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Maths In Jobs

How does a game designer use maths?

A junior-friendly page showing how a game designer uses coordinates, speed, chance, scoring, balance and testing.

Quick answer

Game designers use maths every day to make games fun and fair. They use maths to figure out where things go on the screen, how fast characters move, how likely something is to happen, how many points players get, and how to make sure the game works well for everyone.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will understand how game designers use maths to make games work and be fun. Success signs:
  • You can explain how coordinates help place things in a game
  • You can describe how speed and distance work in games
  • You can tell how chance and scoring help make games exciting
  • You can name one way game designers test their games

Why this matters

Maths helps game designers create games that are fun, fair, and exciting. When you play a game, you might not notice it, but the designer used maths to make sure it works well. From the moment you start a game to the moment you win, maths is helping to make the experience great. Whether you're playing a video game, a board game, or even a card game, designers use maths to make sure it's just right for you.

How it works

Game designers use many different types of maths to make games. Here’s how they do it:
  1. Coordinates help place things in the right spot on the screen
  2. Speed and distance help characters move the right way
  3. Chance helps make games unpredictable and exciting
  4. Scoring helps players know how well they are doing
  5. Testing helps designers make sure the game is fun

Examples you can see

Let’s look at some real examples of how game designers use maths. Example 1: Coordinates Imagine you're making a game where a character moves around a screen. The designer uses a coordinate system to know exactly where the character is. It's like a map with numbers. The character might start at position (3, 5). That means 3 steps to the right and 5 steps up. If the character moves 2 steps to the right, it’s now at (5, 5). Example 2: Speed and Distance In a racing game, a car moves faster if the player presses the accelerator. The designer uses maths to make sure the car moves the right speed. If a car moves 10 steps every second, it will travel 30 steps in 3 seconds. Example 3: Chance In a game where you roll a dice, the chance of getting a 6 is 1 in 6. That means, on average, you'll get a 6 once every 6 rolls. Designers use this to make sure the game isn’t too easy or too hard. Example 4: Scoring In a game, players get points for doing things. If a player gets 5 points for each coin they collect, and they collect 8 coins, they get 5 x 8 = 40 points. Designers use maths to make sure the scoring feels fair and exciting. Example 5: Testing After making a game, designers play it a lot to see if it’s fun. They might test it with friends or family. If players get bored quickly, the designer might change the scoring or the speed of the game.

Try it as a mini adventure

Let’s go on a mini adventure to imagine being a game designer! Adventure: Design a Simple Game You are a game designer creating a game where a character collects coins. You need to use maths to make it work. Here’s your challenge: 1st time: You decide the character starts at position (2, 3) on the screen. 2nd time: The character moves 4 steps to the right and 1 step up. Where is the character now? 3rd time: You want to make the game faster. You decide the character moves 3 steps every second. How far will the character move in 4 seconds? 4th time: You give 10 points for each coin. If the character collects 6 coins, how many points do they have? 5th time: You want to make it more exciting. You add a chance of getting a bonus coin. What is the chance of getting a bonus coin if there’s a 1 in 5 chance? Answer: 1st time: (2, 3) 2nd time: (6, 4) 3rd time: 12 steps 4th time: 60 points 5th time: 1 in 5 chance

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking that speed and distance are the same thing. Why it happens: Children might confuse how fast something moves with how far it goes. Fix: Speed is how fast something moves (like 5 steps per second). Distance is how far it goes (like 20 steps in 4 seconds).
  • Mistake: Forgetting that chance means something might not happen every time. Why it happens: Children might think a 1 in 3 chance means they will get it 3 times. Fix: A 1 in 3 chance means it might happen once every 3 times, but not always.
  • Mistake: Mixing up how to calculate points. Why it happens: Confusing multiplication with addition. Fix: If you get 5 points for each coin and collect 3 coins, you multiply: 5 x 3 = 15 points.

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help your child understand how game designers use maths by:
  • Playing games together and asking questions like, "How fast does the character move?" or "What happens if you roll a 6?"
  • Looking at games on the screen and pointing out how things move or how points are scored
  • Encouraging your child to design a simple game with their own rules and maths
  • Using real-life examples like cooking or shopping to show how maths is used in everyday life
  • Not worrying if your child makes mistakes. These are part of learning!

Practice questions

  1. What is the chance of rolling a 4 on a six-sided dice?
  2. A character moves 5 steps every second. How far does it move in 6 seconds?
  3. If a player gets 8 points for each item they collect and they collect 5 items, how many points do they have?
  4. If a character starts at position (1, 2) and moves 3 steps to the right and 2 steps up, what is the new position?
  5. What is the chance of getting a bonus coin if it happens 1 in 4 times?
Answers:
  1. 1 in 6
  2. 30 steps
  3. 40 points
  4. (4, 4)
  5. 1 in 4

FAQ

What is a coordinate in a game?

A coordinate is a pair of numbers that tells you exactly where something is on the screen. For example, (3, 5) means 3 steps to the right and 5 steps up.

How does speed help in games?

Speed helps make characters move the right way. If a character moves too slow, it's boring. If it moves too fast, it's hard to control.

Why do game designers use chance?

Chance makes games more exciting. If everything happens the same way, the game gets boring. Chance keeps players guessing and engaged.

How do designers test games?

Designers play their games many times and ask others to play them too. They look for what’s fun, what’s hard, and what might need changing.

Can I be a game designer when I grow up?

Yes! If you enjoy playing games and like maths, you could become a game designer. You’ll use maths to make games that are fun and exciting for everyone.