Computer games developer
Computer games designer, video games designer
Computer games developers make games that can be played online, and on mobile phones, PCs and games consoles.
Salary Range: £19,500 ro £59,000
How to become a computer games developer
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
University
You could do a foundation degree or degree in:
- computer games technology
- computer games development
- computer science
- interactive media
- mathematics
You may have an advantage when you look for work if you do a degree that has a work placement.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
More information
- equivalent entry requirements
- student finance for fees and living costs
- university courses and entry requirements
College
You could do a college course, which may lead onto more advanced qualifications or a higher apprenticeship, or help you to get a trainee position with a company. Courses include:
- A level in Computing
- T level in Digital Production, Design and Development
- Higher National Diploma in Creative Media Production or Games Development
Entry requirements
You may need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and computing
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T level
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a higher national certificate or higher national diploma
More information
- equivalent entry requirements
- guide to T levels
- funding advice for higher education courses in college
- search for courses
Apprenticeship
You could do an advanced or higher apprenticeship in creative and digital media or software development, or a software developer or junior 2D artist higher apprenticeship.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
More information
Work
You could start as a quality assurance (QA) tester if you have plenty of experience of game playing.
You’ll usually need an IT qualification or work experience. Employers will be interested in your talent and creativity. You may also find it helps to have A levels or a diploma in relevant subjects like computing or media production.
More information
Career tips
You can create a portfolio of work or online demo to highlight your skills to potential employers.
Further information
You can get more advice about working in games development from ScreenSkills.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You’ll need:
- design skills and knowledge
- analytical thinking skills
- the ability to write computer code
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- maths knowledge
- the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
- the ability to use your initiative
- complex problem-solving skills
- to have a thorough understanding of computer systems and applications
What you’ll do
Day-to-day tasks
Your day-to-day tasks could include:
- deciding what a game will look like and how it can be played
- coming up with your own original ideas or working from an existing concept
- creating the game’s visual characters, objects and scenery
- producing concept art and drawings or storyboards at the planning stage
- bringing the characters, objects and scenery to life with computer modelling and animation software
- creating the code to make the game work
Working environment
You could work in a creative studio or in an office.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could become a senior developer, producer or technical director.
If you develop your own successful game independently, you could increase your income significantly.