in a career in this field should plan on earning a bachelor's degree. Look carefully at the required courses at each college. Are there at least four quarters of drawing and basic art classes? Are there classes in modeling, animation, and game prototyping? Does the program include more than just programming?

Career Opportunities

Graduates may work as members of development teams to produce video and computer games as well as other types of interactive entertainment and educational software products. Entry-level positions include texture artist, special effects artist, character animator, modeler, illustrator, interactive scriptwriter, and level designer. Graduates need to be prepared for a competitive marketplace, one that may require relocating.

The next time you play a video game, take time to notice the detailed animation and complexity of the stories. Do you wish you could be on the other side of the controller? If your passion for gaming runs deeper than just playing, step up to the next level and explore a career in game art & design.

Editorial provided by Lisa Strickland from the game art and design program at The Art Institute of Atlanta.