Info on Working as a Video Game Designer in Plano, Texas

Lately, job hunters by the multitudes in Plano, Texas are finding high-paying positions as animators and video game designers.  With a resident population of well over a quarter million, Plano is as perfect a place as any to seek employment in these high-tech careers.  The city is also less than one driving hour from the major city of Dallas.  Many video game design jobs in the state of Texas are located in and around Plano.

Plano Schools and Training Programs for Video Game Design

Students pursuing careers in this field are often computer science majors with emphasis on digital graphics.  Some learn programming with focus on animation.  Some are math majors who minor in game theory.  There are many different pathways to acquiring the skills needed of a video game designer.

Residents of Plano, Texas seeking degree programs in animation and video game design have numerous viable educational options, such as the University of Phoenix in Plano.  Dallas schools offering similar degree programs include the University of Texas and the Art Institute.  Other training and degree programs are available online.  The largest schools featuring online degree programs in video game design are DeVry, The Art Institutes, University of Phoenix and ITT Tech.

Working as a Video Game Designer in Plano, Texas

The pay rate for animation or video game design varies depending on experience, effort, talent, ability, productivity, networking and geographic location, among other factors.  According to a recent statistic, 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.  However, this data does not include the unreported incomes of self-employed designers.  In any case, professional animators and video game designers can potentially earn high incomes doing jobs they like. 

Businesses in Plano, Texas hiring for these positions include software publishers, mobile phone service providers, colleges, graphic design firms and animation studios.  Some Plano designers work for top local advertising agencies like CEO Global, Star Courier and TMP Directional Marketing.  Others work for Plano movie producers like Odyssey Pictures and Flying TV, or Dallas motion picture companies like Reel FX, Potts Productions and Motion Media Solutions.

A great number of animators and video game designers are freelancers who set their own schedules and telecommute.  These designers contract with corporations, design and sell games independently or build their own game-related websites.

Recommended Skills for Video Game Designers

A video game designer invents a game, creates rules and devises a scoring system.  The designer then enhances the game with puzzles, mazes, maps, traps or other clever challenges aimed at maintaining the players' excitement level.  The designer also creates the artwork (or hires an animator), and chooses color schemes and visual styles appropriate for each game.  A designer also runs play-testing scenarios featuring player feedback, to help determine a game's chances of commercial success. 

Video game designers might study math, computer science, engineering, graphics, game theory, story lines, character development, commercial trends and many other relevant topics.  The end result (if all goes well) is a realistic, action-packed, hugely popular interactive product.  The video game designer's highest hope is mass market appeal.