BREAKING INTO THE GAMES INDUSTRY
Whether you went to school for it, started out as a tester and worked your way in, or are self-taught, there are literally endless ways to enter the gaming industry. Since everyone’s journey on the team has been a unique ride, for this month’s dev blog post, we wanted to share some of our tips and tricks for getting into the industry. So, if you’ve been thinking about a career in games, keep on reading!
NETWORKING
“Go to game meetups and interact with other developers - have fun! Write to people whose work you admire and would like to work with, a gig may come from that.”
Get out there and meet people! While it might be hard to attend conventions or events during a pandemic, it doesn’t mean you can’t reach out or participate in online events such as the Game Devs of Color Expo or Games for Change. There are many people working in the gaming industry who would be happy to respond to your DM and give advice!
There are also a ton of groups like Pixelles or Gameplay Space and Discord servers like Global Game Jam or IGDA Discord where you can meet people and find opportunities that you wouldn’t see on regular job sites. Organizations like GDC and Game Developer are also great resources!
Stay genuine, stay kind and you’d be surprised by the friendliness within the industry!
WORK ON YOUR OWN PROJECTS
“Make your own game, however small, on Unity or Unreal.”
Playing around with and learning the basics of a program like Twine, RPG Maker and GameMaker is a great place to start. Game Jams are also a great way to develop your first few projects if you’re feeling a little timid about starting something alone! And thanks to sites like Itchio, it’s insanely easy to upload your projects or find Game Jams specific to styles you like!
Don’t sleep on using social media like Instagram if you’re an artist (lots of indie studio’s search for artists on there!) and the power of a good portfolio on artstation! Having a nice setup with all your work on display is an excellent way to show how serious you are while giving potential employers a taste of your flavour!
LEARN NEW SKILLS
“Personally, I think it really helped me to follow and study what others in my field were doing. How did they get their footing in the industry? What kind of background do they have? Why is what they’re doing so effective and how can I emulate it while developing my own style? These were the kind of questions I asked myself – and still do!”
As a game dev, the more skills you can offer the better. Especially in indie studios, it’s not unusual for one person to wear many hats. If you’re interested in community management, why not start learning some photography or graphic design? And if you really want to up your game, don’t be afraid to try your hand at Unity or Unreal!
There are so many resources online (For example, getting a SkillShare membership can be a big help and has a wide range of classes available that you can do at your own pace!). Unreal Engine also has extensive tutorials that you can use to your advantage.
There’s nothing wrong with enrolling in college or university for the field you’re interested in, but nowadays it’s also a totally viable option to teach yourself whatever skills you’re interested in without needing a formal degree to do it.
EVERY EXPERIENCE IS AN OPPORTUNITY
“Be open to different opportunities to start, big or small, and never forget your goals. Building experience first is the easiest way to achieve a dream job.”
