The issue is that video games frequently exhibit the personalities and interests of their creators. Because of this, it is not surprising that there is a dearth of diversity in games in terms of protagonists, characters, narrative, and accessibility.

But things are changing fast. Here are three key initiatives the video game industry is pursuing to improve accessibility, allow feedback on сall tracking reviews, diversity, inclusion, and game creation.

   Improved access to information

Historically, the majority of video games were challenging to play for those with various disabilities. Or, frequently, it may even be impossible. This is due to the fact that accessibility features that may assist players with disabilities were typically not supported by video games. But in recent years, accessibility has become a top focus for game publishers and creators.

Why now? Perhaps it’s out of altruism (doing the right thing), or perhaps it’s just smart business (more players = more money) to encourage more people to play your games.

Whatever the cause, modern developers have a different perspective on accessibility. To make their games accessible to all gamers, some of the biggest gaming developers, like Naughty Dog, even employ people full-time.

Simple accessibility settings to brand-new, cutting-edge assistive technology are all possible. Any game released in the last several years is likely to have any or all of the following accessibility features:

·      Settings for accessibility. There are currently several games that allow players to adjust the accessibility settings to suit their needs. Look for options like colorblind modes, bigger text, voice control, text-to-speech, and support for alternate input devices.

·      Adjustable controls Nowadays, the majority of games provide players the option to remap controllers to fit their preferences. That’s especially beneficial for physically challenged players who might struggle to use the default control configurations. Whichever, it also benefits all players because it allows anyone to map controls however best suits their particular play style.

·      Controls for one hand. Many gamers struggle to utilize both hands because of mobility issues. Some games feature one-handed control techniques to help players deal with this. Simply enable it in the menu for accessibility options.

·      Description audio. Every gamer is aware that the graphics and aesthetics are essential for interacting with the game’s universe and comprehending what is happening. It’s not as simple for players who are blind or have impaired eyesight to simply gaze at the screen, though. Some games allow you to enable audio descriptions as a help feature. The game will then employ text-to-speech or pre-recorded audio to describe what is on screen, giving millions of gamers with vision impairments new gaming options.

·      Closed captioning. The majority of video games have subtitles, which are a text representation of spoken dialogue that appears on screen, but many also provide closed captions. In addition to displaying the dialogue, closed captions can also describe the sound effects used in the game and even the style or mood of the music. It helps those playing late at night with the sound off (so they don’t wake their spouse or their newborn!) and is a lifesaver for deaf or hard of hearing players.

·      Alternative approaches to input. Alternative input techniques, including eye tracking or voice commands, are supported by some games and can be useful for players who have mobility issues. These alternate input techniques frequently call for specific gear, such the Microsoft Adaptive Controller or the Pretorian Optima Joystick. But the extra cost might just be justified if it makes the difference between gaming and not gaming.

2. More diverse characters in games

For a large portion of gaming history, white male characters predominated in video games. The kinds of persons, their histories, and the kinds of stories being presented weren’t that varied.

This lack of diversity has been a concern, and not just because it restricts the variety and depth of play experiences that can be had. Additionally, it neglects to include narratives and characters that would enable players from a variety of backgrounds to identify with themselves in the games they like.

Fortunately, more and more people are seeing themselves represented in video games. Developers have begun to increase their representation by incorporating many colors, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and abilities into their games, from the smallest independent projects to the greatest AAA giants.

Both businesses and players benefit greatly from this. The attraction of a game to a global audience is increased by representation, which also contributes to a more diverse gaming industry as a whole.

There are numerous examples of current video game initiatives that have advanced representation in the industry.

  3. Businesses and communities that are more inclusive

In the past, harassment, inequity, and discrimination against particular groups of individuals have been frequently linked to a toxic culture in the gaming industry.

But despite a number of recent controversies, or perhaps in part because of them, there is a definite trend towards creating organizations and communities that are more inclusive and inviting. In addition to promoting diversity and inclusivity within the industry as a whole, game groups all over the world are striving to confront and prevent harassment and toxic conduct in the workplace and online.

 Future perspectives

Even though the video game business has seen significant advancements recently, much more has to be done. The good news is that many developers and other industry participants are dedicated to bringing about significant change. According to a new IGDA developer survey, game developers are more concerned than ever about the value of diversity in the workplace, in their game content, and throughout the industry.

The game industry is working hard to bring about change, from lone developers all the way up to the CEOs of the biggest game firms. Change that will make working with developers and players worldwide more satisfying, welcoming, and inclusive.

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But it’s time to stop looking for the “right way,” because there is no “right way.” Instead, there are many ways to get your first job at a game studio. To find the best strategies, you need to understand how other professionals started out who became professional game developers.

1. Post your work on discussion boards (forums/chats)
   If you’re a novice game developer, you may spend a lot of time hiding behind discussion boards and soaking up as much knowledge as you can. But you know who else reads these forums? Professional game developers do.
2. Start a game blog.
   If you’re looking for a job writing games or leading a gaming community, the best way to get started is to just… start.

Jason Van Beveren was doing typical corporate work when he realized he actually needed a job in games. “I started blogging about online gaming. I had hope that I would catch someone’s eye. I also wanted to see if I was good at it. It only took a month before I was spotted by Parris Lilly, who asked me to run a gaming website that he ran.”

3. Create your own indie games
   A recurring question from gamedev applicants is, “How can I get experience making games if game studios won’t even consider my resume if I have no experience?” The answer is simple: make a game, and then – voila! – now you have some experience.
4. Get an entry-level job as a game tester
   Of all the jobs in the game industry, the easiest one to get is as a game tester. Why? Partly because most tester jobs don’t require a college degree or other specialized training, so anyone can apply. But also because many game testers eventually move on to other jobs on the game team, so there’s always room for new testers to fill the vacancies.
5. Get an internship at a video game studio
   If you have skills that you can use in game development, such as programming, art, or sound design, you can get a job at a game studio, even if you’ve never made an actual game. Not every studio has an “official” internship program for game developers, but most are open to the idea of a temporary, low-cost (or free) part-time employee who could help them finish their game.
6. Get a degree/certificate related to video games
   Mandi Grant earned a bachelor’s degree in game art and design and was hired immediately after her studies at a game studio. As a designer and lead designer, she’s created several major projects, but according to her, one degree isn’t enough: “Creating an experience requires you to think critically about your work and improve it. You have to play the role of a new player over and over again, even if you yourself are very familiar with the level you’re building.”
7. Get a traditional college degree
   If you look at job postings from various game studios, you’ll notice that many of them say “Higher education required.” In most cases, it doesn’t have to be a game-related degree, as long as you have learned skills that can be applied to game development.
8. Get a job at a game studio in a non-game development position
   It takes many jobs to run a successful game studio, and many of them are not directly related to game creation. Even if you’ve never created a video game, you can still apply for non-development positions such as information technology, tool development, or other support staff.
9. Participate in game jams.
   Rarely do job offers come in after creating something cool in a game jam.

We include it here because it probably makes sense. After you do a game jam, you’ll have something for your portfolio, you’ll develop some skills in working with a team under pressure, and you’ll expand your professional network by meeting new people, many of whom might be professional game developers, which could help you find a job someday.

10. Be persistent and don’t give up
    Is “persistence” a strategy? Like many things worthwhile in life, developing your skills and getting a job in the video game industry will not be easy. You may feel like you’re banging your head against the wall – you may get frustrated.

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For example, for a game-designer position people without special education are usually hired, as this profession is pretty rare. So if you have strong logical thinking, if you understand how to design levels in games, create game worlds and mechanics, which techniques can captivate the player, take an online course in game design and break into a new sphere.

And there are a lot of journalists, editors and TV scriptwriters among game writers. To write game scripts it is important to know the basics of drama, storytelling and conflict resolution, to be able to create a compelling story and develop it within the main idea, to give out creative ideas and adequately perceive criticism.

Game analyst is another profession that allows you to get into gamedev without a technical background. It is a profession that exists at the intersection of game design and product analytics. Game analysts know how to work with the most unusual metrics – the joy of playing a game, reactions to mechanics, behavioral patterns. They collect analytics and allow developers to make decisions based on accurate data without relying on intuition.

Pros and cons of working in gamemaking
Like all fields of work, working in gamedev has its pros and cons.

The pros and cons of working in gamedev:

• Most gamedev companies allow employees to work remotely or partially remotely, so you become mobile and can travel or work from anywhere you are comfortable.
• Interesting projects (especially if you’re a gaming fan).
• Comfortable offices and standard perks of IT industry like insurance, meal compensation, corporate discounts to the gym (not all, but many companies have them).
• Interesting team (in game software mostly creative people, with whom you are unlikely to get bored).
• The level of wages. Programmer salary in game mode depends on the scale of the company, his education, experience and knowledge of English. If we are talking about professions that are not directly related to the development (editors, screenwriters), as a rule, after the transition to gamedev, their salaries increase significantly.

Cons of working in gamedev:

• Like any other job, there are deadlines. And sometimes they are very strict in game mode.
• High level of competition. The fashion for learning programming has caused dozens and hundreds of candidates to apply for some positions, especially when it comes to the capital.

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Every specialist with a technical mindset, once he gets a job in a game studio, may think about the prospect of retraining as a programmer. Game designers or technical artists, who already have a deep knowledge of game development, can study programming, to stimulate career growth or to give a start to a new stage in professional development.

This venture is even easier to implement when you work in an office, because then you can always ask for help from a concerned colleague-developer and get advice from a professional. And if you are lucky enough to have a loyal management that supports the initiatives of its employees, you can arrange to be involved in the simplest tasks of the development department. That way you’ll have a chance to learn from real tasks and show your employer your interest in the project.

How to get a job in GameDev: practical tips on how to find a job

If there are three open positions in the company you are interested in, you shouldn’t send your resume to all of them at once. Decide which specific position you are interested in, and apply for it. All other skills that might be useful to work in the other two positions, it is appropriate to list them in the appropriate paragraph. So you show that you know what you want and do not give the impression of a desperate man, ready and draw, and social networks, and coding in between other tasks.

Describe your level of knowledge of programs, special tools and programming languages in a clear and structured way (how long have you been using them in your work, on what projects).

Accept a test task only if you really intend to do it. It is better to be remembered by HR as an adequate job seeker, and not as a candidate who disappeared without explanation. It’s a small world, and you may run into this recruiter in the future.

Be sure to include on your resume all the courses, seminars, bootcamps and conferences you have attended. This way you will give the impression of a person who is passionate about the profession, who is relentlessly developing and keeping up with industry trends.

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