Online Video Game Degree Programs

An accredited online video game degree or online video game design degree may be the career path for you if you enjoy playing video games and developing software programs.

Game design is a part of game development. It is the process of designing the content and rules of an entertainment or educational game during the pre-production stage. The term video game design is also used to describe the game design in a game and the documentation that describes the design.Upon graduation from Video Game Schools, Computer applications software engineers design, create and modify computer applications software. As a video game designer, you can program, design or produce new and popular video games. You learn about game theory, game mechanics, visual arts, programming, and multimedia. Video game design degrees focus on video consoles, hand-held gaming devices, mobile phones, and computer applications. Video games are used for both educational and entertainment purposes for example in simulation and gaming.

Online Video Game Degree Programs

Westwood College

• Bachelor Degree - Game Software Development

DeVry University

• Bachelor degree in Computer Information Systems - Web Game Programming
• Bachelor degree in Game and Simulation Programming

• Game Art and Design - Bachelor of Science
• Media Arts and Animation - Bachelor of Science

International Academy of Design & Technology Online and International Academy of Design and Technology

• Game Art & Design

American Sentinel University

• BS in Computer Science - Game Programming

Full Sail University

• Master of Fine Arts in Media Design

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Video Game Design Education and Training

Video game design courses offered at Video Game Schools include gaming technology, level design, game design process, 3-D animation, game engine design, and character modeling.

Video game courses vary depending on the individual program but some typical video game design courses in multimedia and graphics may include:

• Pre-production
• Programming and implementation
• Game play and level design
• Logic and problem solving skills
• Interactive programming design
• Animation for gaming
• Simulation design and programming
• Artificial intelligence for games and simulations
• Graphic design
• Computer Animation

Video Game Design Careers

Video game careers are competitive, creative, and technical and to be a successful video game designer you must have good skills in computer animation, game design, and game development. In all cases, be sure that your video game degree is from an accredited college and that you work toward practical related experience to boost your career options. However, upon graduation with an online video game degree your salary will vary according to your chosen career path and practical experience.

Career training in video game design can open a variety of doors to the video game design industry, one that is is lucrative, challenging, and exciting. Some careers in the game industry are game programmers, artists, and analyst. Other examples are:

• Video game artist
• Video game designer
• Video game producers
• Video game animator
• Video game programmers and engineers
• Video game technical directors
• Sound designers/ engineers

Other positions include game and software testers. In addition, level designers and support specialist work behind the scenes to ensure that the games are both challenging and interesting to their audience, in addition to quality control.

With an advanced degreem, such as a masters in video game development, and relevant experience you can work in positions of general administration and management which are responsible for design and production. Those with video game master degrees generally work in administration and management.

Expected Salary and Projected Career Growth

Video game testers start off making about $30,000 a year and with experience advance to making around $50,000 a year. Video game designers with a campus or online video game degree earn an annual median salary of about $73,000. Video game designers who have less than three years work experience make about $46,000.

Beginning video game programmers make around $50,000 and technical directors can earn over $110,000 year according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS also reports that overall employment of computer programmers and computer software engineers is expected to increase by 21% between 2008 and 2018 while the wage and salary jobs in software publishing should increase by 30% during the same period making video game degrees an area that will continue to see growth.