Game Designer Job Kit

with STEM™ CAREERS JOB KIT Game Designer

Turn ideas into playable experiences through creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving

the next level Unlock

Game on

Be part of the single biggest entertainment medium in the world, while also educating, inspiring and fostering community

Game design is the craft of creating systems that spring to life with a player’s touch, generating epic battles, brain-busting puzzles, and worlds that pulse with the promise of adventure. It’s about engineering gameplay and empowering players to take control of their entertainment in a way no other medium can.

Video games aren’t just entertainment though – they’re art, culture, industry, community. And the thing is, we’re only just now starting to understand the profound power of this medium and to appreciate its capacity to educate, persuade, and inform. Mark my words: video games are the defining medium of the new millennium.

If you’re creatively inclined, it’s hard to think of another industry as rich with opportunity as games and you should consider a career in this space.

The first step is getting the right qualification at Billy Blue. I spent almost two years redesigning our games curriculum to ensure it reflects the major shifts in the gaming industry and prepares graduates for where the sector is heading next.

In our game design degrees, we concentrate on three core pillars. The first is asset production, which is basically the process of making all the ‘stuff’ – think 3D models, animations, level architecture and so on – that goes into a finished video game.

Second is design and ideation, where our students learn how to develop compelling concepts from scratch and transform them into playable experiences.

Finally, there’s project management and production, which encompasses all the skills and techniques needed to ensure teams work together effectively to produce the best possible games with the time and resources at their disposal.

favouriteDan’sgame

“Deus Ex. This game was a sort of epiphany for me, demonstrating that video games could be intellectually nourishing and that play can be a powerful,experience.”transformative

At the end of their time with us, our graduates are equipped to make their mark on the industry. Alumni have gone on to work at a variety of local and international development studios and game companies, and have even started their own indie studios. Making games is one of the most creatively rewarding experiences you’re ever likely to have. Enjoy exploring this Job Kit and all that game design has to offer.

Dr Dan Staines Senior lecturer, Billy Blue College of Design

Code and create

Game design and development is all about crafting unforgettable experiences. Are you ready to bring to life bold new worlds?

Myths busted

#1 “The best games are developed by big companies.”

What is a game designer?

Someone who designs and develops video games for mobile, PC and consoles. They work with technical and creative departments to come up with prototypes and concepts, plus oversee the process of making the game – from laying the design foundations to the game hitting the app store. They’re also experts at knowing what makes games fun and use this in their storytelling and designs to make the gameplay experience for the user.

Could you be a game designer?

Count how many sentences apply to you: 1 You love games 2 You’re a problem solver

You enjoy blending creativity with logic

You’re great at storytelling and world building

You want to work with software and tech

You’re interested in psychology

Did you get a score of four or more? You would make an incredible game designer!

Reality: Indie gaming studios and developers drive a lot of the innovation in gameplay and storylines within the industry.

#2 “Making a video game is quick and easy.”

Reality: It’s actually an extremely complex process that involves many different components. These include game design, programming, user interface, storytelling, audio engineering, quality assurance… And we’re just scratching the surface here!

#3 “To make a video game, you need to be really good at programming.”

Reality: There are two sides to game development. These are game design and game programming. Game design is more focused on the creative and conceptual elements of a game, so this is perfect for someone who wants a slightly less technical role.

Course guide

To be a game designer, you’ll need a solid qualification. Check out what Billy Blue College of Design offers:

Game Design:

• Advanced Diploma of Game Design and Development

• Bachelor of Game Design and Development

Programming:

• Advanced Diploma of Game Programming

• Bachelor of Game Programming

To find out more, visit bit.ly/billyblue-gaming or scan the QR code

Game design by the numbers

608.5 million = the income generated by Australian game development studios in 2025

Skill up

2,443 = the number of full-time employees in Australian game dev studios

13.7 = the percentage increase in game designer and game developer job growth over the next five years

Pick your path

Character Artist

Billy Blue perks

Studying game design with Billy Blue means you’ll:

✔ Make games from day one

✔ Work alongside industry experienced lecturers

✔ Undertake a major project as part of your studies, ready to showcase your work to future employers

✔ Understand the commercial realities of the world’s largest entertainment industry and how ethical global games get made

✔ Have flexible study options to get your study/life balance just right

At Billy Blue, you’ll get hands-on with tools gaming giants and studios use through the below industry and academic partners.

Unreal Academic Partner Program

Billy Blue is an official Unreal Academic Partner. This means Bachelor of Game Design and Development students gain access to world-leading Unreal Engine tools and resources used by top game studios worldwide.

PlayStation®

First Academic Development Partner

Game Programming students get to develop games using the PlayStation® 5 Platform with exclusive access to Professional Development Kits and Tools.

AVERAGE SALARY: $78,000 - $94,000

Game Designer

AVERAGE SALARY: $117,000 - $145,782

Environment Animator

AVERAGE SALARY: $111,734 - $172,005

2D/3D Animator

AVERAGE SALARY: $97,500 - $123,068

Video Game Programmer

AVERAGE SALARY: $79,500 - $96,000

C++ Programmer

AVERAGE SALARY: $79,500 - $108,500

App Developer

AVERAGE SALARY: $82,500 - $126,000

Gameplay Programmer

AVERAGE SALARY: $87,034 - $96,000

*Salaries according to au.talent.com and are in AUD $ $ $

Levelling up

Karl Dalrymple’s hobby will soon become his career!

Karl’s been an avid gamer since he was a kid. Over the years, his passion turned to curiosity, and he began to wonder how the games he was playing were made. This led him to enrolling in the Bachelor of Game Design and Development at Billy Blue.

So far, he’s really enjoyed the depth of the course. “Not only have we explored theory, such as ethics within video games, but we’ve also worked on the practical side, learning every step from initial blockouts through to rigging and animating a model.”

After uni, Karl would love to become a game designer, while continuing to develop his skills in 3D modelling and asset creation. As for his dream workplace, Karl believes there are many talented game development studios creating incredible experiences. “Being part of any of them would feel like a major step toward my dream career.”

Game character Karl’s most like

“At the moment, I would say Gustav from Expedition 33. He embodies hope while remaining grounded in reality. Despite experiencing doubt, panic, and defeat, he continues to push forward.”

Fun fact

Final Fantasy X inspired Karl to pursue game design!

If you’re also keen on a career in game design, Karl recommends experimenting with creative tools in your spare time.

“Free software such as Blender, or game engines like Unity and Unreal Engine, can help you explore how games are made and start creating your own small projects,” he says.

“As you learn, keep examples of your work, whether they are sketches, 3D models, or even simple games. These will show your growth over time and help you discover what you enjoy most about game design.”

“If you want to be in game design, stay curious, keep creating, and don’t be afraid to try new things.”

Play by your own rules

Want to know what it’s like to have your own games studio? Nicolas Wood talks it through below

Nicolas runs Rollmop Games Studio, which focuses on creating original, interesting indie experiences and more importantly, enjoying the creation process.

Currently, he and the team are putting the finishing touches on their second commercial release, Laballatory. In the game, players explore a laboratory filled with machines, working out how they function and creating a Newton’s Cradle in order to escape.

“Our first projects focused on finding our footing in the industry and establishing toolsets and infrastructure to make our process sustainable and agile,” Nicolas explains. “We were making games, of course, but we were also making tools to enable game development. Those tools are tried and tested now, and we are ready to embark on something bigger.” Watch this space!

Let’s go!

Check out Rollmop Games Studio’s first game, Tetro Runner, on Steam: bit.ly/tetrorunner and their upcoming title Laballatory: bit.ly/laballatory

nicolas wood director at rollmop games studio

The best parts of his job? “Working with a team to design and build something that we WANT to build. I also find the design process very exciting.”

favouriteNicolas’game

“ Diablo 2. I grew up playing it and lack both the capability and the desire to separate the heavy curtain of nostalgia from the game experience that started me in gaming!”

A typical day for Nicolas

7am

I take my coffee to my work station and open up the task lists, Unity and Rider. I also open YouTube and browse the video headlines for any big releases or gaming related news.

10.30am

By this time, I’ve picked some small jobs off the task list to build momentum. After a few quick wins, I pick a larger task and get stuck into it.

1pm

I’m either grooving along or banging my head on the desk – both are common.

2pm

Short break for a second coffee! If I’m stuck on a problem, I might switch over to some modelling or other asset generation.

4.30pm

Meet with the team’s other main developer. This keeps us aligned and serves as a general check-in on task status. It also offers us the chance to showcase what we might have built.

If you want to be an excellent game designer, you’ll need to scrub up on the following soft skills:

Creativity

Time management

Get the job!

Watch

How the Inventor of Mario Designs a Game (YouTube)

Shigeru Miyamoto’s design philosophy is explained in this video.

Hideo Kojima: Connecting Worlds (Disney+)

Get a rare insight into the creative process of Metal Gear’s designer as he launches his own independent studio.

How Minecraft was Made (YouTube)

Find out more about the humble beginnings of the best-selling video

Follow

See what Billy Blue students and alumni are up to: @whoisbillyblue

Billy Blue College of Design

Billy Blue College of Design

And be inspired by these game designers and developers: @SonderingEmily

An indie developer making a psychological horror game about investigating a teenage girl’s computer!

@gameloftbne

A leading game development studio in Brisbane that’s published titles like Carmen Sandiego and My Little Pony.

@playsidestudios

Australia’s largest developer! They create games for PC, mobile, console and virtual reality.

play

Try out these games developed by local designers:

Polar Pathways

Help a little penguin trying to find his way back to his community: bit.ly/polarpathways

Salmon Rush

A falling object game – score points by getting the bear to eat the right types of fish during the salmon rush: bit.ly/salmonrush

read

‘How to Create a Video Game’ by Dr Dan Staines

Ever wondered how games go from an idea to something people can actually play? Here’s the step-by-step breakdown:bit.ly/createavideogame