Read this tutorial that walks through 11 steps to planning and designing a video game level. Try following the steps and creating your own level ideas.

Career

Learn more about game level design.

Enroll in an animation class at your school or look for tutorials online to start creating some of your own projects.

Education

Take a class in animation.

Get started with these tutorials on Khan Academy and teach yourself how to code. Regardless of whether you pursue programming, understanding coding concepts will help you in any field.

Teach yourself how to code.

Video Game Designers

Design core features of video games. Specify innovative game and role-play mechanics, story lines, and character biographies. Create and maintain design documentation. Guide and collaborate with production staff to produce games as designed.

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Second Interest High-Point

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

First Interest High-Point

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Third Interest High-Point

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

Miscellaneous Computer Occupations

Computer Occupations, All Other

Computer and Mathematical Occupations

Computer Occupations

Review or evaluate competitive products, film, music, television, and other art forms to generate new game design ideas.

Provide test specifications to quality assurance staff.

Keep abreast of game design technology and techniques, industry trends, or audience interests, reactions, and needs by reviewing current literature, talking with colleagues, participating in educational programs, attending meetings or workshops, or participating in professional organizations or conferences.

Create gameplay test plans for internal and external test groups.

Provide feedback to designers and other colleagues regarding game design features.

Balance and adjust gameplay experiences to ensure the critical and commercial success of the product.

Write or supervise the writing of game text and dialogue.

Solicit, obtain, and integrate feedback from design and technical staff into original game design.

Provide feedback to production staff regarding technical game qualities or adherence to original design.

Prepare two-dimensional concept layouts or three-dimensional mock-ups.

Present new game design concepts to management and technical colleagues, including artists, animators, and programmers.

Prepare and revise initial game sketches using two- and three-dimensional graphical design software.

Oversee gameplay testing to ensure intended gaming experience and game adherence to original vision.

Guide design discussions between development teams.

Devise missions, challenges, or puzzles to be encountered in game play.

Develop and maintain design level documentation, including mechanics, guidelines, and mission outlines.

Determine supplementary virtual features, such as currency, item catalog, menu design, and audio direction.

Create gameplay prototypes for presentation to creative and technical staff and management.

Create and manage documentation, production schedules, prototyping goals, and communication plans in collaboration with production staff.

Consult with multiple stakeholders to define requirements and implement online features.

Conduct regular design reviews throughout the game development process.

Collaborate with artists to achieve appropriate visual style.

Document all aspects of formal game design, using mock-up screenshots, sample menu layouts, gameplay flowcharts, and other graphical devices.

Create core game features including storylines, role-play mechanics, and character biographies for a new video game or game franchise.

Audioconferencing systems

Computer data input scanners

Desktop computers

Laptop computers

Personal computers

Smart phones

Tablet computers

Video gaming equipment

3D graphic design software

ActionScript

Adobe Systems Adobe ActionScript

Adobe Systems Adobe After Effects

Adobe Systems Adobe AfterEffects

Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Suite

Adobe Systems Adobe Flash

Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop

Advanced business application programming ABAP

Atlassian JIRA

Autodesk 3ds Max

Autodesk Maya

Autodesk Scaleform

Balsamiq Studios Balsamiq Mockups

Blackboard

C for Graphics cg

Extensible markup language XML

Graphical user interfaces GUI

Hypertext markup language HTML

JavaScript

Job control language JCL

Linux

Microsoft DirectX

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Expression Blend

Microsoft High Level Shader Language HLSL

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Project

Microsoft Visio

Microsoft Visual C#

Microsoft Word

MySQL

Objective C

OpenGL

Oracle Java

Perforce Helix software

Perforce software

PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor

Practical extraction and reporting language Perl

Python

Ruby on Rails

Scheme

Simple DirectMedia Layer SDL

Sound development software

Structured query language SQL

Unity Technologies Unity

Virtual Battlespace 2 VBS2

Level Designer

In New York City, the Roadtrippers interview Mariette DiChristina, Editor-in-Chief of Scientific American. Later, the team meets Vicki Smith, a game designer at Vicarious Visions who forged a path in video games after feeling unfulfilled as an engineer. 

Vicki Smith

Level Designer

Videos

Vicki Smith

Milestones

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Design

Science

Being Creative

Interviewed By

Potential Possible