So you’re someone who is fascinated by games and wants to make a career in the gaming industry but you have no clue or prior experience in this industry. You did some research and applied for a few vacancies and eventually got rejected. Don’t worry, we’re here to answer all your queries so you can make your entry into the gaming industry.
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Entering the Gaming Industry
Like any other industry, the gaming industry challenges you to bring out your creative side and the ability to deal with deadlines. It also demands you to have prior experience in any form related to gaming. Having a network in the industry proves to be beneficial as well. Now you may ask, how are you supposed to get a job, with no experience, for which you will need experience? Start off by choosing which part of the gaming industry you want to be part of. Here are some of the job opportunities you can get in the gaming industry.
Possible Job Opportunities
Game designers are responsible for creating the basic concept of the game. They look over the user experience and minute details of the game. They are like the directors of a game.
A game developer’s job is to write code which determines how a computer operates the mechanics and working of the game. Common languages which game developers use are C, C# and Java.
Video Game Artists are responsible for all the visual aspects of game development. Some softwares Game Artists use are Photoshop and Illustrator. Moreover, they are often credited for all games.
A Video Game Animator creates animated images and environments for video games using various softwares like Blender, Adobe Animate and Spine Animation. The role of a Game Animator is to display movement and behaviour within a game.
More Information:
Unlike the above mentioned jobs, not all require you to have a game-centred background. Some jobs demand you to have transferable skills which can be helpful in various industries. Jobs like illustrators, backend developers, sound engineers and designers, concept artists, project managers are a few examples that fall under this category.
Building the perfect CV
Since the hiring team has to go through hundreds of applications, having a CV built according to the job you are applying for, gives you the upperhand. Hence you should tailor your CV according to the job requirements. Not only that, you also have to prove to the hiring team that you have the experience for the job. Hence having a portfolio gives you the advantage.
Get a college degree first. All jobs you apply for demand for a college degree. Having a gaming-specific degree also gives you the edge. Apart from that, working on passion projects proves to be advantageous.
Remember to highlight your transferable skills. These are skills for which you do not require a degree but can only learn through experience. You probably have some of these skills but do not know about them. Some examples of these skills are problem solving, critical thinking, leadership skills, teamwork, communication, computer skills, and so on. You will need them in every job you apply for, so feel free to mention them without a second thought.
Building a portfolio:
- Apply for internships at different gaming studios: Renowned gaming studios like EA, Valve, Rockstar, and many more, offer internship programmes for college students and freshly graduated students. This can be the perfect opportunity to gain some experience and make an entry into this field.
- Start a gaming blog: Writing gaming-related blogs helps you gain information and becomes a proof of your knowledge about the industry.
- Take part in game jams like Ludum Dare and Global Game Jam: Game Jams are events where game developers work individually or as a team to conceptualise, design and create a functioning version of their game projects over a restricted period of time.
- Make your own indie game: Even if it’s a simple ping pong game, it still serves as a work sample. You can run your creative minds and build interactive games or designs which you can add to your portfolio.
- Working in a non-gamedev position: Apart from working as a game developer, you can also work in other creative fields like sound design, marketing, video game tester, story writer, support staff and so on. You can get these kinds of jobs more easily due to the demand for them in the gaming industry.
Final Tips
As an ardent gamer, it is fun to be part of this line of work along with like-minded people who share the same creative intellect. Networking with professionals having a gaming background provides you with a lot of insights in the gaming scene. Well presented resume and portfolio along with your ability to throw light on your past experiences will definitely land you your sought-after job. Perseverance is one quality that you must possess to excel in this craft. In case you get rejected, ask the interviewers how you could have nailed your interview and where you went wrong.You can visit our website to learn game design and Environment Design in Unity and much more. Keep building and keep gaming!
