How to break into game development. 12 proven ways to break into the games’ industry.
As a game development hub, we often face the intriguing question of how to break into the industry when the door seems closed. How can one make their mark and gain entry?
Does the games’ industry seem like a walled garden with no way to get in? All you need is to be able to put your foot in the door. But how do you open it in the first place?
It is possible to enter the world of game development. All you need is a solid strategy that will help you leverage the right skills to get through.
Discover ten strategies you can employ to secure your inaugural position in a prestigious game studio. Furthermore, explore illuminating case studies of accomplished developers who have successfully followed these approaches. people with different skill set. There are many different ways to get your first job in a game studio. To find the best strategy, you need to understand how today’s professional game developers got their start.
Discover ten effective strategies that will help you land your first job in a game studio. Explore real-life success stories of professional developers who have utilized these strategies. It worked for them, and it should work for you too.
How to break into game development
i. Post your work ( demos, art, game designs, animations, etc) on focused discussion boards
Aspiring game developers can spend a lot of time lurking on message boards, soaking up as much knowledge as they can. But you know who else reads these forums? They are professional game developers.
So it’s a great way to get your work seen by game studios, helps you build industry connections, and can lead to job offers.
Stop watching other gamedev works and start posting. Interacting with other forum participants. Many of them are professional game developers looking to hire new people. You may even get your first job in the gaming world.
ii. Start a game blog / youtube channel about the things that you feel you would like to work in the games industry
Sometimes game developers want people very specialized on specific topics, and finding them is not always easy, and eventually could be hard to find.
Creating a game blog or YouTube channel focused on a specific topic in game development and providing unique content can help you gain visibility and attract the attention of your target audience.
In the past, some bloggers and YouTubers were hired by game developers or game technology companies.
Be very specific and focused, but because a broader approach about everything in game development will not be enough to grab their attention.
iii. Get a traditional college degree
Job offers from various game studios often state that a bachelor’s degree is required, but do not specify what the bachelor’s degree is. In many cases, it doesn’t have to be a games-related degree, as long as you have developed skills that can be applied to game development.
If you are skeptical, check out the various degrees available to get a job in game design. The educational requirements for game designers are as diverse as the game designers themselves.
iv. Get a job outside game development in a game studio
It takes a variety of jobs to run a successful game studio, many of which are not directly related to game creation. Don’t let lack of game development experience hold you back from pursuing a career at a game studio! There are plenty of exciting roles you can apply for, like jobs in information technology, tool development, or other support staff positions.
Smaller game studios have fewer support staff, so look to the larger studios and game publishers for this strategy. The larger the studio, the more support positions you can target.
v. Do an internship in a game studio
Even without prior game development experience, if you possess skills like programming, art, or sound design, you still have a chance to land a job in a game studio. While not all studios offer formal game development internship programs, many are receptive to the concept of employing part-time, temporary, or cost-effective (or even unpaid) individuals who can contribute to the completion of your game.
Want to work in games? Game studios are always looking to find people with lower fees/rates. So try to contact a game studio near your home place and find out if they are looking to find interns.
vi. Discover available open-source video game projects.
Nowadays, there are plenty of collectives of people that have joined forces to create a video game. They are usually not formalized as a company, and there can be geography dispersed. They will probably do a lot of social noise as to promote their games.
Try to find this type of projects and try to participate in it, because this will give you part of the experience that you will need to land a future job.
A couple of years ago, there weren’t educational programs in the field of game development. Currently, there is a wide array of Universities offering integrated programs in game design and game development. These programs prioritize not only theoretical knowledge but also provide students with valuable practical experience through the development of multiple projects throughout the duration of the courses.
A degree is starting to be asked by companies when looking for junior profiles as a way to filter possible candidates.
So this will probably be more efficient for younger aspirants than older ones.
viii. Get a traditional college degree
Job offers from various game studios often state that a bachelor’s degree is required, but do not specify what the bachelor’s degree is. In many cases, it doesn’t have to be a games-related degree, as long as you have developed skills that can be applied to game development.
If you are skeptical, check out the various degrees available to get a job in game design.
The educational requirements for game designers are as diverse as the game designers themselves.
ix. Working in a game studio as a freelance or external collaboration.
A successful game studio requires a variety of jobs, many of which are not directly related to game creation. You can apply for non-development roles at a game studio, like information technology, tool development, and support staff positions, even if you have no prior game-making experience.
Smaller game studios have fewer support staff, so look to the larger studios and game publishers for this strategy. The larger the studio, the more support positions you can target.
Sites like Upwork of Fiverr could be a good option to start landing some gigs in the game development space that will help you build your experience.
x. Participate in as many Game Jams as possible
There are plenty of stories of people doing cool stuff in game jams and getting job offers or even starting companies. We have ourselves met a couple of people that were able to do so. One major advantage of Game Jams is that they can serve as a valuable focus group, allowing you to test specific aspects of your game idea and gauge people’s reactions to it.
By attending a challenging game, you can enhance your portfolio, develop teamwork skills under pressure, meet new people, and grow your professional network.
If you like game jams, they are worth checking out.
xi. Make and publish as many games as possible.
Working for a game studio is a bit of a stretch: …… If so, you can make your own game app to boost popular multiplayer games.
Creating a game necessitates a diverse range of skills, spanning from art and design to programming, animation, and storytelling. Harmonizing all these elements to function seamlessly with each other can be a formidable challenge.By honing your skills through practice and collaborating with diverse individuals or teams to develop and launch games, you’ll acquire the essential soft skills necessary to not only create games, but to excel at crafting extraordinary gaming experiences.
The more games you produce, the greater your level of practice will be. As a result, your ability to create polished games will improve, giving you valuable experience and an impressive track record to showcase to potential companies you may be interested in collaborating with.
xii. Setup your own games’ company
As mentioned previously, if you are investing a significant amount of time and effort into honing your skills for game development, and if you are actively creating and releasing your own games, then why not explore the possibility of turning it into a profitable career?
It doesn’t have to be a full job, but something that will take a part of your day or night. Moonlighting developers are people who work regular jobs during the day but transform into game developers at night under the moonlight. They fight to get the chance to fully focus on game development.
xii. Be persistent and don’t give up
Getting a job in the gaming industry is not easy. Studios often require prior experience, but if you don’t have the opportunity to work, how can you gain that experience? At times, you may feel like you’re banging your head against a wall, or you may feel discouraged.
We have all encountered this situation in the past, but it is crucial to persist and stay completely focused on creating an outstanding portfolio and acquiring experience through different avenues. As we’ve learned in our previous steps, there are countless paths for us to explore and take advantage of.
Conclusions
Networking and building relationships within the industry are crucial for finding job opportunities. Gaining relevant experience through internships, game jams, and personal projects can greatly enhance your chances of getting a job. It’s important to continuously improve your skills and stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies in the gaming industry.
Tailoring your resume and portfolio to showcase your passion for games and relevant skills is essential. Being open to starting in entry-level positions and gradually working your way up can be a viable path to a successful career in the games industry. Lastly, perseverance and a positive attitude are key in a competitive job market.
What do you think about this advice? Miss anyone? Why don’t you share your ideas in the comments section of this article?
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