Shannon pointed me to an animation on The Escapist about So You Want to be a Game Designer. The animation provides advice on what people should learn starting with “everything” (as in you need to learn everything.) More realistically the animation suggests that you develop these skills:
- Communication – so you can communicate with a diverse team
- Listening – because you won’t design the game others will with you
- Introspection and ability to take criticism – because there will be lots of criticism
- Disciplined study of games – because playing lots doesn’t make a good game designer
- Understand costs and scope – because games need to be finished and on budget
The animation goes on to discuss how important a knowledge of literature, philosophy and mythology.