STEM Articles & Stories

Level design, character animation, gameplay mechanics — this is just a sampling of the many important responsibilities of a game developer. As a game developer, you could do it all or zero in on a specific aspect of a game’s design, artistic feel or technical functionality.

There are three primary stages of video game development: pre-production, production and release. Games spend years methodically traveling through the production pipeline — but what does each stage really involve? And who are the major players along the way?

Since he was 12 years old, Tim Barrett '22 dreamed of working in the game industry. So, he decided to earn a game development degree from Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) — and said he found opportunities in the industry as he built his skills.

While it’s possible to build your career as a game developer by learning many skills on your own, there are also practical steps you can take to further your chances of a career in the industry — like earning a bachelor’s degree and networking with game development professionals.