The video game industry is like a black box that cannot be entered. Everything related to the creation and maintenance of video games seems to be a sacred act, inaccessible to mere mortals.
But of course it is not. All you need is a solid strategy.
It’s time to stop looking for the “right path” because there is not a single “right path.” There are ways to get your first job in a game studio that may or may not work. All that depends on you is to try.
Here are 10 strategies you can use to get your first job in a video game studio. This has worked for many, and it may work for you.
1. Post your work on the forums
If you are an aspiring game developer, you can spend a lot of time hiding behind discussion boards and soaking up as much knowledge as possible. But do you know who else reads these forums? Professional game developers!
That’s why it’s the perfect way to showcase your work, which can help you build connections in the industry and even lead to a job offer.
Many developers and designers working in the gaming industry, including even directors, were once unemployed and all they did was spend time posting their art and indie projects on the forums. If you develop, you will eventually grow so much that someone will notice you and offer you a job. Valuable specialists are always in short supply, and gaming companies are ready to fight for them.
Stop hiding. Interact with other members in the forums.
2. Do your job yourself!
If you’re looking for a job as a video game reviewer or gaming community manager, the best way to get started is … just get started.
In this area, you can do everything yourself. You can create your own channel using YouTube. You can stream streams with Twitch. And with a CMS like WordPress, you can create your own video game site.
The main point of this method is that you do not need to look for a job. Create your own work!
Of course, this method will not give quick results. It can take years to become a popular streamer, video blogger or promote your own website. But if you are young, what else can you spend it on, if not on the path to your dream?
Just think, where would you be now if you started a few years ago?
3. Make your own indie games
Novice developers often complain, saying, “How do you get experience in making games if all game studios don’t hire people without experience?” The answer is simple: create a game that you will not be ashamed to show. This will be your experience. A finished game is a ready-made resume. You can send it to the places where you would like to get a job. And if the employer likes your creativity or skills, then the job offer will not keep you waiting.
Of course, it doesn’t have to be a big game. It is enough to create a small game, for example, for a smartphone. The main thing is that it should be complete, and it was really fun to play it.
If you specialize in design or 3D modeling, then you can join forces with a novice programmer on the developer forum. He will program, and you will create the visual part. Being a “jack of all trades” is certainly good. But it’s better to understand what you are most powerful at, and do only that.
| IT IS INTERESTING! There are more free game development tools available now than ever. |
4. Get a job as a game tester
Of all the jobs in the gaming industry, the easiest one to get is a job called Game Tester. Why? This is partly because most test items do not require a college degree or other specialized training. Therefore, anyone can apply.
Also, many game testers end up moving to other jobs on the game team, so there is always room for new testers to fill vacancies.
The key is to be proactive, letting the team know that you are interested in learning more about production and that you crave more responsibility.
Many game designers started out as game testers but didn’t let this position stop them from contributing to the design of their game team, which is gaining attention.
The gaming industry is full of programmers, artists, designers, and others who started out as entry-level video game testers. The point is, once you’re in the doorway, it’s easy to learn more about game development and how a game studio works from the inside out. You make connections, you learn, and you grow.
5. Get an internship at a video game studio
If you have a skill that can be used in game development, such as coding, art, or sound design, you can get a job in a game studio even if you’ve never created a real game.
Not every studio has an “official” game developer internship program, but most are open to “low-cost” (or free) workers who can help them finish the game faster and make it better.
Such cooperation is absolutely mutually beneficial. The company gets an assistant, and you get valuable teamwork experience.
| IT IS INTERESTING! You want to work in games, and game studios want inexpensive workers. So contact a game studio and see if they have an internship. |
6. Get a college degree
If you browse job advertisements , you may notice that some of them read “Diploma required”. Usually, these are various kinds of budgetary organizations. But if you are a programmer or other techie, then a diploma is often required.
In any case, if you have skills that can be applied in game development, then a diploma is the first thing you can show. In some companies, it is like the first pass. Further, of course, you will have a control task or probationary period. But there are a number of organizations where, without a diploma, they won’t even listen to you.
Of course, the fact that you have a design or programmer diploma does not make you a sought-after specialist. Gaining experience requires taking stock of your work and improving it. You must play the role of a new player over and over again. More often, getting a job, a person has to learn again.
So what is the advantage of a diploma? Well, firstly, education will give you a basic knowledge of the subject, and secondly, all things being equal, most companies would rather prefer an employee with an education than without. So the diploma still gives some bonuses.
Remember the main thing – a diploma should not interfere with your growth. Technology is always changing and improving. All the more, engineers must always learn and strive to go beyond their technical field.
7. Get a job in a game studio, not related to the game
It takes many jobs to run a game studio, and many of them are not directly related to game creation. Even if you’ve never made a video game, you could still apply for jobs in game studios for non-development positions such as an advertising manager or even a maintenance worker.
The bottom line is that in this way you will become “closer to the body”, and if you have well-structured communication, you will be able to make useful contacts. As they say, the language will bring to Kiev. Chat with developers, participate in discussions in the smoking room, ask about new vacancies at lunch. Gradually, you can become your own in the team, and the change of position will not keep you waiting.
Small game studios don’t have that many maintenance staff, so focus on big studios and game publishers if you want to follow this strategy.
8. Be persistent and don’t give up
Is “persistence” a strategy? Like anything worth developing in life. The essence of this strategy is that you should try all the ways that are possible. Yes, you may feel like you’re banging your head against a wall. We’ve all been there.
It’s unpleasant when your job application is rejected. But remember that you have to fail before you can succeed – every deviation brings you one step closer to your first job in the gaming industry. Just draw your own conclusions and take into account your mistakes from the past.
