Video Game Designers

• Balance and adjust gameplay experiences to ensure the critical and commercial success of the product.
• Provide feedback to designers and other colleagues regarding game design features.
• Create core game features including storylines, role-play mechanics, and character biographies for a new video game or game franchise.
• Devise missions, challenges, or puzzles to be encountered in game play.
• Develop and maintain design level documentation, including mechanics, guidelines, and mission outlines.
• Guide design discussions between development teams.
• Create and manage documentation, production schedules, prototyping goals, and communication plans in collaboration with production staff.
• Conduct regular design reviews throughout the game development process.
• Present new game design concepts to management and technical colleagues, including artists, animators, and programmers.
• Solicit, obtain, and integrate feedback from design and technical staff into original game design.
• Document all aspects of formal game design, using mock-up screenshots, sample menu layouts, gameplay flowcharts, and other graphical devices.
• Provide feedback to production staff regarding technical game qualities or adherence to original design.
• Prepare two-dimensional concept layouts or three-dimensional mock-ups.
• Consult with multiple stakeholders to define requirements and implement online features.
• Oversee gameplay testing to ensure intended gaming experience and game adherence to original vision.
• Create gameplay prototypes for presentation to creative and technical staff and management.
• Keep abreast of game design technology and techniques, industry trends, or audience interests, reactions, and needs by reviewing current literature, talking with colleagues, participating in educational programs, attending meetings or workshops, or participating in professional organizations or conferences.
• Collaborate with artists to achieve appropriate visual style.
• Write or supervise the writing of game text and dialogue.
• Determine supplementary virtual features, such as currency, item catalog, menu design, and audio direction.
• Review or evaluate competitive products, film, music, television, and other art forms to generate new game design ideas.
• Prepare and revise initial game sketches using two- and three-dimensional graphical design software.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Video Game Designers.

• Programming - Writing computer programs for various purposes.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Video Game Designers.