How to Become a Video Game Designer in Baltimore

These days, millions of job hunters are pursuing exciting careers in Animation and Video Game Design.  Gamers with a talent for design are among the most sought-after professionals in today's job market.  The skills involved in this creative profession appeal as much to tech-savvy entrepreneurs as to artists finally able to earn a living at their craft.  Businesses in and around Maryland employ hundreds of Animators and video game specialists.  The vast majority of these companies are in Baltimore, not to mention in Washington DC, an easy commute from Baltimore. 

Baltimore Schools and Training Programs for Video Game Design

Local colleges and Universities meet the growing economic demand by offering degree programs in Animation and Video Game Design.  Some designers major in Computer Science with emphasis on Digital Graphics.  Others might earn Programming degrees with emphasis on Animation, or Math degrees with special focus on Game Theory. 

Baltimore area schools offering degrees related to Interactive Game Design include the Maryland Institute College of Art, the University of Maryland and Morgan State University.  Also easily accessible is the Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts in Washington DC.  Similar degree programs are available online.

Working as a Video Game Designer in Baltimore

Animators and Video Game Designers can actually achieve their financial goals doing something they enjoy.  Needless to say, the pay scale for this type of work varies depending on experience, effort, talent, ability, personality, networking and geographic location, among other factors.  The average annual salary for an Animator or Video Game Designer in the United States ranges from about $35,000 to more than $200,000 per year.  A designer working in the Baltimore-DC area will earn (on average) around $60,000 annually.  However, this data has little practical value, and fails to account for the unreported income of countless self-employed video game design professionals. 

Companies in Baltimore and Washington DC hiring animators and video game designers include software publishers, mobile phone service providers, colleges, universities, graphic design firms and animation studios.  Some designers work with top local ad agencies like Verdis or Carton-Donofrio.  Others work for local area movie producers like Everlevel, Scorpio and Asylum.  Motion picture producers in Washington DC include Story House, People Tech and Corporation Public Broadcasting.   

Typically, even for entry level positions in animation and video game design, a degree and some professional experience in the field is required.  However, exceptions to the rule exist.  Designers don't have to work for a firm thanks to masses of websites and start-up companies featuring (or wanting to feature) their own video games.  Designers often work as freelance professionals, setting their own paces and working from home.  Many secure gigs as independent contractors for corporations and private businesses.  Some create and sell games independently.  Some build their own game-related websites.

Recommended Skills for Video Game Designers

A Video Game Designer's job is to invent a game, develop a set of rules and calculate a plausible scoring system.  The designer then enhances the game with unique and intriguing puzzles, tricks, traps and other special features.  The game is usually programmed so that the difficulty level increases with each successive challenge, and a time limit is often involved.  The designer then creates the artwork and/or consults with professional Animation artists to capture the visual style most appropriate to the game's main idea.  The designer also conducts play-testing sessions featuring enough players to help determine the potential of a game for commercial success. 

Professional Animators and Video Game Designers study Math, Communications, Computer Science, Fine Arts, Digital Graphics, Game Theory, Story Lines, Character Development, Marketing, Promotion and related disciplines to create realistic, action-packed, innovative products.  Video Game Designers can see the big picture -  mass market appeal.