Doesn’t the video game industry seem like a black box you can’t get into? All you have to do is knock on the door, but how do you even get it to open?
You can get into game development. All you need is a solid strategy to get into your dream company.
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.
- 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. - 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.”
- 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. - 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. - 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. - 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.” - 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. - 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. - 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.
- 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.