Video Game Design
Video Game Design is an exciting new field of study in many colleges that has major relevance in the United States. According to the Entertainment Software Association, in 2007 the video game industry took in $9.5 billion in the United States alone. Colleges everywhere are adding Video Game Design to their list of available degrees. Within the process of creating a video game, there are many different career opportunities for Video Game Design graduates.
The first step in game development is creating the story. Typically, story ideas come from the head game designers, or are pitched by outsiders. Recently, however, games are being modeled after recent movies, are sequels or spin offs of other games, or are simulations of real-world events. Gaming companies hire video game design graduates who specialize in writing to put together storyboards. Unlike a movie or book, however, games can have multiple outcomes and multiple levels, so writers have a bigger job than meets the eye.
Once the story is created, another Video Game Design team takes over to develop the characters. The characters are carefully drawn and redrawn until they are perfect. Once their design is finalized, they are transformed into 3D. Sketches are scanned into the computer, where a digital exoskeleton is created to define the character’s shape. The more detailed, the more movement will be available to the character. Finally, layers of “skin” are added, including color and texture.
From here, graduates of Video Game Design school can instruct the computer on how to move the characters as if they were puppets. There are several different methods for mapping movement to a digital character. One method for human-like character movement is to use a human actor wearing a special suit of sensors. These movements are then projected onto the character’s skeleton.
Once the characters are ready, Video Game Design experts create the game world. This process is very detail oriented, from shiny surfaces to changing cloud patterns. Game developers are creating more and more real-looking worlds for their characters to “play” in. They employ a technique called “texture mapping” which is great for adding detail and 3D images.
The final creation phase is to add coding. Coding is the computer language instructions which control every aspect of the game. Typically, Video Game Design teams write custom codes for each game they create. Once the game is pieced together, game testers take over. They are responsible for finding all the bugs and mistakes before games are mass distributed.
Video Game Design is an exciting new career field with many options for creative people. If gaming is your passion, turn it into your career with the help of a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Game Design and Development from the International Academy of Design and Technology in Orlando!
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