Steps
to a Job as an Video Games Designer
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
How 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 resume
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.
FabJob.com publishes
e-books that can help you break into a "fab" job.
Visit www.fabjob.com
for information.
