Study Overseas

Game production - A flexible degree

A good degree in this field should introduce students to multiple aspects of games production including analysis, design and production management of computer games. Games production programs should also provide a broad foundation in computing and creative technologies to prepare students to enter the industry.

Complete your degree in Game Production from the Academy in as little as 36 months! Classes are available 100% online so you can continue to work and study at the same time.

Students can develop skills and demonstrate their creativity in disciplines such as 3D modelling and animation, computer games design and implementation, project management and quality assurance. Studying games production provides the opportunity to develop knowledge, skills, and competence not only in traditional game production, but also in written and verbal communication, project management and team collaboration, which can be applied to interactive media and post production industries.

The different disciplines involved in games production help to give students a range of professional and transferable skills that can be applied both in the games industry and beyond.

Recently, games production programs have become increasingly more flexible in their administration. In response to growing popularity of online learning, which offers international students the chance to earn a high quality qualification without the expense and upheaval of re-locating, games production is now offered as an online degree. Interaction with professors is only a click away and provided you have the software available at home to complete your assignments, there is no reason why studying games production cannot be done from the comfort of your own home.

Game production - Course content

What is covered in any games production degree will vary according to the particular policies and experience of the faculty within the school. As an example, the International Academy of Design and Technology offers students the opportunity to develop their creative talents in the following areas:

• Advanced Modeling
• Survey of Game Industry
• Game Theory & Mechanics
• Business Concepts of Game Industry
• Drawing Techniques
• Digital Imaging
• User Interface
• Principles of Design
• Storyboarding & Storytelling
• Texturing & Lighting
• Game Animation
• Game Play Scripting
• Web Game Development
• Level Design
• World Building
• Sound Design
• Game Production

Game Production - Degree checklist

With any degree choice, there are many factors to consider. Many of these can be applicable to a wide range of courses, however, there are some questions specific to games production that you should ask any prospective institution:

What does the game production program cover?

Always check that a program is going to help you gain the skills you need. Your game production training should help qualify you for an entry-level job in the industry. A good way to check this is to look for job listings, and then compare the requirements to the curriculum of the program. A good program will adapt to meet the needs of an ever-changing industry like game design.

Are the tools of the program up-to-date?

When you are earning a game production degree, it is vital that you work with the tools and technology that is current in the industry. When applying for your first job in the industry, you need to show evidence that you are fully competent in the technology they are using. In such a fast-moving industry, selecting a program that offers you access to state of the art resources is crucial.

What will my career prospects be like?

Getting your foot in the door in the video game industry, even with a qualification in game production can be tricky. Look for schools that have strong ties with the industry and find out where college alumni have gone after graduation. Many schools will help you locate job opportunities and internships using their connections to the industry.

The role of a game producer

The job role of producer specifically for games was established in the early 80s and has since been defined in a huge variety of ways by different teams and companies. There may be many positions within the industry that are referred to as ‘producer’.

Producers can be internal to the company or external. Internal producers tend to have a more hands-on role perhaps working for the developer on one game or a few small games at any time. External producers may act as executive producers meaning that their responsibilities focus mainly on overseeing several projects worked on by a number of developers. They keep updated on the progress of the game design development and form part of the upper management. There are also line producers who concentrate on project scheduling and costing to ensure games are delivered on time and on budget.

Your first job as a producer is more likely to be internal. As an internal producer you can expect to have following responsibilities to ensure the timely delivery and final quality of the game:

• Negotiate contracts, including licensing deals
• Liaise between the development staff and the publisher or executives
• Develop and maintain schedules and budgets
• Oversee creative and technical development
• Schedule quality assurance testing
• Arrange for beta testing and focus groups
• Arrange for localization

Salary expectations

According to the 9th Annual Survey conducted by Game Developer magazine this year, game producers are the third top earners out of game development positions.

Associate Producers with less than three years experience earn on an annual average of $43,800 while those between three and six years of experience earn an average of USD$55,700 annually. Executive producers with over six years of experience earn an average of USD$103,000 a year.