How to Build a Career in Gaming

Gaming is becoming an increasingly popular industry to work in these days. For people with both technical skills and a knack for the intricacies of development, it can be a great career. But it’s not for everyone. And there may be a lot of people out there who love playing, but aren’t necessarily cut out for a career in the field. How can you determine if it is right for you?

There are ways that you can start working on a career in gaming industry early, even while you are still in high school. Learning to understand what goes into creating games is critical to figuring out if a career in the industry might be right for you. Then you can start thinking about how to get into the game industry.

Understanding the gaming industry

If you are wondering how to get a job in video games, you should first understand the categories involved. The gaming industry comprises various aspects of gaming development and sales. It encompasses design, development, marketing, and retail:

• Most often, people who pursue gaming as a major in higher education go into design. Designers are people who create games. They determine game mechanics, artwork, logic, and audio. They can work as individuals or as part of a gaming company.
• Publishers also play a big role in the industry. They create marketing schemes and determine channels of distribution, as well as financing.
• Hardware manufacturers are the people who make consoles and other types of hardware used in gaming. 
• Retailers are the ones who sell games, as well as consoles and other accessories. The term applies both to brick-and-mortar stores, as well as manufacturers in general.

You should be at least reasonably familiar with the most popular games that are out there (and preferably know how to play them). Check out Big Bass Bonanza and other popular online games if you haven’t already.

Educational pathways

To become a gaming developer, you need to have much more than simply a knack for how to play (although this doesn’t hurt). You need to have really strong math and physics skills, first of all. Gaming is part of the larger computer science field, and it requires learning a variety of programming languages, as well as how to use these languages together with visual graphics. It is a highly technical field.

If you don't think you are cut out for a technical degree such as game design, you might want to pursue one of the other paths to a gaming-related career. If your skills are more creative, for example, you might go into the marketing of games or sales.

Gaining practical experience 

There are several ways that you can gain practical experience in gaming to give yourself a better shot at landing a job. You can do this in a couple of ways. For example, you could try building your own game to create a portfolio for yourself. Even if you only create a simple prototype  it will indicate that you have a basic understanding of design and are serious about the career choice.

You could also try to help others resolve problems encountered in the design process. Both of these things require a certain amount of independent study, but it could be well worth it if you can prove your credentials early on and earn positive feedback from people who are already in the industry. Also, look for internships and entry-level jobs. There is nothing like hands-on experience to boost your credentials.

The power of networking

Regardless of what industry you work in, networking is key to success. And this holds for any aspect of the gaming industry, as well. Getting involved with people in the industry is essential, both for the sake of building a network, and also so that you can get an inside feel for what is going on. It could involve taking part in networking events, online forums, or even things like “game jams” where insiders gather to discuss what's hot.

To really be effective at networking, use your contacts. This doesn’t mean harassing them constantly, but make an effort to stay in touch and offer to help out whenever you can. Your efforts will reap rewards in the long run.

Online games and student involvement

There are many forums where students get together to discuss topics related to the field. Even if you haven’t matriculated into a program yet, see if you might get involved in one. It will give you a much better feel for how people talk about the industry, what kinds of issues tend to arise, and ultimately whether or not it is something you really want to pursue.

And, of course, playing online will help. It won’t take care of the technical part for you, but playing will help in increasing your understanding of theory and strategy.

Tips for building your personal brand

It doesn’t hurt to start thinking about your personal branding early. Is there a particular type of game that you might like to develop? Every professional needs to have their own brand; this is a way to distinguish yourself from the rest of the crowd and show people you are serious. Think about the strategy, appearance, and level of complexity that interests you and see how you can start to brand it.

Conclusion

Careers in gaming are becoming more and more popular. Whether it be gaming design, marketing, or other aspects that you want to get involved in, it pays to start early and work on building up your credentials. Remember to start talking to others in the industry as much as possible, as it is through both in-person and online networking that you will achieve success.