Few people are ever just hired as Game Designers. They usually work, bite and claw their way to that position.
A Game Designer must have excellent writing skills. He must be a good communicator as well, as he's working with the team to design the game. Charisma always helps, as he's frequently the one evangelizing the game to the press and gamers. An introverted designer is an ineffective designer. A game designer should also be well read. (I'm really bad at finding time to read; I'm terrible at this part…!)
Above all, the Designer must also play games. This may seem like a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised at the amount of folks in this biz that don't play games. You'd be surprised at the amount of ideas and inspiration you can draw from other titles. Sometimes you'll be struggling with a design problem and the answer could be in another previously released title. By playing this game you can see how the competitors solved the problem and use that as a starting point for your design.
If becoming a Game Designer is your ultimate goal, you can help speed up the path several ways. First, get to know a good Designer at the company you're working at. You'd be surprised at what you learn. Second, try your hand at writing game pitches and design documents. You'll eventually start putting game systems and worlds together in your head.
When You Finally Get Hired |
