Are you game for excitement?

Usha Albuquerque

There is hardly any internet user below the age of 18 who does not play video games, and very few above that age who haven’t spent some time on this exciting pastime. Video games in India is a huge emerging market  with around 250 companies already in  the Indian games industry. Though underdeveloped compared to other Asian countries such as China and South Korea, with the growth of a gaming culture in the region and with many video game companies beginning to invest, India could become an important market for this sector. 

Work profile

Game designers are specialised software developers who help design and manage the creation of video and computer games. Computer games designers devise new computer games and define the way the game is played and the ‘game experience’. This involves development of the game concept, working on the storyline, scripting, programming, character design and creation, animation, content, and working on the rules of a game. It also means figuring out what will get a player hooked to a game and what won’t… and creating games that will work. They have duties like designing characters, levels, puzzles, art and animation. They may also write code, using various computer programming languages.

Game designers work with programmers, artists, animators, producers and audio engineers to turn their original vision into a working game. The development cycle for a game includes many different steps such as game concepts development, production and level creation and finally, the testing. 

The designer and other members of the team present their ideas in a ‘concept document’ or initial design treatment, which helps  decide whether or not to go ahead with developing the game. Before giving permission for further development the gaming company will conduct a market research to find out if people will want to buy the finished product. 

Once that is confirmed, the game designer will work with a team of artists and programmers to produce a prototype for testing. This is a small-scale, playable version of the game, designed to prove that the idea will work. Right through the process they may need to make adjustments to the original specification, check on  the technical constraints or artistic developments to make sure that it works in the way it is meant to. 

Depending on their career duties, they may also be responsible for project management tasks and testing early versions of video games.

Getting in

You do not need a degree to get into this career, a strong imagination, creative abilities, and being well versed with computer technologies can go a long way. 

However a bachelor’s degree in game design, a BA/BSc in game design, a BTech in computer engineering, BSc computer science, or a BCA are good base degrees to start a career in game design. Many also come into this career from experience in web development and computer programming. 

A  game designer is expected to have a good understanding of art and aesthetics, programming, sound, design and music. It is also good to have a general sense of the social culture of your customers, local habits and sensitivities. 

Courses in game design cover game development — the way the game is to be played; game design — the creative aspect of the game; game art — visualisation and colour concepts, and game testing. The programme may also include project management, integrated video design and technology, game prototyping and level design.

More than the training, anyone who gets into this field needs an observant eye, a sense of humour and an understanding of human behaviour, exceptional visualising abilities, patience and perseverance, plus, of course, computer skills. 

Training

There are a handful of  institutes such as Chandigarh University, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, MIT Institute Pune, and some others that offer degree courses — BSc in Animation and Gaming, and BDesign — in game design. Many courses in Digital Arts, Animation, and Design also include training in game design and gaming. There are also over 100 institutes offering game designing and 3D art courses from basic to expert level courses, where you can train. 

Job prospects

Game designers start work as they train — most training institutes also take on gaming assignments and give students an opportunity to work as they learn. There are growing prospects in this field as gaming is being widely used in mobiles, iphones, PCs, in clubs and part venues, for marketing, education and entertainment purposes. Big foreign game companies are already in the market, as also several Indian companies pushing local and Indian themes. There is Teen Patti and  Chhota Bheem Race which became the first Indian game to top the local GooglePlay download charts. There are many more taking on the challenge. 

However, currently most of the gaming work in India is game development outsourcing. International gaming companies outsource key components of their development work to countries like India where there is a highly skilled workforce but relatively low costs as compared to the west. Outsourcing has also given Indian game developers exposure to some of the best creative talent in the world, and an opportunity to pick up new skills and work to international standards.  In fact, top international studios such as Electronic Arts, Ubisoft and Zynga have already set up development centres in India to work on top international game titles. 

Mobile gaming is gaining a stronghold in India as smartphones become cheaper and more powerful and more and more people are connected via 3G. Social gaming on Facebook  is a popular pastime. And NASSCOM has set up a Gaming Forum on Facebook,  a hangout place for local Game Developers, and a good  way to talk to professionals and get advice and even share ideas.

According to NASSCOM, the Indian gaming industry is close to $ 890 million and there are over 100 game development organisations in India already. So if you’re a whiz at gaming, now is the time to take your fingers off that button and  sign up instead for a gaming course that can lead to the winning goal.

Skill set

• Creative, imaginative and original
• Basic drawing and 3D design skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Leadership and teamwork skills
• Analytical mind
• Time-management skills
• Understanding of relevant software technologies and techniques 
• Cultural sensitivity
• Good storytelling ability
• Communication and presentation skills 
• Keep up to date with new developments in computer games market.

Game designers develop

• Rules of the game
• The setting
• The story and how it develops
• The characters
• Props such as weapons and vehicles and other devices that characters can use
• Different ways in which the game may be played.