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Video games have become an integral part of our contemporary lives. Unsurprisingly, it is forecasted that the video game design industry will rake in revenue in excess of $78 billion!
Beyond entertainment, video games are being used for teaching youth, sustaining occupational and emotional treatment, and keeping older adults’ minds sharp. If you’re into video gaming, pursue a career that lets you contribute to the industry. An online associate degree in Game Design may be right up your alley!
Game Design associate programs, now offered online, produce professionals who are experts in testing, designing, and producing video and computer games. The basic courses include software programming, web design, animation, and drawing.
Game Design programs involve numerous disciplines, including programming, art, storytelling, and psychology. It involves intellectual stimulation and the use of advanced graphics and cutting-edge technologies like VR and AR.
Conquer the Game Design Industry with an Online Associate Degree
The gaming industry is constantly evolving, featuring the latest trends and technologies! A Game Design online associate’s degree develops the skills that prepare students for a career in this massive industry.
The program takes two years of full-time study with coursework featuring programming, quality assurance, digital graphics for graming, HTML and JavaScript, 2D animation, introduction to game development, and systems design.
Game Design online associate degree programs develop the soft skills necessary in the modern workplace, including leadership, collaboration, problem-solving, analytical skills, and creativity.
The Lowdown
Game Design is a fascinating degree program that highlights creativity, technology, problem-solving, teamwork, and potential for entrepreneurship. Individuals who are passionate about both gaming and innovation will find this online program appealing, as it blends artistic expression with technical skills. Game designers are expected to continually learn and adapt to new tools, software, and techniques, ensuring that the learning process remains dynamic and engaging.
When choosing the best online associate’s degree in Game Design, see to it that the program matches your objectives!
Methodology
It’s crucial to choose an associate degree in Game Design online that can keep up with the rapid innovation of the game design sector. We put together the top associate degree programs offered online. Each program was picked with these factors in mind:
- Offered as an online or hybrid associate degree program,
- Allows students to create their portfolio and showcase their Game Design abilities,
- Features reputable and seasoned game development professionals as professors,
- Offers federal aid and other types of financial assistance such as grants, military discounts, scholarships, and student loans to qualified associate degree candidates,
- Prepares students for game design careers or to pursue a bachelor’s degree,
- Obtained accreditation from institutions that evaluate online associate degree programs and ensure that they meet the academic standards,
- Recognized by associations that seek to advance the gaming and game design industry.
Please read our Methodology page for details.
Best Online Associates in Video Game Design Programs
Central Piedmont Community College
Central Piedmont Community College offers an online Associate of Applied Science – Simulation and Game Development. This degree path involves teaching in the visual arts and creative aspects of game development, but it is primarily focused on helping students enhance their technical and programming skills.
This program features a simulated game design work for every student. In this program, you’ll be taught to build scripts and study software engineering so you can finally learn a variety of programming languages.
One of the first colleges in the United States to include virtual reality and augmented reality technologies into its Associate in Game Design curriculum was Central Piedmont Community College. This curriculum is regarded by businesses and experts in the industry due to internship opportunities at top game studios and strong ties with the International Game Developers Association.
Here are the core courses:
- Art for Games
- Business Management
- Production Management
- 2D Animation
- Quality Assurance
- 3D Animation
- Introduction to Simulation and Game Development
- Simulation and Game Engine Design
- Simulation and Game Database Programming
- Programming
- Massive Multiplayer Online Programming
- Simulation and Game Artificial Intelligence
- Windows and Console Programming
- Modeling
At the end of the program, students can enhance their creativity and become more visually oriented. They enhance their analytical skills as well.
Along with your computer knowledge, you can be prepared to become a project manager who keenly checks tasks and frequently works with teams to fulfill project deadlines.
Finger Lakes Community College
A popular offering from Finger Lakes Community College is their Associate of Science in Game Programming and Design degree offered as a 63-credit hybrid program. On campus, students have access to a state-of-the-art gaming lab while fulfilling at least half of their degree requirements online. Imagination and originality are essential to game creation.
This program is for you if you have a passion for video games and want to contribute to their development. You will engage in project-based learning throughout your studies and work in a collaborative classroom setting with industry tools and technology. In particular, students do designing and coding work inside the college’s cutting-edge gaming labs furnished with fast computers and expert programming tools.
Game development capstone projects require students to create a creative and technically proficient game, utilizing cutting-edge technologies such as 3D printing, motion capture, 2D or 3D modeling, and virtual reality.
Below are the courses in this online AS in Game Programming and Design:
- Video Advertising
- Digital Electronics
- Electronic Theory
- Game Design
- Computer Programming
Guilford Technical Community College
A completely online Associate of Applied Science – Simulation and Game Development is available from Guilford Technical Community College. During this course, you will learn about commercial gaming and how it can be used in the educational and training sectors. You may learn how to create video games and simulation software in this two-year program.
The curriculum for simulation and game development offers a thorough grounding in simulation and game development with applications in the visual and performing arts, audio/video technology, creative writing, modeling, design, programming, and management.
Finally, before completion, students conduct an extensive capstone project where they realize a self-guided simulation or game concept after learning technical capabilities.
Below are some of the core courses:
- HTML Programming
- Programming
- Level Design
- Quality Assurance
- Design
- Introduction to Communication
- Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
- Introduction to SGD
- SGD Project
- 2D Animation
- Public Speaking
- 3D Modeling
- Mobile Programming
Ocean County College
Ocean County College offers an online Associate in Science in Computer Science with a Game Design and Development Concentration. Upon completion, students become prepared for a four-year college program. To ensure optimum transferability, the program adheres to the guidelines set out by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Computer Society and the Association of Computing Machinery.
Because a key component of excellent Game Design and Development is effective issue resolution, this online associate’s degree emphasizes the importance of problem-solving algorithms in the software development process. Consequently, students become prepared for challenging computer programming tasks.
In addition to giving students a credential above a high school diploma, the program equips them with the information and abilities they need to pursue a variety of job paths. As they start to consider their prospects, students are highly advised to speak with OCC instructors and future Services.
The curriculum features these courses:
- Programming
- Computer Organization and Architecture
- Data Structures and Analysis
- Game Programming with Open GL
- Database Management
- Introduction to Computer Game Development
- Principles of Marketing
New England Institute of Technology
The Video Game Design Associate’s Degree program at the New England Institute of Technology leads to exciting careers in electronic entertainment and simulation. You will learn 2D and 3D animation principles, use industry-standard software tools, design games, and participate in the production process as you build your video game portfolio.
Students who complete the associate degree program in Video Game Design will be prepared for entry-level work in a range of digital media production contexts as well as careers in design, animation, and visualization.
Through theoretical teachings, hands-on laboratory experiences, and small class sizes led by experienced instructors, the curriculum emphasizes the application of skills and expertise to the design and development process in developing games and simulations.
A key component of the curriculum is the development of a portfolio that will include gaming assets made by students. Graduates can qualify for entry-level positions in fields including junior game design, technical artist, and level design.
Some of the courses are:
- Advanced Game Programming
- Introduction to Game Development
- Intermediate Game Programming
- Algorithms and Data Structures
- Introduction to Game Programming
- HTML and JavaScript
- 3D Modeling
- Game Studio
- 2D Content Creation Tools for Games
- Game Persistence
- Digital Graphics for Gaming
Full Sail University
An Associate of Applied Science in Game Development is available from Full Sail University. The curriculum for game creation is created to equip you with the theoretical knowledge and programming abilities required to succeed in the field of game development.
Before you start making complex games that will help you hone your programming and design abilities, you will first understand the specifics of a game development cycle, from the pre-production to the finished product phase.
This is a component of a comprehensive game development education that will prepare you for the demands of the industry. You will take classes covering probability, digital logic, and game architecture in addition to the game production process.
The Associate of Science in Game Production program’s objective is to give you the specialized knowledge and comprehension of game production necessary to get hired as a game designer, level designer, or game programmer at the entry-level.
The abilities acquired in this degree include a solid foundation in programming and visual scripting, as well as the game design and development ideas and the math necessary to generate a realistic game world.
This program also heightens critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills, as well as your technical proficiency and creative growth.
Check out the following courses:
- Computer Architecture
- Artificial Intelligence
- Level Design
- Software Engineering
- Programming
- Psychology of Play
- Probability
- Project and Portfolio: Game Design
- English Composition
- Introduction to Game Design
- Applied Human-Computer Interaction
- Professional Development Seminar: Game Design
Pratt Institute
The Pratt Institute offers an online Associate’s in Game Design and Interactive Media. Modern games offer a wealth of options for inventive creativity and applicability in a variety of industries, and they have the power to entertain, instruct, clarify, and grab the imagination.
This online Associate in Game Design and Interactive Media program prepares students for entry-level employment right away, whether with a reputable company or on their own as independent game designers. Additionally, the software and production techniques can be used in architectural, Web, and other game design settings.
Faculty members who are working professionals in the sector and have backgrounds at organizations like HBO and Marvel teach the course material. The program covers game design, production, programming, interactivity, and prototyping with a focus on gaming from an aesthetic perspective.
As they study theory and strategy, narrative, worldbuilding, animation, and motion graphics, students can examine the range of possibilities, from board games to other analog games to screen-based games, as well as animation and motion graphics.
Here are the core courses:
- Character Animation I
- Character Animation II
- Drawing for Animation
- Animation Studio
Mesa Community College
Mesa Community College offers an online Associate in Applied Science in Video Game Production that trains students in designing, creating, and launching video games. To lay a solid basis for linking the art and science of video game creation, the curriculum includes multidisciplinary courses and related disciplines.
In order to prepare students for entry-level professions, the Associate in Applied Science – Video Game Production curriculum combines game technology, business ideas, audio, game narrative, animation, graphics, and sound design.
After graduation, you can work as a mobile game developer, level designer, entry-level animator, game designer, environment artist, and entry-level production artist.
You can gain expertise in different areas with the help of this pathway. You can research the electronic games industry and learn about the publishing channels, roles, and business models in game design. You can also test game development, design, and production software and hardware.
You will be trained to produce design documents, storylines, scripts, prototypes, and audio recordings.
Courses include:
- Introduction to Digital Arts
- Computer Game Development
- Digital Storytelling
- Life Drawing
- Modeling and Animation
- Character Animation
- Coding and Scripting
- Studio Music Recording
New York Film Academy
An Associate of Fine Arts – Game Design program is offered at the New York Film Academy. In this associate degree online, students learn about the art of games and develop skills in game design, analysis, programming, and storytelling.
Achieving practical experience and instruction in agile development methods and professional technologies is part of the Associate of Fine Arts program. At the New York Film Academy, students in the Game Studio course develop playable digital games under the guidance of instructors and consultants.
A semester-long project is also included in the curriculum. Professional game designers teach and mentor students, so you’ll have access to trade secrets in the game design industry. You will also have software and equipment that meet industry standards. In as little as 16 months, this associate degree can be finished.
Students gain essential knowledge of game design through a rigorous schedule of lectures and assignments. Students graduate with a variety of gaming assets, including digital artwork, level designs, narrative plot designs, character designs, and, of course, gameplay.
Here are the sample courses:
- Survey of Animation
- Character Designs
- Level Designs
- Digital Artwork
- Gaming Assets
- Drawing Technique for Storyboarding
- Cinema Studies
Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College offers an online Associate of Science in Game Development and Design degree. This associate degree places a focus on game programming and exposes students to a variety of design and development techniques.
Additional specialization options for students include Web and mobile applications, audio, graphics, and animation, as well as game design, production, game engines, and systems.
Students interested in careers in the professional gaming industry or a related industry, such as computer, simulation, information technology, or entertainment. Students who earn this degree will also have a solid foundation in computing and programming.
Students will work on a game project under the guidance of specialists from well-known gaming studios. The Associate degree is intended for individuals who want to start their careers right away after graduation. Most discipline-specific courses have a clear connection to the chosen job field.
Below are some course requirements for this associate degree online:
- Introduction to Literature
- Introduction to Environmental Science
- Art Appreciation
- General Education Biology
- Introduction to C++ Programming
- English Composition
- General Education Chemistry
- Introduction to Philosophy
- General Education Physics
- Introduction to Humanities
- General Education Earth Science
- Theatre Appreciation
4 Essential Skills Needed to Become a Videogame Designer
A job in game creation enables you to express yourself through animation and exhilarating adventures. If your goal is to make every childhood memory filled to the brim through video games, you need to enter into the game design industry.
By combining storytelling with cutting-edge technology, you will be able to create a beautiful universe full of distinctive characters and challenges.
To design video games that tell intriguing stories, you must master these skills first:
1. Creativity
It’s not really possible to learn to be creative, but it goes without saying that video game developers need to have a vivid imagination. Game designers must consider how users will interact with the characters and develop a variety of obstacles for the player to conquer, in addition to developing the concepts, characters, and narratives from beginning to end.
2. Time Management
As game designers, you will have to work to launch several games all at once. Hence, it’s crucial to have good time management skills to beat business deadlines! Due to their complexity, video games often require large teams of technical and artistic talents.
3. Problem-Solving
You can very much always expect technological hiccups to happen when using technology. As a videogame designer, you must be ready for technology to cause issues and be aware of what to do to prevent them.
Keep your composure and be persistent in your efforts to complete the project rather than losing it out of frustration. Thinking outside the box and adopting a fresh viewpoint will assist you in getting back on track.
4. Effective Communication
Working as a game designer requires you to have effective communication skills. Although these are crucial aspects of communication, video game designers must convey their vision effectively. Constant communication is a must in team projects, including in game design.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much time does it take to complete the online associate’s degree in Game Design?
The majority of online colleges for video game design demand 60 credits or so of coursework. Depending on how many courses they take each semester and whether or not they transferred any previous credits into the program, students often complete their online associate degree in two years or less. There are accelerated programs that allow you to finish faster.
Furthermore, there are cohort options for this online associate degree in game design. For those who prefer to study with others and connect with peers, the cohort approach is the most effective. With self-paced programs, students can complete their curriculum at their own pace and graduate sooner or later than they normally would.
This strategy works best for people who need a more flexible learning environment but have a busy schedule.
What can I do with an Associate in Game Design?
Game designers can use their talents in a range of related employment disciplines in addition to creating video and computer games. Graduates can find employment as web developers, project managers, entry-level game animators, game testers, desktop publishers, graphic designers, and app developers.
Additionally, an associate degree prepares you to proceed to a bachelor’s degree in game design or other related studies.
How much expertise is required for video game designers?
Employers have different standards for a video game designer’s level of experience. Some businesses might take on designers who have no prior experience. Many game design employers would hire associate degree holders with enough background in game design.
Candidates for jobs with experience in game design might differentiate themselves from those without it.
Enrolling in a capstone course or participating in an internship allows students to gain experience while still in school. These kinds of real-world opportunities are frequently included in degree programs and boot camps. Furthermore, it would be a huge advantage to have a well-structured portfolio in order to stand out from other applicants.
What else can students expect from an online Associate’s in Game Design program?
Different online institutions teach video game design, some emphasizing the design and storytelling of games while others concentrate more on practical computer and programming abilities. Despite the fact that most programs have some characteristics, the specific core courses are covered in most associate degrees in game design.
Key Takeaways
- The gaming industry is experiencing rapid technological advancements. The learning process for game designers remains dynamic and engaging through constant learning and adaptation of tools, software, and techniques.
- In an online associate degree program in Game Design, students express themselves creatively while putting their technical expertise to the test. After all, imagination and creativity are crucial to the process of creating characters and game worlds.
- Online courses for an associate degree in Game Design incorporate multimedia resources such as videos, interactive simulations, and virtual labs, enhancing the learning experience. Students can focus on areas of need and move through concepts more quickly with personalized learning paths offered by some online programs.
Additional Information:
