Video game design
[2] However, with complex games, such as MMORPGs or a big budget action or sports title, designers may number in the dozens.
Video game design requires artistic and technical competence as well as sometimes including writing skills.
This is the case of such noted designers as Sid Meier, John Romero, Chris Sawyer and Will Wright.
A number of early veterans chose the game design path eschewing programming and delegating those tasks to others.
Video game design starts with an idea,[4][5][6][7] often a variation or modification on an existing concept.
[18] Coincidentally, this lack of credit lead Warren Robinett to create the first Easter egg in a video game.
[22] Finally, a game may be art-driven, such as Myst (1993) and Journey (2012),[23] mainly to show off impressive visuals designed by artists.
Because game design is an emerging discipline, we often borrow from other areas of knowledge — from mathematics and cognitive science; from semiotics and cultural studies.
[24][25][26] Multiple designers start their career in testing departments, other roles in game development or in classroom conditions,[27] where mistakes by others can be seen first-hand.
[40] As of 2015 the salary of experienced workers has shifted to approximately US$87,000 (£59,911.17)[41] As of January 17, 2020, the average annual pay for a game designer in the United States is $130,000 a year.
A complex system with depth leads to a more unpredictable strand of events to immerse the player into the video game.
[44] Content design is the creation of characters, items, puzzles, missions,[43] or any aspect of the game that is not required for it to function properly and meet the minimum viable product standard.
These choices have a profound effect on the mood of the game, as it directly affects the player in both noticeable and subtle ways.
[52] This document is intended to map out the complete game design and acts as a central resource for the development team.
[citation needed]Designers are frequently expected to adapt to multiple roles of widely varying nature; for example, concept prototyping can be assisted with the use of pre-existing engines and tools like GameMaker Studio, Unity, Godot or Construct.
Scripting languages are used for multiple elements—AI, cutscenes, GUI, environmental processes, and a number of other behaviors and effects—that designers would want to tune without a programmer's assistance.
In addition to the skillset, designers are ideally clear communicators with attention to detail and ability to delegate responsibilities appropriately.
[53] When a new project is being discussed (either internally or as a result of dialogue with potential publishers), the designer may be asked to write a sell-sheet of short concepts, followed by a one or two-page pitch of specific features, audience, platform and other details.
Designers will first meet with leads in other departments to establish agreement on the feasibility of the game given the available time, scope and budget.
These are referred to as the unknowns of the design and the faster they are uncovered, the less risk the team faces later in the production process.
This task is made more difficult under "crunch" conditions, as the entire team may begin to lose sight of the core gameplay once pressured to hit a date for a finished and bug-free game.
Traditionally, game designers used simple tools like Word, Excel or just plain pen and paper.
There are various kinds of free 3D design software available to the public, from the mainly graphically focussed, such as Blender, to game engines and software development toolkits, such as Unreal Engine and Unity, that promote communities that self-educate[56] as well as market 3D models and tutorials for beginners.
