What should I major in if I want to become a video game designer?

This is the perfect time to be asking this question. The trick about game designers is that we are knowledgeable about many things. If you think about it, only recently has game design been something you could get a degree in. Before that, game designers came from the strangest places. Some were writers, some were programmers, some were scientists or historians. I came into game design with a video production background. There is no set rule. I know one guy who was a carnival juggler. The bottom line is good game designers are creative, organized, and good communicators.

If you want to be practical about it, learn how to program. I was a game designer first and learned to program (mostly C#) later, but knowing how to code from the get-go is very handy. If you can do the basic coding on your own you can experiment and prototype without any help. You also have a better understanding of the limitations the real programmers are under and you won't ask them to do ridiculous things. On the flipside, you will also know when they are blowing smoke at you when they something can't be done or will take a long time.

As you get ready for college and once you are there, consider taking some early computer science classes (or even major in it). At the same time, keep your writing skills sharp and slip in some project management classes if you can. Some beginner art classes so you can sketch ideas can also be helpful. Also look for psychology classes that deal with human-computer interaction or user experience design.

You won't be able to do all of this, but choose the ones you can, or at least the ones that sound interesting to you. The main thing you need to do -- starting today -- is design games. Sit down in a comfy chair and plan out an interesting card or board game. Keep it simple and make it yourself. Get friends and family to play it. Listen to their feedback, but also watch them while they are playing. If you get all excited inside when they fell the way you wanted them to feel while playing the game -- you are meant to be a game designer.

And if you really want to see if you are ready for this, find a copy of Challenges for Game Designers. Read it and try some of the exercises. I've known both of the authors for years. The book is an excellent gauge of what game designers do.

Good luck,
--Kevin