Tips on Becoming a Video Game Designer in Tampa, Florida

Many qualified animators and video game designers in Tampa, Florida are landing high-paying jobs in these popular, high-tech professions.  With a resident population well over 300,000, Tampa is a terrific home location for people pursuing careers in this field.  Companies throughout the state of Florida hire animators and video game designers.  A good portion of these jobs are in Tampa. 

Tampa Schools and Training Programs for Video Game Design

Some students pursuing careers in animation or video game design might major in computer science with emphasis on digital media.  Others might earn programming degrees with special focus on animation.  Some can be math majors with a minor in game theory. 

Tampa residents seeking degrees in interactive game design typically attend Everest University, ITT Tech or University of Tampa.  Similar training and degree programs are available online.  The largest schools offering online degree programs in animation and video game design are University of Phoenix, ITT Tech, The Art Institutes and DeVry.

Working as a Video Game Designer in Tampa, Florida

Salaries for video game design jobs vary depending on experience, effort, talent, ability, productivity, networking and geographic location, among other things.  In any event, professional animators and video game designers in Tampa, Florida often earn noteworthy salaries working at jobs they like. 

Tampa businesses hiring for these positions include software publishers, mobile phone service providers, colleges and graphic design firms.  Some lucky designers work for top local advertising agencies like 22 Squared, Axxis Advertising, Lord & Lasker or McKay.  Other local designers work for Tampa-based movie producers like Intellis Media, Spectrum and Tri Dimensional Animation. 

In most cases, a degree and related experience are prerequisites even for entry level positions in animation and video game design.  But you don't necessarily have to work for a firm, considering the many start-up companies with websites featuring (or wanting to feature) their own video games.  Professional animators and video game designers often do freelance consulting work, securing gigs as independent contractors.  They work from home, make their own schedules and sometimes earn more money than designers with “real jobs.”. 

Recommended Skills for Vodeo Game Designers

Video game designers make up the rules of the game, calculate a plausible scoring system and develop a series of puzzles and unique challenges aimed at keeping players coming back.  The designer also either creates the artwork or consults with professional animators and other graphic artists to capture the visual style most appropriate for the game. 

Professional video game designers study math, engineering, computer science, communications, graphics, game theory, story lines, character development and many other related subjects to create realistic, action-packed interactive games.  The best of these strike a collective chord among gaming enthusiasts and achieve mass market appeal.