If you're passionate about video games and have considerable artistic ability, you may be interested in obtaining a game art design degree. Video games, once considered a frivolous pastime for young children, are now a multi-billion dollar industry. With new titles being released on a weekly basis, including adult oriented games such as Halo and Grand Theft Auto, there are more opportunities for jobs in the game art design field than ever before. Examples of positions within the game art design area include 2D conceptual artist, 3D object modeler, 3D character builder, interactivity designer, and background artist.
Game art and design schools offer several programs. You can earn a certificate, an associate's degree, or a bachelor's degree in this area. To choose the program that's best for you, think about what you hope to learn, how much time you're willing to invest, and what kind of starting salary you hope to find. As with most other fields, applicants with advanced credentials tend to get chosen for the better paying and more prestigious game art design jobs. However, many credits will transfer if you decide to obtain a more advanced game art design degree at a later date.
Since game art design involves working with computers, it should come as no surprise that there are many different schools offering online courses. Unfortunately, scams are plentiful in this area, so it's important to investigate online degree programs carefully before you decide to begin your coursework. Make sure you understand if the school is accredited, if financial assistance is available, how your progress will be monitored, and what technical support will be offered if you run into problems accessing the course materials. It's also a good idea to see what job placement services the school provides for program graduates, since you'll probably need some help landing your first position.
Even if a school doesn't specifically offer a game art design degree, you don't need to eliminate it from your list of possibilities. Some colleges and universities have simply been slower than others to incorporate gaming-specific skills into their curriculum. However, degrees in computer animation, special effects animation, digital entertainment design, or programming and game development are all considered to be good preparation for a career in the video game industry. As long as you make an effort to learn all you can from your courses and obtain as much internship experience as possible, you'll be well on your way to living your dream of becoming a game art designer.
