# Video Game Designers

> Design core features of video games. Specify innovative game and role-play mechanics, story lines, and character biographies. Create and maintain design documentation. Guide and collaborate with production staff to produce games as designed.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 15-1255.01
- **Summary:** Design core features of video games. Specify innovative game and role-play mechanics, story lines, and character biographies. Create and maintain design documentation. Guide and collaborate with production staff to produce games as designed.

## Aliases

- Design Director
- Designer
- Game Designer
- World Designer
- Environmental Artist
- Game Design Consultant
- Gamemaster
- Level Designer
- Computer Game Designer
- Computer Video Game Designer
- Concept Artist
- Content Creator

## Tasks

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

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Analyze market or customer related data. | 4.A.2.a.4.b |
| Communicate project information to others. | 4.A.4.a.2.h |
| Update knowledge about emerging industry or technology trends. | 4.A.2.b.3.a |
| Develop testing routines or procedures. | 4.A.3.b.2.f |
| Design video game features or details. | 4.A.2.b.2.b |
| Supervise information technology personnel. | 4.A.4.b.4.a |
| Collaborate with others to determine design specifications or details. | 4.A.4.a.2.h |
| Prepare graphics or other visual representations of information. | 4.A.2.b.2.o |
| Test software performance. | 4.A.1.b.2.h |
| Document design or development procedures. | 4.A.3.b.6.i |
| Manage documentation to ensure organization or accuracy. | 4.A.4.b.1.g |
| Manage information technology projects or system activities. | 4.A.4.b.4.e |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Design | knowledge | 4.26 |
| Computers and Electronics | knowledge | 4.15 |
| Fluency of Ideas | ability | 4.12 |
| Programming | transferable_skill | 4 |
| Written Comprehension | ability | 4 |
| Originality | ability | 4 |
| Near Vision | ability | 4 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 3.88 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 3.88 |
| Written Expression | ability | 3.88 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 3.88 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 3.75 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 3.75 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 3.75 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 3.75 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 3.75 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 3.75 |
| Complex Problem Solving | transferable_skill | 3.62 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | transferable_skill | 3.62 |
| Active Learning | essential_skill | 3.5 |
| Communications and Media | knowledge | 3.47 |
| Systems Analysis | transferable_skill | 3.38 |
| Time Management | transferable_skill | 3.38 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 3.38 |
| Mathematics | knowledge | 3.3 |
| Psychology | knowledge | 3.3 |
| Writing | essential_skill | 3.25 |
| Systems Evaluation | transferable_skill | 3.25 |
| English Language | knowledge | 3.25 |
| Visualization | ability | 3.25 |
| Speech Recognition | ability | 3.25 |
| Speaking | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Coordination | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Speech Clarity | ability | 3.12 |
| Social Perceptiveness | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Persuasion | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Negotiation | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Operations Analysis | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Technology Design | transferable_skill | 3 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| Adobe Photoshop | Specialized Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| TypeScript | Specialized Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| MySQL | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft Word | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Windows | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Visual Studio | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft Visio | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft Project | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Outlook | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| Linux | Specialized Skill |
| Adobe Illustrator | Specialized Skill |
| Adobe After Effects | Specialized Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Autodesk Maya | Specialized Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Vulkan Graphics API | Specialized Skill |
| Ruby On Rails | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Adobe Photoshop | Graphics or photo imaging software | yes | yes |
| C# | Object or component oriented development software | yes | yes |
| C++ | Object or component oriented development software | yes | yes |
| Python | Object or component oriented development software | yes | yes |
| Adobe After Effects | Video creation and editing software | yes | no |
| Adobe Creative Cloud software | Graphics or photo imaging software | yes | no |
| Adobe Illustrator | Graphics or photo imaging software | yes | no |
| Atlassian JIRA | Project management software | yes | no |
| C | Development environment software | yes | no |
| Extensible markup language XML | Enterprise application integration software | yes | no |
| Git | File versioning software | yes | no |
| Hypertext markup language HTML | Web platform development software | yes | no |
| JavaScript | Web platform development software | yes | no |
| Linux | Operating system software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software | yes | no |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Project | Project management software | yes | no |
| Microsoft SQL Server | Data base user interface and query software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Visio | Process mapping and design software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Visual Studio | Development environment software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Windows | Operating system software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | yes | no |
| MySQL | Data base management system software | yes | no |
| Oracle Java | Object or component oriented development software | yes | no |
| Perl | Object or component oriented development software | yes | no |
| PHP | Web platform development software | yes | no |
| Structured query language SQL | Data base user interface and query software | yes | no |
| TypeScript | Object or component oriented development software | yes | no |
| Autodesk Maya | Graphics or photo imaging software | no | yes |
| Unity Technologies Unity | Development environment software | no | yes |
| Unreal Technology Unreal Engine | Development environment software | no | yes |
| 3D graphic design software | Graphics or photo imaging software | no | no |
| Adobe ActionScript | Development environment software | no | no |
| Advanced business application programming ABAP | Object or component oriented development software | no | no |
| Autodesk 3ds Max | Video creation and editing software | no | no |
| Autodesk Scaleform | Development environment software | no | no |
| Balsamiq Studios Balsamiq Mockups | Graphics or photo imaging software | no | no |
| Blackboard software | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| E-Mail | 5 |
| Spend Time Sitting | 4.84 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 4.75 |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 4.75 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.7 |
| Level of Competition | 4.35 |
| Contact With Others | 4.05 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 4.05 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 4.05 |
| Time Pressure | 4.05 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 3.95 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 3.85 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 3.85 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 3.5 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 3.4 |
| Telephone Conversations | 3.3 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 3.16 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 3.15 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 3.1 |
| Physical Proximity | 2.95 |
| Conflict Situations | 2.8 |
| Public Speaking | 2.35 |
| Written Letters and Memos | 2.2 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 2.1 |
| Consequence of Error | 2.1 |
| Deal With External Customers or the Public in General | 2.05 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 2.05 |
| Degree of Automation | 1.79 |
| Spend Time Standing | 1.5 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 1.45 |
| Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions | 1.3 |
| Spend Time Walking or Running | 1.2 |
| Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions | 1.15 |
| In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment | 1.15 |
| Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled | 1.1 |
| Outdoors, Under Cover | 1.1 |
| Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions | 1.1 |
| Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment | 1.1 |
| Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People | 1.05 |
| In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment | 1.05 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 4
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- **Experience:** A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- **Svp Range:** (7.0 to < 8.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| Bachelor's Degree | 55 |
| High School Diploma | 15 |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 10 |
| Some College Courses | 10 |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 10 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Artistic | career_interest_type | 6.38 |
| Creative Writing | specific_interest_area | 6.34 |
| Applied Arts and Design | specific_interest_area | 6.3 |
| Visual Arts | specific_interest_area | 5.8 |
| Media | specific_interest_area | 5.62 |
| Information Technology | specific_interest_area | 5 |
| Dependability | work_style | 5 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 4.15 |
| Intellectual Curiosity | work_style | 4 |
| Enterprising | career_interest_type | 3.92 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 3.85 |
| Management/Administration | specific_interest_area | 3.04 |
| Innovation | work_style | 3 |
| Achievement Orientation | work_style | 3 |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 2.77 |
| Mathematics/Statistics | specific_interest_area | 2.54 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 15-1255.00 | role-15-1255-00 | Web and Digital Interface Designers | Primary-Short |
| 27-1014.00 | role-27-1014-00 | Special Effects Artists and Animators | Primary-Short |
| 27-1024.00 | role-27-1024-00 | Graphic Designers | Primary-Short |
| 15-1254.00 | role-15-1254-00 | Web Developers | Primary-Short |
| 15-1251.00 | role-15-1251-00 | Computer Programmers | Primary-Short |
| 27-4032.00 | role-27-4032-00 | Film and Video Editors | Primary-Long |
| 15-1252.00 | role-15-1252-00 | Software Developers | Primary-Long |
| 27-2012.00 | role-27-2012-00 | Producers and Directors | Primary-Long |
| 17-2061.00 | role-17-2061-00 | Computer Hardware Engineers | Primary-Long |
| 15-1299.08 | role-15-1299-08 | Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | Primary-Long |
| 27-1011.00 | role-27-1011-00 | Art Directors | Supplemental |
| 43-9031.00 | role-43-9031-00 | Desktop Publishers | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Arts, Entertainment, & Design | arts-entertainment-design |
| Digital Technology | digital-technology |

## Education Level

- **Category:** Bachelor's degree

## Study Programs

| Title | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services | business-management-marketing-and-related-support-services |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs | communication-journalism-and-related-programs |
| Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services | computer-and-information-sciences-and-support-services |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | multi-interdisciplinary-studies |
| Visual and Performing Arts | visual-and-performing-arts |

## Market

- **Median Wage:** 98090
- **Mean Wage:** 111450
- **Pct10Wage:** 47840
- **Pct25Wage:** 64990
- **Pct75Wage:** 141860
- **Pct90Wage:** 192180
- **Employment:** 111400
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 51 | 51 | Information | Sector | 34540 | 120580 | 16.44 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 31850 | 93040 | 4.09 |
| 55 | 55 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | Sector | 6190 | 108200 | 3.05 |
| 52 | 52 | Finance and Insurance | Sector | 6060 | 121710 | 1.35 |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector | 5900 | 86990 | 1.35 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 5430 | 112110 | 0.83 |
| 44-45 | 44-45 | Retail Trade | Sector | 5130 | 69280 | 0.46 |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 4290 | 99660 | 0.47 |
| 61 | 61 | Educational Services | Sector | 4100 | 73250 | 0.42 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 2730 | 127410 | 1.43 |
| 81 | 81 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | Sector | 2580 | 75370 | 0.81 |
| 71 | 71 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | Sector | 1390 | 59650 | 0.73 |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 51 | 51 | Information | Sector | 34540 | 16.44 |
| 513110 | 513110 | Newspaper Publishers | National industry | 580 | 8.86 |
| 516120 | 516120 | Television Broadcasting Stations | National industry | 360 | 7.68 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 31850 | 4.09 |
| 516110 | 516110 | Radio Broadcasting Stations | National industry | 130 | 3.47 |
| 55 | 55 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | Sector | 6190 | 3.05 |
| 541720 | 541720 | Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities | National industry | 130 | 2.96 |
| 711110 | 711110 | Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters | National industry | 120 | 2.29 |
- **Count:** 34

## Ai Signals


## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 90
- **Percentile:** 95
- **Band:** High
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 95 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 86 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 2

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 1 | 95 | High | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.2940247387286297 | 86 | High | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0.3333333333333333
- **Beta:** 0.6666666666666666
- **Gamma:** 1

### Usage Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Importance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Determine supplementary virtual features, such as currency, item catalog, menu design, and audio direction. | 0.29066304039702723 | 3.5 |
| Consult with multiple stakeholders to define requirements and implement online features. | 0.1996639401172512 | 3.6 |
| Collaborate with artists to achieve appropriate visual style. | 0.02290383675213324 | 3.6 |
| Create and manage documentation, production schedules, prototyping goals, and communication plans in collaboration with production staff. | 0.006367882863821797 | 4.2 |
| Develop and maintain design level documentation, including mechanics, guidelines, and mission outlines. | 0.004313727101298638 | 4.35 |
- **Usage Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** 7
- **Growth Percentile:** 85
- **Direction:** Growing fast
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 9.1
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 61
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 128.9
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 137.9

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 24
- **Skills:** 51
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 57
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** 688e0dd4c02ab111