The dream job of many is to work in the video game industry. It allows for creativity, technical skills, and pays well. This makes it a highly competitive field, where there are more game designers than there are jobs. In order to live the job of your dreams, you have to be willing to put in the extra effort to beat out the competition. Here are the steps to making it in the video game industry.
Step 1: Passion
In order to get into the gaming industry, you have to have a passion for it. The video game industry is filled with gamers who spend most of their time playing games, which gives them more knowledge than the average joe. Of course, you’re not going to be hired just because you enjoy playing video games, but it definitely helps to show that you have a passion for the industry. It’s one of those things that’s just expected.
Step 2: Foot In The Door
You’ll never get a good, well paying job in the gaming industry without having at least a toe stopping the door from closing. You will have to apply for a lot of jobs before you finally get one, but that’s all you’ll need. You will most likely have to start with a position on a bad or simple game, something like a small app. While this may not be the job you were dreaming about, it’s a good way to get some experience in the industry and will give you something to place on your resume.
Step 3: Get Technical
In order to strive in any form of software development, you have to know how to program. Video games are a type of software that is typically more complex than a regular program because there are so many aspects to it. Knowing about hardware and software is definitely a step in the right direction before learning about game development in itself. In order to get a job in the gaming industry, you will typically have to hold a Bachelor’s in Computer Science or a related degree.
Step 4: Get Creative
Creativity is a big component of gaming. You need to be able to come up with ideas for problems, bug fixes, logic, and game aspects. Not only that, but you have to be willing to use other people’s ideas and accept them. Teamwork is just as important as creativity, and if you want to land a job in the gaming industry you’ll have to prove both of these.
Step 5: Luck
It’s easiest to get into the gaming industry if you know someone, but sometimes you have to claw your way in. That will require a bit of luck in order for you to get your foot in the door. You’ll be turned down time and time again, but you have to keep trying and counting on that one company to give you the job. Thomas Edison failed failed over a thousand times before perfecting the light bulb, so keep at it.