Tips on Becoming a Video Game Designer in Kansas City, Missouri

Many thousand job hunters in Kansas City, Missouri are pursuing exciting careers in animation and video game design.  With a population of well over 400,000, the city offers numerous employment opportunities.  Companies throughout the state of Missouri employ video game design specialists.  The majority of these jobs are in Kansas City. 

Kansas City Schools and Training Programs for Video Game Design

Kansas City colleges meet this growing demand with degree programs in video game design and related fields.  Designers who choose this career might major in computer science with emphasis on digital graphics, or programming with special focus on animation, or perhaps math with emphasis game theory. 

Kansas City colleges featuring degrees in interactive game design include DeVry and University of Phoenix.  Commutable out-of-state options include The Art Institute in Overland Park, Kansas.  Numerous training and degree programs in animation and video game design are also available online.

Working As a Video Game Designer in Kansas City

Animators and Video Game Designers can earn very comfortable salaries, although the pay rate for this type of work varies drastically.  The designer's income depends on factors like experience, effort, talent, ability, productivity, networking and geographic location.  The average annual salary for an animator or video game designer in the United States is around $60,000, with individual salaries ranging anywhere from about $35,000 to more than $200,000 per year.  However, this data fails to account for the incomes of millions of self-employed individuals. 

Kansas City businesses hiring Video Game Designers include software publishers, mobile phone service providers, schools, graphic design firms and animation studios, as well as top local advertising agencies like Bernstein-Rein, Valentine-Radford and Barkley Blacktop.  Some designers work for Kansas City movie producers like Epic Entertainment, Production House or Universal Press Syndicate.     

Even basic entry level positions often require a degree and some kind of solid background in video game design.  Employers do sometimes hire self-taught designers and highly motivated beginners, but you don't necessarily have to work for a firm.  The internet is alive with start-up companies and website owners featuring (or wanting to feature) interactive animation.  Video game designers often work as freelance professionals, setting their own pace as they telecommute.  They often find work as independent contractors for corporations and private businesses.  Some design and sell games independently.  Some build their own game-related websites.

Recommended Skills for Video Game Designers

A typical Video Game Designer creates a consistent set of rules, calculates a plausible scoring system and enhances the game with a series of intriguing puzzles, tricks, traps and other clever challenges.  Challenges should become increasingly difficult with each challenge successfully met.  The designer then creates the artwork and/or consults with professional animators and graphic artists to capture a visual style appropriate to the elements of the game.  The designer also conducts play-testing sessions featuring enough players to help determine a game's potential for commercial success. 

Professional Video Game Designers study Math, Communications, Computer Science, Fine Arts, Digital Graphics, Game Theory, Story Lines, Character Development, Marketing, Promotion and numerous other topics in hopes of developing realistic, action-packed interactive products.  The Success to a video game designer means mass market appeal.