Pretend to Be a Video Game Designer and We’ll Tell You Which Studio You Should Work For

By: Heather Cahill

6 Min Quiz

Image: Colin Anderson Productions pty ltd / DigitalVision / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Looking for work or a job can be a hard thing to do. As a gamer, you might find yourself looking toward the companies that create some of your favorite games. While you may not act on your search, your dreams are always there. Chances are, you've dreamed of what gaming studio you would work with best and what awesome titles you could design. That's just the first step of many!

There's a lot of work in designing games, but a whole lot of reward comes along with it. After dealing with everything from a starting concept, designing, writing and the more technical aspects, it's hard to accept that there's even more work afterward. For example, pricing, distribution and marketing. Thankfully, most of that is taken care of by other staff members. But there's one last thing that's very important to the design process, and that is loving the end result! Of course, enjoying the game yourself is just as important as well.

Are you ready to put in the work of designing that perfect game that you've always dreamed of? Now is your chance to find out which studio is your perfect match by taking this quiz!

You probably got into game design from your love of games. So, what genre of games do you like most?

RPG games are the greatest.

I think an adventure game is as good as it gets.
You can always catch me in an MMORPG.

Simulators are the best.

Will your character have a sidekick, or traverse the world alone?

For the most part, they'll be alone.

They'll have a sidekick with them.
They'll have less of a sidekick and more of people who are in their lobbies.

They'll have all kinds of friends, but no sidekick. They're never really alone!

Location is key for setting the tone and environment for players. Where does your game take place?

This one will take place in a fictional world that is vibrant and weird.

My game will be based on real-life locations that the player knows.
This game will take place in a made up world that is very unexpected.

It will take place on Earth, but in fictional places.

Time to think of the navigation aspects of the game. What will your map be like?

The map will be of a modest size, but there will be so much to do.

It will be huge. There will be so many areas to visit and enjoy.
Maps will be mostly small, but optimal for the game.

The map in this game will be a good size--nothing too overwhelming or underwhelming.

Some games are not for the weak! How difficult are you planning to make this game?

It won't be too hard, but it will definitely make for a little challenge.

For the most part, it will be moderately difficult. Some parts may be a little harder than others.
It will depend on who you are playing with or against.

It will be pretty difficult.

Will your game have multiple endings or just one legendary ending?

One ending only. But it will be amazing!

It will have two at the most.
It won't have an ending at all.

It will have a few different endings.

To tie in with the environment, your art has to be consistent. What type of art style will it have?

It will be bright and fun, almost cartoon-like.

It will be very realistic.
It will be dark and grim.

It will be unique and unexpected.

Which type of villain will your character go up against, if any?

The villain will be wacky and aloof.

The villain in this game will be bad, but he'll have great charisma.
There will be multiple villains of all personalities.

They'll be evil and highly intelligent.

Games can be time-consuming to make, but very worth it in the end. How long do you expect to work on this game?

Around two years

Up to five years
One year at most

I will take as long as I need to make it perfect.

Would it be a one-off, or would there be many sequels to come out in the future?

There would be a few sequels.

There would be one sequel only.
There wouldn't be any sequels.

There would be endless sequels.

If everyone could use the cheat "motherlode," we wouldn't need budgets! What is the budget of your game?

Budget? There is no budget!

$100 million
$200 million

$100,000

Will your game support local multiplayer or online multiplayer?

It will have both.

I haven't decided yet.
My game will focus more on online multi-player.

No, there won't be any of these features.

There's a set of rules or boundaries in every game. What is one important rule in yours?

You can't jump. Walking and running only!

There are no rules.
You must take turns when playing.

No cheating.

To add to your gameplay, can players affect the environment in your game?

Yes, but only in very minor ways.

Yes. It will depend on the paths that they decide to take.
No, the environment will mostly stay the same.

They'll create the environment!

Who will be the target audience for your game?

This game will be mostly geared toward children.

Young adults are the target audience for this game.
Adults between the ages of 28 and 35 years old are my target audience.

This game is mostly targeted toward teenagers.

What type of music will be heard throughout your new world?

It will be upbeat and very catchy.

It will be intense, to match the feel of the game.
My game will have background music that isn't too distracting.

My game will have pop music.

Will there be any hidden secrets for players to find, or will you lay it all out in the open for them?

Only minor ones, nothing that will affect the story.

Yes, there will be one of two.
No secrets here.

Yes, there will be many of them!

Perfect for skins and other cosmetic items, is there an in-game currency system?

Yes, but you can pass the levels without it.

Yes, and it is very important to the story.
Yes, and the currency can be purchased to get cosmetic items.

No, there won't be any.

Love them or hate them, it's important to decide: Will there be puzzles or dungeons of any kind?

Of course. What's a game without puzzles?!

No, not at all.
They might show up, but there won't be much.

Most likely not.

What type of emotions do you want a player to feel while playing?

I want them to forget about anything that's troubling them and just feel pure enjoyment.

I want the player to feel the emotions of the characters.
I want the player to think critically, but have fun.

I want the player to create their own story and figure out their own emotions.

Some games shy away from getting too deep, while others embrace it and use it to their advantage. How deep will the overall story go?

It will have significance, but it won't be too heavy.

It will have a very deep story.
The game won't necessarily have a story, but the characters will.

The story won't have much depth.

Does your game use levels, or is it more continuous and flowing with a story?

There will be levels.

It's more story-oriented, making it more continuous.
There are matches, so it is continuous for the length of the matches.

The game is a little bit of both.

Will there be voice acting to make characters more personable, or text of any kind?

The characters will speak through text and incomprehensible noise.

There will be text, but also voice acting.
There won't be any text or voice acting.

It will have voice acting.

Unfortunately, every game has to end. Who becomes victorious?

The character that the player is using

The villain of the story
Whoever wins the matches

Victory is defined very differently in this game.

Often, NPCs can offer great information. Are NPCs common to find in your game?

Yes, they're everywhere.

Yes, but they won't have much to do with the story. They're more decoration.
No.

Yes, they'll be important to the game.

Is the game exclusive to certain consoles?

It is.

For the most part, but it's possible that they could become more widespread later.
No.

This game won't be on consoles.

You need a character for your game. Of the following, what type of personality will they have?

They'll be adventurous and always want to save the day.

My character will be determined. Nothing will be able to stop them.
My character doesn't have much of a personality, but is dictated by the person who is playing them.

My character will have fluctuating personalities that are of the player's choosing.

Time to talk pricing. How much will your game be?

$80-$90

$100-$110
$50-$60

$30-$40

Can motion controls be used with your title, or will a regular controller work just fine?

Absolutely. This feature adds to the fun!

It's a possibility, depending on the console.
Probably not, but it's something that I'm open to in the future.

No, that's not an option.

Players love to personalize anything, from characters to weapons. Is anything customizable within your game?

No, nothing will be changed by the player.

Yes, the main character and the main NPCs.
Any character in the game can be customized.

Everything imaginable will be customizable.

6 Minute Quiz 6 Min

About HowStuffWorks Play

How much do you know about dinosaurs? What is an octane rating? And how do you use a proper noun? Lucky for you, HowStuffWorks Play is here to help. Our award-winning website offers reliable, easy-to-understand explanations about how the world works. From fun quizzes that bring joy to your day, to compelling photography and fascinating lists, HowStuffWorks Play offers something for everyone. Sometimes we explain how stuff works, other times, we ask you, but we’re always exploring in the name of fun! Because learning is fun, so stick with us!