Some of them have seen their names associated with games that have become cult favourites, such as lead game designer Sid Meier(Civilization), Hideo Kojima(Metal Gear Solid, Death Stranding), or Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of the Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda and Donkey Kong franchises.
How do you go about training, what career path should you choose to reach this position of high responsibility, and how much do you earn? That’s what we’d like you to find out in this guide.
What are the tasks and responsibilities of a lead game designer?
The lead game designer, a veritable architect specialising in video games, is responsible for setting up the mechanics and rules of the video game he is working on. It is the lead game designer who will oversee the construction of the gameplay, based on the concept he or she has drawn up.
As a result, it has a wide range of responsibilities in the development and production of a video game.
The lead game designer must be in charge of both the game’s storyline and its structure, while keeping in mind the technical constraints of the production chain, as well as the specifications when it comes to an already well-established licence, or a project that he or she is tasked with setting up.
In a nutshell, the lead game designer is responsible for the entire game, from the moment the player launches it to the moment they leave it. The lead game designer and the teams he supervises are responsible for all the elements the player will encounter, both in the game itself and in its interface.
What skills do you need to excel as a lead game designer in video games?
Creativity, rigour, efficiency, the ability to communicate and, last but not least, to inspire and manage teams – these are all skills that are required to excel as a lead game designer. As the cornerstone of a video game’s success, lead game designers must demonstrate professionalism and be able to align themselves with the needs of the project managers with whom they work, often within the limits of a precise budget and according to a strict schedule.
Managerial and organisational skills are therefore essential for the lead game designer, who must be able to supervise his team while being in constant contact with the project manager and the other teams (technical, artistic, etc.) involved in the production process.
Finally, as game designers, lead game designers need to be constantly in tune with the market and aware of new technological advances in the sector, so that they can come up with creative and original ideas while remaining at the cutting edge of the industry.
What tools and software does a lead game designer use?
As both technical and artistic project managers, lead game designers must master the methods of creating a video game from A to Z.
Lead game designers must therefore master both programming languages (C++, JavaScript, C#, etc.) and 3D modelling and animation tools (SketchUp, 3ds Max, etc.) to be able to create compelling and immersive interactive worlds from scratch.
At the same time, because lead game designers have to manage projects involving a large number of collaborators, project management tools such as Notion are essential, as is a good knowledge of the Office suite.
Excel will enable the game designer to document the game elements that he or his team create, to analyse the data, and to carry out an administrative follow-up of the project that is easy to communicate to the other people involved in the project.
Finally, advanced mastery of game engines such as Unity, Unreal Engine and other open-source tools is essential if you want to join a studio and become a lead game designer.
Which baccalaureate should you choose?
A bac combining scientific method and artistic creativity is the ideal route to the best courses. A bac ST2A – Sciences et Technologies du Design et des Arts Appliqués (Sciences and Technologies of Design and Applied Arts) is the ideal route for those who want to become lead game designers, as it enables students to familiarise themselves with the tools used in the industry from secondary school onwards.
Whatever the case, taking a scientific specialisation in which mathematics, digital technology and computer science are at the heart of your studies is essential if you are to gain access to higher education in the world of video games.
What training do you need to become a lead game designer?
If you want to become a lead game designer, you need to go to a video games school. It is during this training that aspiring game designers will discover the tools, software and working methods that will enable them to rise to this position of responsibility. To become a game designer, and then rise to the position of lead game designer, this is the most direct route, and the one that will open the most doors.
How much does a lead game designer earn in the world of video games?
Salary at the start of your career
If you graduate and go straight into a Lead Game Designer role, you should be aware that the salary for this job starts at an average of €40,000 gross per year. However, your salary will depend on the size of the studio, the type of contract you have (fixed-term, freelance, temporary) and the geographical area in which you work.
Salary with experience
With experience, a lead game designer’s salary rises to between €55,000 and €65,000 gross per year, depending on the type of project they are working on. If your games are a great success, and you make a name for yourself in the sector, this salary may increase, particularly for large projects such as AAA games like GTA, Assassin’s Creed, etc.
What are the career prospects in this profession?
Once you’ve reached the position of lead game designer, your career doesn’t stop there. There are several possible career paths, depending on the direction you want to take.
The competition is tough, but a good lead game designer will be able to progress to more senior project management positions, become a Game Director or even set up his or her own studio.
Which school should you choose to become a lead game designer?
At ESMA’s campuses in Montpellier, Toulouse, Rennes, Nantes and Bordeaux, everything is designed to give you the best possible training in the various facets of video game production, level design and the creation of interactive worlds, before you specialise in artistic professions (Game Art) or technical professions (Gameplay Programming).
Choosing a school of this type, which offers both theoretical and practical studies, as well as numerous internships and encounters with the professional world, will enable you to become a lead game designer more quickly.
This is thanks to the network you will have built up during your studies, and the experience you will have accumulated during your training.