The game designer career requires a very special type of person. In the first place you should have a fair amount of artistic flair. After all you will have to create a virtual world from instructions given to you. You also needs a background in computers; a degree in this field will go a long way to secure you a career.

You should also be able to work well in a team. The job can sometimes become frustrating in the send that you will only do your little bit, such as the animation of a specific character in the game. Your team members will each do his or her bit and it's sometimes hard to keep track of the big picture.

To get ready for a career in the computer graphics industry, you should get a recognized qualification. Either get a university degree or attend a course at a respected college for a least two years. Make sure you get exposure to all the important fields within the industry and become familiar with every important software package that industry experts use on a daily basis.

Once you have the theoretical knowledge, start practicing. If you build up a nice portfolio of examples of your work, it will show potential employer that you are really serious about becoming a game designer. Another excellent way to get free practical experience is by becoming an intern in the industry.

The industry is becoming more competitive every year. There are literally thousands of highly talented new programmers living in developing countries who are willing to work remotely on programming projects at a much lower cost than programmers from the US and other first world countries.

It's therefore a good idea to gain expert knowledge in a particular field within the industry. This will immediately make you stand out from the crowd when it comes to job applications. If you can show an above average level of expertise in background creation, character animation or sound effects to name but a few, you stand a much better chance of getting a job.

Except that your first job will probably be a lowly paid one with long hours and not a lot of challenges. See this as a stepping stone to bigger and better things. The industry has a steep learning curve. You will find that a lot of the knowledge you use ten year down the line was gained during practical experience, not at university. If you are really serious about a game designer career and you can't find a job immediately, become an intern. You will still gain the knowledge without having to pay for it.