What You Need to Know to Be a Video Game Designer in Jackson, Mississippi

Lately, video game enthusiasts all over Jackson, Mississippi seek careers in animation and video game design.  With a resident population of almost 175,000, Jackson is a prime location for qualified designers in search of these high-tech positions.  Many Mississippi businesses hire animators and video game designers.  The majority of these businesses are in Jackson.

Jackson Schools and Training Programs for Video Game Design

Different Jackson, Mississippi colleges offer different kinds of degree programs appropriate for animators and video game designers.  Some aspiring game designers are computer science majors.  Some focus on digital media.  Others study programming with emphasis on animation.  Some might major in math with a minor in game theory. 

Schools in Jackson, Mississippi offering degrees relevant to interactive game design include Antonelli College and Jackson State University.  Other schools offer training and degree programs online.  The biggest of these are University of Phoenix, The Art Institutes, ITT Tech and DeVry.

Working as a Video Game Designer in Jackson

Video game designers and animators in Jackson, Mississippi often earn impressive incomes doing what they like.  As you might expect, the rate of pay for these jobs will vary with factors like education, experience, performance, productivity, networking and geographic location, to name a few.  The starting salary for U.S. animators and video game designers reportedly ranges from about $35,000 to more than $200,000 per year.  However, this data fails to account for the unreported incomes of many million self-employed Americans. 

Businesses in Jackson, Mississippi hiring video game design specialists include software publishers, mobile phone service providers, colleges, graphic design firms and animation studios.  Some designers work for top local ad agencies like the Godwin Group, Liquid Creative or Maris West & Baker.  Other designers work for Jackson motion picture producers like Across America Productions, Jackson Music Awards, Krauscape Films and Times Fly Productions. 

Employers hiring video game designers typically expect a degree and related experience, even for entry level positions.  However, employers do occasionally hire self taught pros and highly motivated beginners.  Not every designer works for a firm, thanks to the bounty of private companies and websites in need of interactive animation.  Video game designers often work as freelance professionals, setting their own schedules and working from home.  Some of them land gigs as independent contractors for various corporations.  Others design and sell games independently.  Some even build their own game-related websites.

Recommended Skills for Video Game Designers

A video game designer gets an idea for a video game, then devises the rules and calculates a plausible scoring system.  The next step is to enhance the game with special features like sound effects and increasingly tough challenges.  These may include puzzles, mazes, maps, tricks, traps, obstacle courses and other surprising tasks.  A time limit is usually involved.  Then the designer creates the artwork (or hires a professional animator) and selects color schemes and a visual style appropriate for the game. 

Video game designers study subjects like engineering, math, computer science, game art, digital media, marketing trends, communications and many other helpful topics.  Their efforts are aimed at the development of fun-filled, action-packed interactive products that sparkle with mainstream popularity.  The video game designer's fondest wish is mass market appeal.