GAME ART & DESIGN

WHO WILL CREATE TOMORROWS

GAME DESIGN? IT COULD BE YOU.
SHARE YOUR IDEAS
WITH THE
WORLD
The video game industry invests millions of dollars competing
for the attention of players looking for the next level of
action and entertainment. All that competition means real
opportunity for talented people who can create the games
that capture imaginations.
Game designers are the people who give life to near fesh-
andblood characters, embroil them in fantastic plots, and
design levels placing them in a compelling environment. In
short, they create the user experience. This is a feld that
demands constant evolution as new gameplay engines,
systems, and technology are introduced on a constant basis.
Our Game Art & Design program is focused on your ability
to apply the principles of gaming, balance, and usability to
plan and devise game rules and mechanics; create the entire
gamingexperience; and develop games that can be used
in industry-standard engines through every stage of the
production pipeline.
With an education from The Art Institutes, youll gain an
understanding of what it takes to get a game from concept
to consumer, the planning, scope, soft skills, problem-solving
abilities, deadline management, and economics that go into
creating a market-ready game.
Bring us your imagination and your love of gaming, and well
help you explore the possibilities.
OUR ALUMNI ARE
CREATING
TOMORROW
INDUSTRIES WHERE
NEW ARTISTS CAN START THEIR CAREERS:
Game Industry
Medical
Army Flight Assimilation
Navigation
Interactive Education
Independent Developer
COMPANIES OUR GRADUATES ARE WORKING FOR:
Electronic Arts
Sony
DreamWorks
Raven Software
Rockstar Games
Black Forest
Ubisoft
ONCE YOUVE HONED YOUR CRAFT
FIND YOUR
PLACE
Game Tester/Analyst
Primary function is to document, track, test, bug hunt and research for the production team.
Responsible for assisting the producer in day-to-day maintenance, organization, and management of
the project, in addition to displaying excellent organization and communication skills, detail-oriented
and ability to maintain project-related documents, schedules, lists and so on, using commercial
software (for example, Microsoft Offce and FileMaker Pro).
Level Designers
Level Designers work on designs, layout places and scripts entities/objects in environment, in addition
to working with the Lead Designer to defne and refne game play mechanics, details game play
mechanics, story lines, character biographies and asset inventories in design documentation. Skills
required: ability to use 3D modeling software, such as Maya or 3D Studio Max and the ability to use
2D software, including Photoshop and Illustrator.
Interface Designer
The primary function of the Interface Designer is to design and implement user interfaces that
integrate the required visual style, functionality and usability. This requires knowledge of scripting
and 2D Art.
Systems Designer
The Systems Designer will be responsible for pacing and balance in a stat-heavy game, collaborating
on mechanics, gameplay, game features, game ideas, and nurturing ideas from concept to fnal
implementation. The ideal candidate is an experienced designer of mobile games with a passionate
working knowledge of the latest trends in online, mobile, and social games.
Narrative Designer
While the strict defnition may vary from team to team, and production to production, the core of this
role is to champion story, craft compelling narrative elements, and defne the systems through which
they will be delivered to the player. Interactive Narrative Design is a new craft waiting to be further
defned and explored.
Combat Designer
The combat designers main job or any designers job is to keep the design true to the pillars of the
game. You will work heavily with animation, programming, and art to create player character and
artifcial intelligence abilities that stick to these pillars. In combat games the players character usually
has a vast selection of attack combos from which to choose.
Creative Director
Acts as the creative guide and overall creative vision keeper for the game. The Creative Director
works with the Producer and team to develop game concepts, design documentation, game play
mechanics, story elements, script/dialog, implementation plans and strategic planning documentation
for the game. In addition, this person works with the Sound Designer and writer to create and record
dialog, as well as with the writer and game team to develop ideas, characters and storyline. Must
be familiar with game engines and concepts/terminology for computer graphics, ability to use 3D
software and maintain project-related documents, schedules, lists and so on.
FIND YOUR
CAREER
PATH
Creative Director
Producer
Producer

Senior Game
Designer
System Designer

Quality Lead
Associate Producer

Quality Assurance
Tester

Interface Designer/
Content Designer
Level Designer
JUNIOR POSITIONS MID-CAREER PINNACLE
LEARN
THE TOOLS OF
THE INDUSTRY
HARDWARE INCLUDES:
Apple Workstations
Hewlett-Packard Workstations
Wacom tablets
Motion capture system
GAME ENGINES INCLUDES:
Unity 3D
Game Maker Pro
UDK (Unreal Development Kit)
Microsoft XNA
SOFTWARE INCLUDES:
Flash Professional
Photoshop
Illustrator
Premiere Pro
After Effects
Maya
Image Studio
3ds Max
Softimage XSI
Pixologic ZBrush
Steam (Skyrim)
MotionBuilder
Tortoise
FlashDevelop
RPG Maker VX
Mudbox
Pixologic ZBrush
BECOME A PART OF THE
CREATIVE
ALUMNI
JAMES E. MOUAT
Program: Game Arts Design, Diploma
Grad Date: 2004
Current Company: Electronic Arts, Sweden
Job Title: Lead Designer
Recent Works:
Need for Speed Rivals
Ghost Recon: (Future Soldier, Online,
Shadow Wars)
Driver San Fransisco
Warnhammer 40K - Dawn of War: Dark Crusade
DAVID OSEI
Program: Game Arts Design, Diploma
Grad Date: 2012
Current Company: Raven Software
Job Title: Associate Level Designer
Recent Works:
Call of Duty Ghost
Red Rolling Hood
Insomnium
2665 Renfrew Street
Vancouver, BC
V5M 0A7
1.866.717.8080 604.683.9200
artinstitutes.edu/vancouver
The Art Institute of Vancouver is one of The Art Institutes, a system of over 50 schools throughout North America.
Programs, credential levels, technology, and scheduling options are subject to change. Several institutions included in
The Art Institutes system are campuses of South University or Argosy University.
2014 The Art Institutes International LLC.
See aiprograms.info for program duration, tuition, fees, and other costs, median debt, federal salary data, alumni
success, and other important info.