How
to Get a Fab Job as a Video Game Designer: /Video.asp
"Quit playing
those video games! You'll never accomplish
anything that way." If anyone has ever said
this to you, here's your chance to prove them
wrong: video game design is a rapidly growing
field in need of talented individuals.
A game designer
can be compared to a movie scriptwriter:
the person who has the initial idea and then writes
a document describing every detail of their artistic
vision. Game designers are creative, methodical,
and communicate well. They have strong technical
skills, enthusiasm for video games and sound gaming
knowledge.
A job in video
game design offers a casual work environment,
a high salary with lots of perks, and the freedom
to create entire worlds and see them come to life.
If you think you're ready for a career that is
limited only by your imagination, follow these
steps based on the
fabjob.com
Guide to Become a Video Game Designer
to break into this exciting career.
1. Learn about
the industry
Like any business,
the video game industry has its big players and
its lingo that you have to be familiar with in
order to succeed. In addition to playing a variety
of video games (including ones you would normally
never even look at) to familiarize yourself with
the market, check out the various industry
magazines, both online and print, to get yourself
in the know. Make sure you get a wide breadth
of knowledge — across multiple genres and multiple
platforms so you are able to adapt your knowledge
to a rapidly changing market.
2. Develop your
skills
There is no such
thing as someone who just sits around and thinks
up cool ideas for games all day, so be prepared
to acquire a bit of knowledge in a lot of areas.
Writing ability (both technical and creative)
usually tops the list, but employers are also
looking for skills in design theory, computer
knowledge, sketching/storyboarding, and an understanding
of coding, as well as presentation, management
and leadership skills. Don't worry if you don't
have every one of these skills, but try to focus
on developing yourself in these areas over time.
3. Get some
experience
An internship,
if you can find one, is an ideal way to break
into the games industry. Not only do you gain
valuable experience in the working world, you
will also make contacts in the industry who will
come in handy when you are looking to secure permanent
work. Apply early, apply often, and be professional
even if the industry itself is 'casual'. Also,
be prepared to work for free, although some of
the bigger companies will pay you a stipend during
your tenure as an intern.
4. Pump up your
CV
According to those
working in the industry, one of the best things
to have in your list of credentials is a history
of creating add-on levels for games like
Quake with a 'level editor' (a program
designed to let you create and edit levels of
a particular game). You can also work on a MUD
(multi-user dungeon); the online games played
by groups of people through a network. Creating
a conversion of an existing game or an entirely
new game, becoming a game tester and working in
games journalism are also steps in the right direction.
5. Create your
marketing materials
Up-and-coming designers
need to be able to present a 'design portfolio'
to potential employers: a collection of game proposals
carefully chosen and presented to show off the
full range of your creative skills. It will be
supplemented by your resume, which should show
you are creative, motivated, talented, intelligent,
and a good communicator. You might also consider
a website to further showcase your talents.
6. Apply for
work
There are a number
of online job sites that cater to would-be designers.
They offer contact information for developers,
studios and agencies, to whom you would send your
resume and design portfolio. It's also worth applying
to studios you like on spec, as some larger studios
are in a period of continued expansion and will
recruit whenever they find a suitable candidate.
Make sure you research the studio so you can tailor
your resume and portfolio specifically to them.
7. Network
If you already
have contacts in the industry, or are willing
to make some, a personal introduction to the director
or senior games designer of a studio can open
up doors for you. One way to connect with industry-folk
is at the annual games trade shows, such as E3,
ECTS and the Tokyo Game Show, or the
Computer Games Developers Conference. Also,
the International Game Developers Association
is a professional organization that may help you
meet people who can further your career.
8. Ace the Interview
"Research
the company beforehand and don’t expect to walk
out with a three-product deal," advises Stephen
Lloyd Davies of games agency Aardvark Swift.
Be prepared to answer questions about current
game-related events and where you think the industry
is going. You may also be expected to explain
why you want to become a designer, or 'sell' an
imaginary game concept to the interviewer on the
spot. Remember that by merely getting to this
stage, you have already beaten out hundreds of
other applicants, so present yourself calmly and
confidently.
9. Accelerate
Your Career
Once you have secured
a position in the industry, expand your skill
set with further training or by taking on additional
responsibilities at work to make yourself more
marketable. Many designers work on mini-projects
(smaller applications) in their spare time to
increase their number of completed projects. You
can also look at related work in television
or movies, consulting in the industry and
freelancing games-related articles to establish
yourself as an expert in the field.
How to Get a Fab Job as a Video Game Designer: /Video.asp
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