Game and Simulation Production Job Opportunities

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On the cusp of innovation and interactive technology, the gaming industry is relatively new and career opportunities in this pioneering field are already thriving. Last year, sales figures for video games reached somewhere around $7.3 billion. Video game makers like Electronic Arts, Activision, THQ, Square-Enix and Ubisoft are leading the way in this growing industry, and now online gaming and mobile gaming are on the rise.

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What You Do in Game and Simulation Production
Game and Simulation Production Salary Information
Game and Simulation Production Degree Overview
Why Earn a Degree in Game and Simulation Production?

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Video game development in the United States is usually performed in an extremely casual business environment. T-shirts and sandals are common work attire, and work hours are usually flexible; many developers start the workday at 10:00 AM, though employees usually work at least a full 40 hours a week.

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What You Do in Game and Simulation Production

Get ready for exciting challenges. In a Game and Simulation Production career, you’ll tackle a variety of job functions, such as:

  • Apply cinematography, story development, directing, and editing to animation to create storyboards that show the process of the animation and map out key scenes and characters.
  • Assemble, typeset, scan, and produce digital camera-ready art or film negatives and printer's proofs.
  • Convert real objects to animated objects through modeling, using techniques such as optical scanning.
  • Create and install special effects as required by the script, mixing chemicals and fabricating needed parts from wood, metal, plaster, and clay.
  • Create basic designs, drawings, and illustrations for product labels, cartons, direct mail, or television.
  • Create pen-and-paper images to be scanned, edited, colored, textured, or animated by computer.
  • Create two-dimensional and three-dimensional images depicting objects in motion or illustrating a process, using computer animation or modeling programs.
  • Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment.
  • Develop briefings, brochures, multimedia presentations, web pages, promotional products, technical illustrations, and computer artwork for use in products, technical manuals, literature, newsletters, and slide shows.
  • Implement and maintain configuration control systems.
  • Make objects or characters appear lifelike by manipulating light, color, texture, shadow, and transparency, or manipulating static images to give the illusion of motion.
  • Participate in design and production of multimedia campaigns, handling budgeting and scheduling, and assisting with such responsibilities as production coordination, background design, and progress tracking.
  • Script, plan, and create animated narrative sequences under tight deadlines, using computer software and hand drawing techniques.
  • Use models to simulate the behavior of animated objects in the finished sequence.
  • …plus, much more!

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Info on Game Programming and Simulation Salaries

The following positions are varied in salary however most, if not all, require a bachelor’s degree.

Lead programmers:
Video game lead programmers with fewer than 3 years of experience make an average of $58,486 a year. Lead programmers with 3-6 years of experience average $81,155 a year and Lead programmers with 6 or more years of experience average $93,067 a year. Most companies use either C++, Java, DirectX, or Java for their gaming language.

Technical directors:
Video game technical directors with fewer than 3 years of experience make an average of $63,750 a year. Technical directors with 3-6 years of experience average $77,129 a year and Technical directors with six or more years of experience average $115,087 a year with the highest salary being reported at $211,500!

Video Game Artists and Animators:
Video Game Artists and Animators reported that they made more money in 2004 than they did the previous year across all levels of experience with the largest salary increases being reported buy animators with three or more years of experience. Although artist salaries generally start significantly lower than coders’ do for those with similar job experience, the highest individual salary for any artist was $220,000, beating out the top programmer’s salary of $211,500.

Game Designer:
Video game designer with fewer than 3 years of experience make on average $44,176 a year. Game Designers with 3-6 years of experience average $52,604 a year and Game Designer with six or more years of experience average $67,840 a year.

Video Game Quality Assurance:
QA has traditionally been the position where non-technical game enthusiasts get there foot in the door - it’s an excellent path to becoming a game designer or other production - related positions in the industry.

Game Testers:
Video game testers with fewer than 3 years of experience make on average $33,362 a year. Game Testers with 3-6 years of experience average $33,385 a year and Game Testers with 6 or more years of experience average $48,435 a year.

QA Leads:
Video game QA leads with fewer than 3 years of experience makes an average of $38,340 a year. QA Leads with 3-6 years of experience average $43,195 a year and QA Leads with six or more years of experience average $60,929 a year with the highest salary being reported at $225,000!

Video Game Audio:
Audio engineers, musicians, directors, and composers have all reported increases in salary over last year's numbers, especially for entry-level musicians. Audio and musical persons in the game industry with 6 years experience can make a salary on par with programmers with the same years of experience.

Sound designer/Engineer:
Video game Sound designer/Engineer with fewer than 3 years of experience make on average $51,370 a year. Sound designer/Engineer with 3-6 years of experience average $68,571 a year and Sound designer/Engineer with 6 or more years of experience average $73,377 a year.

C++ Developer : Base Pay: $55,000 - $75,000 per year
This role includes working closely with other developers to complete the high- and low level design, implementation and testing of a C++ server application. You will work on multiple OS platforms and should have an understanding of cross-platform application development. You must demonstrate exceptional C++ knowledge, along with an understanding of database, network, and multithreaded application development.

C++ Developer : Base Pay: $70,000 - $80,000 per year
Candidate will be participating in Architectural level discussions, speaking with customers, coding, doing library work associated with processor applications and other infrastructure applications (i.e. billing applications).

C++ Software Engineer : Base Pay: $40 - $60 per hour
Experienced people with SW Engineering skills to help with development and support for a defense company.

Note: Salary data listed above includes the salaries factored from throughout the United States, for a range of Game and Simulation Production careers, according to figures available from animationarena.com and careerbuilder.com.

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