Resume guide · Job Zone 4

Video Game Designersresume guide.

Design core features of video games. A strong Video Game Designers resume shows programming, active listening and critical thinking, and names the tools you have worked with, such as C, Microsoft Visual Studio and Python.

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01Also called

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Design DirectorDesignerEnvironmental ArtistGame Design ConsultantGame DesignerGamemasterLevel DesignerWorld DesignerComputer Game DesignerComputer Video Game Designer

02Skills employers expect

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Importance is how much the skill matters to the job; level is how much of it the job demands. Both are worth naming on the resume, in this order.

SkillImportanceLevel
ProgrammingVery highIntermediate
Active ListeningHighIntermediate
Critical ThinkingHighIntermediate
Reading ComprehensionHighAdvanced
Complex Problem SolvingHighIntermediate
Judgment and Decision MakingHighIntermediate
Active LearningHighIntermediate
Systems AnalysisHighIntermediate
Time ManagementHighIntermediate
Systems EvaluationHighIntermediate

03Knowledge areas

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  • Design
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Communications and Media
  • Mathematics
  • Psychology
  • English Language
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Sociology and Anthropology
  • Education and Training
  • Fine Arts

04Common responsibilities

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Ordered by importance. Each one is a bullet waiting for a result and a number.

  1. Balance and adjust gameplay experiences to ensure the critical and commercial success of the product.
  2. Devise missions, challenges, or puzzles to be encountered in game play.
  3. Create core game features, including storylines, role-play mechanics, and character biographies for a new video game or game franchise.
  4. Solicit, obtain, and integrate feedback from design and technical staff into original game design.
  5. Conduct regular design reviews throughout the game development process.
  6. Develop and maintain design level documentation, including mechanics, guidelines, and mission outlines.
  7. Document all aspects of formal game design, using mock-up screenshots, sample menu layouts, gameplay flowcharts, and other graphical devices.
  8. Provide feedback to designers and other colleagues regarding game design features.
  9. Create and manage documentation, production schedules, prototyping goals, and communication plans in collaboration with production staff.
  10. Provide feedback to production staff regarding technical game qualities or adherence to original design.

05Software and tools

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57 tools across 22 categories. The six largest categories are below; Hot marks a hot technology, In demand a tool employers ask for most often.

Development environment software10
  • CHotIn demand
  • Microsoft Visual StudioHotIn demand
  • Unity Technologies UnityIn demand
  • Unreal Technology Unreal EngineIn demand
  • Adobe ActionScript
  • Scheme
  • Autodesk Scaleform
  • C for Graphics cg
  • Microsoft High Level Shader Language HLSL
  • Simple DirectMedia Layer SDL
+ 5 more
Object or component oriented development software9
  • PythonHotIn demand
  • C++HotIn demand
  • Oracle JavaHotIn demand
  • PerlHotIn demand
  • C#HotIn demand
  • TypeScriptHotIn demand
  • Advanced business application programming ABAP
  • Objective C
  • Lua
+ 4 more
Graphics or photo imaging software7
+ 2 more
Data base user interface and query software4
Video creation and editing software4
  • Adobe After EffectsHotIn demand
  • Autodesk 3ds Max
  • Sound development software
  • Vulkan Graphics API
Web platform development software4
Operating system software3
Graphical user interface development software2
  • Graphical user interface GUI design software
  • Microsoft Expression Blend
Analytical or scientific software1
  • Virtual Battlespace 2 VBS2
Configuration management software1
  • Perforce Helix software
Content workflow software1
  • Atlassian JIRAHotIn demand
Device drivers or system software1
  • Microsoft DirectX
Electronic mail software1
Enterprise application integration software1
File versioning software1
  • GitHotIn demand
Metadata management software1
  • Perforce softwareIn demand
Office suite software1
Presentation software1
Process mapping and design software1
Project management software1
Spreadsheet software1
Word processing software1

06Education and preparation

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Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
55% of surveyed workers. Others report High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (15%) and Less than a High School Diploma (10%).
Preparation level
Job Zone 4 · Considerable preparation
Usually a four-year degree and several years of related experience.

07Putting it on your resume

ResumeXRays guidance
BEE · How to show it

Lead with what you built. For a Job Zone 4 role, hiring managers and parsers both look for outcomes before credentials. Put two or three results at the top of each job entry, with the scale or effect stated plainly.

Name the tools exactly. This occupation is heavy on named software. A skills section that says "C, Microsoft Visual Studio, Python, C++" matches more job descriptions than a general phrase. Use the spelling employers use.

Show active listening and critical thinking, not just programming. Active listening and critical thinking rank close to programming for this occupation. One bullet per role that shows a decision, a tradeoff or a result covers them.

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