Video Game Design | Houston Christian University

Skills & Competencies

Skills developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET via SOC 15-1255.01

Skills

ProgrammingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingActive LearningSystems Analysis

Knowledge

DesignComputers and ElectronicsCommunications and MediaPsychologyMathematics

Abilities

Fluency of IdeasWritten ComprehensionOriginalityNear VisionOral ComprehensionWritten ExpressionInformation OrderingOral ExpressionProblem SensitivityDeductive Reasoning

Tasks

Balance and adjust gameplay experiences to ensure the critical and commercial success of the product
Devise missions, challenges, or puzzles to be encountered in game play.
Create core game features, including storylines, role-play mechanics, and character biographies for

Technology

Graphics or photo imaging softwareDevelopment environment softwareVideo creation and editing softwareObject or component oriented development softwareProject management software

Tools

Audioconferencing systemsComputer data input scannersDesktop computersLaptop computersPersonal computersSmart phonesTablet computersVideo gaming equipment

Work Values

AchievementIndependenceWorking ConditionsRecognitionSupportRelationships

Career Pathways

Occupations this program prepares you for

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET + BLS

Occupations matched to this program, with median wage, top wage, growth, and openings
SOC	Occupation	Method	Wage	Growth	Openings
Match confidence: medium15-1255.01	Video Game Designers	title_inference	—	—	—

Program Pathways

Credentials this program stacks toward

No program pathways.

What You'll Learn

Key competencies developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom NSX Competency Framework

Mastery: proficient (Level 3)(based on Bachelor's Degree)

End-to-end game design for a full title or major franchise installment — lead autonomously, integrating storylines, mechanics, and character arcs into a coherent, commercially viable experience.
Complex gameplay balance problems spanning multiple interconnected systems — resolve independently through iterative playtesting, data analysis, and decisive design judgment.
Non-routine design challenges such as novel gameplay genres or adaptive difficulty systems — address by applying originality, deductive reasoning, and deep knowledge of player psychology.
Comprehensive formal game design documentation including mock-ups, flowcharts, and technical specifications — author and own across the full project lifecycle without supervisory review.
Cross-disciplinary design and technical staff feedback cycles — orchestrate and synthesize, ensuring design integrity is maintained from concept through final release.
Regular design reviews at the project level — facilitate with authority, evaluating creative and technical trade-offs and driving consensus among designers, engineers, and producers.
Advanced programming and component-oriented development tools — apply with fluency to prototype, test, and validate complex game systems within the studio's technical environment.
Design communication across written design briefs, spoken presentations, and visual documentation — deliver with persuasion and precision to stakeholders including producers and platform partners.
Emerging game design trends, technologies, and player behavior research — evaluate continuously through active learning to inform current and future project decisions.
Studio-wide design documentation standards and process guidelines — define, implement, and refine to ensure consistency and quality across all active game projects.

Program Details

Detailed information about this program

No detailed information available.

Requirements

What you need to earn this credential

No requirements listed.

Financial Aid

Eligible funding programs

No funding information available.

Scholarships

No scholarships listed.