Games Art vs Game Design – what’s the difference?

Gaming is a billion-pound industry and one of the largest worldwide. Over 60% of the UK enjoy playing games on the variety of consoles available on the market., So, the industry has shown us there is no age limit on having fun and constantly amazes the world with new technological developments, for example, virtual reality.

If you’re an avid gamer and are looking to join the sector, or maybe you’re just curious about all the different parts that are involved, then you’ll want to carry on reading.

Many people are unaware of the fact that gaming as a whole isn’t really a qualification or role that is offered. Instead, it is broken down into smaller sections and today we are discussing the difference between two segments that people commonly get mixed up, games art and games design!

What is Games Art?

If you have an eye for art then you could excel in this position. As a video game artist, you are the person that is able to bring the wildest of imaginations to life! The role mainly consists of sketching out and eventually turning the drawing into a 2D or 3D animation; all from a description.

But it’s much more than just creating a sketch, it’s having the ability to tell the story of the game through passionate artwork. From the tiniest little details to the main characters in a game, you must have the creativity needed to envision something never seen before based on little inspiration.

If you would like to play a large part in the game construction but don’t want to have the responsibility of juggling all parts of creating the game, like a game designer, then becoming a games artist could be something that you should look into. You may also be someone that performs better as an individual rather than in a team and as a games artist you have the ability to do that. 

What is Games Design?

A game designer is commonly seen as the most important role in the gaming industry. Some would consider them the glue that holds together the process of creating a game, however everyone involved in the process contributes equal efforts, it’s down to how you perceive it!

So now you’re probably wondering “What does a game designer do that is so important?” Well, the answer is in the name, game designers design the overall concept for a video game. For the characters, the storyline, gameplay mechanics and each part of the game you think of, they develop the idea. You must be able to keep up with the latest trends in gaming as they constantly change and creating a game can take years, so essentially, you need to be ahead of time.

Game designers have to work with everyone involved in creating the final product, which involves developers, programmers, artists and more. The role can definitely be challenging but if you work well under pressure, then you will do just fine.

Now that you are aware of the difference, hopefully, it becomes easier for you to decide how to choose between the two. If you still can’t make your mind up then lucky for you, the University of Bolton offers both a BA (Hons) Games Art and a BSc (Hons) Games Design. By following the links and taking a closer look at both courses you should be able to find the best course for YOU!

So, what are you waiting for? #UseYerLoaf… and choose #UniAsItShouldBe.

For any further information contact us at enquiries@bolton.ac.uk or call us on 01204 903903.