How many of you plan to work in the video game industry?

Long post, read before you reply. If you don't have the energy to do that first, then good luck in life.

I'm not entirely sure what this is. Perhaps it is just an observation, experiment, or maybe I'm just trying to learn a little myself. Also, if people want to ask some questions, about degrees/colleges/industry, I will answer them the best I can. I have some experience that people may be able to learn from. In return, other people who have experience in college or the industry feel free to contribute to this topic with your thoughts. This is basically just a topic to guide people, young & old, who are interested in developing games.

Again, I am sort of making this up as I go, so let's see here. Giant Bomb forums. A site about video games. The first thing I have to ask is, out of everyone here, who plans to eventually work developing games? I reckon a lot of you, but I could be wrong. If so, that's a lot of competition in the job market. First thing to know is playing games is different from developing games. Many people will find that out will change their minds, so that'll free up some of the competition. You may love playing games - be it Super Metroid, Half-Life 2, or Rock Band. But do you want to develop games for a career? Programming, animating, etc. Granted, a lot of you are probably in high school and don't have much, if any at all, experience in technical skills like that.

So we have all of these people trying to come into video game development. I say development, because as Jeff once said, you shouldn't really go into video game journalism or related fields if your eventual dream is to make games. He is right. Of course there are always some people here and there who make the transition from "journalism" or QA, but it's rare. There's a good chance you could just be stuck. If you went into QA in order to try to sneak into a high position, but then your company loses money, and you lose your job - what do you have? Most likely you'll just get the same position, same pay at a different company. Ground zero. I don't know that much about QA, but I doubt you learn a lot of skills that are applicable to other jobs. I could be wrong though, let me know if I am. Like I said before, this post is just meant as a way to learn for me and other people also  interested in the industry.

Degrees. What degree should one have if they want to get into the games industry? Full-Sail, DeVry, and ITT Tech offer degrees in Video Game Design of the sort. You should go to them then, right? After all, that IS what you want - to make games. So you should of course go for a game design degree, correct? Not necessarily. While this is a possibility, it's not the only possibility. In fact, a more general degree may be better in some cases. A more general Animation degree may teach you things that a Video Game Design degree never would - such as the basic principles of art design and general skills that can be applied to various jobs. It's good to be flexible so that you have jobs in various industries that want to hire you.

If you strictly go for a Video Game Design degree, and apply for a position, that does not garantee that you will immediately get hired. While companies like seeing that you have a degree, there is something they like seeing even more - experience. That's great you have a degree, but what can you actually do? Can you back up the papers you show them? Let's see some designs, programs, or animations that you have done. That's what is important. I don't mean to downplay Video Game Design degrees. There are some that will prepare you well. I'm just letting people become aware that they don't need a Video Game Design degree to work in the industry. A more general degree will also work, and will in some cases be better, since you have flexibility. It's about what you are capable of doing. It's also nice to know that your degree will prepare you for other careers as well, just in case. People should feel free to express their experience in this topic with related degrees. Are you still finishing up your degree? What kind is it? Where is it? How's it going so far - what skills have you learned so far?

This post is getting quite lengthly, so let me make this last point quick. I will post later in this topic about mine and other people's experience. So look for that. Okay, so last quick point. The video game industry requires you to work long hours and over-time, with probably not as much pay as you'd like. Which leaves less time for playing games.

More to be shared in this topic coming soon! As I said before, this topic is to LEARN! People who are in the industry or in the process of getting in, or just people who are curious in getting in! Express and share thoughts/experiences here! Everyone will try to answer your questions and discuss! This is to see if the video game industry is really for you or not, and if it is, to pick up some tips.

If the chips fall right, I may go into Digipens new game writing course at some point, but i'd say its unlikely. Speaking of which, why exactly did you leave Digipen off of your schools list?

"If the chips fall right, I may go into Digipens new game writing course at some point, but i'd say its unlikely. Speaking of which, why exactly did you leave Digipen off of your schools list?"

I'm not interested in working in the gaming industry. Not even slightly.

I've been programming since I was 11, I am now 17 hopefully going to get into Lancaster university for a Computer Science degree or if not I am going to the University of Abertay Dundee to do Computer Games Technology. Abertay Dundee was the first university in the world to do a games development course, so they have had a long time to realise what they need to be teaching their students.

So, yeah I am planning on getting into the industry.

Do you know of any credited game design courses in Europe? I'd be willing to move and acquire any type of student visa to pursue this. I'm interested in game programming in particular and I'm just about to matriculate from school. It's between programming or journalism.

My school counselor is useless and has turned up no results in terms of game design, she thinks it's a "wasteful career choice". Then again, she is a nun. Any help and just straight up advice would be great.

"Do you know of any credited game design courses in Europe? I'd be willing to move and acquire any type of student visa to pursue this. I'm interested in game programming in particular and I'm just about to matriculate from school. It's between programming or journalism. My school counselor is useless and has turned up no results in terms of game design, she thinks it's a "wasteful career choice". Then again, she is a nun. Any help and just straight up advice would be great."

"Places I know of in the UK which do game development courses:University of Abertay DundeeUniversity of DerbyUniversity of HullUniversity of MiddlesexIn my opinion Abertay Dundee seems the most experienced.Obviously Computer Science can get you into the industry as well and it might be the better choice since what happens if you get into the industry and then hate it? A game programming degree might be so specialised that it limits you from doing much else. Game companies just want to see that you can program, work in a team and that you have experience."

Christ.

I don't have any intention of going into the industry, but I will say this: just because you have a degree in something in no way guarantees an job. As far as I can tell from what I have read (because I was once interested in Video Game Design), devs look for people with experience; get into mod making, and build a portfolio for yourself to submit to companies and most of all, show a level of passion. Like with anything, the more you put in the more you'll get out of it!

I would really like too but I don't think it's happening. I still have a few years before I need to decide anyways.

"Getting into the video game industry is harder then it looks.  You have to be very good at what you do and know your shit.  As far as the question "How many plan to go into the intdustry?"....well I would like to try and get into it.  But like I said before, its hard. 
"

"I don't have any intention of going into the industry, but I will say this: just because you have a degree in something in no way guarantees an job. As far as I can tell from what I have read (because I was once interested in Video Game Design), devs look for people with experience; get into mod making, and build a portfolio for yourself to submit to companies and most of all, show a level of passion. Like with anything, the more you put in the more you'll get out of it! "

What about getting into game journalism? Any idea how to do that? I think a lot of us would like to know.

"What about getting into game journalism? Any idea how to do that? I think a lot of us would like to know."

Hmm, already trying the blogging thing. Does the age of the game affect whether or not people notice you? (If you read my blogs, you'll know what I mean.)

I'm going into the legal field so unless I sell my soul for money at EA or Activision Blizzard, probably not. 

"Hmm, already trying the blogging thing. Does the age of the game affect whether or not people notice you? (If you read my blogs, you'll know what I mean.)"

Damn right, I get what you mean: secede from my own country that I am king of :P.

On subject, I think reviewing newer games might help. I'm hitting a nice line of less obscure games, and I plan on keeping it going.

I want to get into marketing/PR/that businessy line of work, and if my career path ever took me to representing that side of business for a video games company, I would jump at it. Dream job would be at Sony, Capcom, SEGA or Nintendo.

We'll see. I think by not taking the situation so narrowly, then the scope for potential is much higher, and it also means I have a backup plan if I fail. A video game degree would limit me to one thing - and while I am more interested in the marketing side of the industry than programming -- it's much easier to get experience marketing smaller products than it is to go straight into game development. Not that I'd have the patience for programming anyway.

I guess what I'm trying to say is... that from what I've learned talking to people, being broad is the best way to go. My current degree is in computing and business. I then hope to specialise in business and marketing. From there, the scope is massive.

It would probably be a dream job to be marketing a new Sony/Nintendo/Microsoft console though. I would relish that. Probably the best job I could ever dream of.

@get2sammyb

Coming from a journalist-in-training, I'll give some advice that I've experienced for those looking to write about video games.

• Write, write, and write
• Find interesting subjects to write about and think critically
  
• Review every game you beat -- only allow yourself to purchase another game after writing a review
• If you have the time, apply to a small, non-paying gaming website
• Take a Communications/Mass Media/Journalism class at your local college
• Take an early level English class to learn about essay structure (thesis, body, parallel grammar)
• Fit your writing to your audience (don't be too pretentious!)
• Build up a large catalog of game articles
  
• Compare your writing to others to determine your own thoughts on why/how you write (subjective, objective - opinion, art form)

"Zebadee said:

"Places I know of in the UK which do game development courses:University of Abertay DundeeUniversity of DerbyUniversity of HullUniversity of MiddlesexIn my opinion Abertay Dundee seems the most experienced.Obviously Computer Science can get you into the industry as well and it might be the better choice since what happens if you get into the industry and then hate it? A game programming degree might be so specialised that it limits you from doing much else. Game companies just want to see that you can program, work in a team and that you have experience."

There is a fantastic computer science course in a university in Dublin, so I may not have to move at all. Three weeks of constantly harassing my guidance counsellor provides nothing but a single post from a random person on the Internet has yielded results. It may not work out, but it's definitely a start. Thank you so much, you saved me so much trouble. "

To anyone seriously considering becoming a gaming journalist as a career...have you noticed what the economy is like? It seems like a great career field if you plan on being unemployed a lot and making next to nothing when you are lucky enough to actually have a job.

"To anyone seriously considering becoming a gaming journalist as a career...have you noticed what the economy is like? It seems like a great career field if you plan on being unemployed a lot and making next to nothing when you are lucky enough to actually have a job."

Already did the whole professional game design thing for a little bit, no plans to go back.

"Already did the whole professional game design thing for a little bit, no plans to go back."

"TheKidNixon said:

"Already did the whole professional game design thing for a little bit, no plans to go back."

Care to elaborate at all? What made you change? And were the skills you had enough to let you slide into another career path easily?"

For now, I'm just working towards an Associate of Science degree in Computer Science so I can transfer to a four year college.  I've lined up general application programming courses, so I can work for a variety of companies out of the gate instead of game development specific.  My main problem is that most of the courses available are only introduction courses and I'm unsure which college to transfer to for the best advanced courses.  Virginia Tech was my first choice, but I need to look further into what they have to offer.

I've got no problem with low income living.  I know how to work hard and budget money.  I just need to know which school and what courses.

I'm going to finish my architecture degree, go to South America to travel and learn Spanish for a year and then see what I want to do. Architecture, filming, design... something creative so who knows.

I've thought about game journalism, but hasn't every gamer? I'm 17 and really feel I need to give my life some direction. I have no idea what do next, though I do dream of working in the video game industry. I'm a good writer when focused on what I'm writing about, but I don't know if I have anywhere near the motivation to keep it up for a long period of time, and consistently create articles and reviews every week, without being noticed. My aim would to be working on a GiantBomb-like site, where it's a small group of friends working together, but the odds of that happening look rather slim, I would have no idea where to start.

Time to share another account of someone who was once working in the game industry. This account is interesting because it's from someone who used to be in the lower part of the food chain, doing QA and the like.  Take it for what it is. If anyone else has interesting stories that they know either from finds on the internet or from friends, feel free to post. Even if they didn't fully make it in the industry, just post their experience if you feel there is something to be learned from it.

And to all the people so interested in game journalism: That is a fine goal, but please don't let that be your only goal. Either maintain an interest in general writing/journalism as well, or perhaps try going for another goal at the same time. Video game journalism just seems like a really shaky career nowadays, especially with how news is changing with blogging sites like kotaku or even twitter.

------------------------------------------------------------

"I think I spent a little over 3 years working in the game industry but at the bottom as a tester. I did Standards and Compliance, Language Integration, 3rd party online, and a little bit of QA. Worked at EA, Sony, and Sega. I had got out of it around 3 years ago when I realized how shitty it was, and how little respect everyone has for it that doesn't work in the industry.

They basically pay you really low wages with no benefits, and tons of overtime and weekend work for years with the hope that if you bust your ass enough you will be rewarded with a perm spot someplace and you can get more money, benefits, and only work about 1/2 of the overtime hours. It's pretty sad to see all these people slaving away like this for years, then they finally get a promotion, but shit happens for one reason or another and companies downsize, or a project goes bad and they are out of a job. Then guess what, you don't get to go to a new company as a lead or supervisor at a new company because they don't hire people from the outside like that. If they did there would be no magic carrot to dangle in front of all the hundreds of testers working all the OT for peanuts in hopes of being a lead one day.

I was hoping to branch out and find a job in the game industry in the finance or business and administrative departments, but the corporate side of the game companies look at all the testers as lepers. So as soon as I realized that I quit and got a job in banking. Better pay, benefits, no OT, shorter commute, and at least when you end up quitting like I did you find a better job instead of starting back at the bottom. It was really sad to see all these washed up 40+ year old testers who had once been leads or supervisors at other game companies but were laid off or fired for whatever reason, and there they are after putting in 5-10 years of their life slaving away, just to be a tester at the bottom of the chain once again.

Way back I thought that working in the game industry would be a dream job, but unless you are fresh out of high school, it really sucks ass. I am way happier working a corporate job 8:30-5 with no OT for like double what I made testing games. At least I can pay all my bills and have plenty of free time to play games that don't suck for a change.

A lot of companies make money off shitty movie tie in titles pumping out totally forgettable mediocre games that license all the engines in it and are totally repetetive and lame, but they make money because 8 year old kids don't know better and ask for them or people that have a Wii are like oh wow a Batman game I'm gonna buy that. The game industry is becoming more of a business than a hobby, so it's all fucked up now.

I have no desire to ever work in the game industry ever again. The people are cool as hell, but the pay is a joke and the way people treat you when they hear what your job is sucks."

Well, I dream of forming an indie studio and develop 2D games, but the chances are very slim and I don't have any concrete plans. Video games are what I love, and I'm not really interested in working with something else. I do have a few years until I need to actually decide what I want to work with though, so I suppose it'll work out one way or another.

To anyone interested in some nice tips and inside information of the game industry, here is a very nice set of videos.

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=EC49E918E6248ACF

These videos feature David Allen of Quest Online, who did a speech at UAT (University of Advancing Technology, AZ) based on the "Realities of the Game Industry and Entrepreneurship." He provides a lot of very useful information and first-hand experience, so I highly recommend for anyone curious about the inside to check these out. David Allen has seen both the highs and lows of working in the industry. He will especially appeal to people who are interested in starting their own studio someday or working on indie games.

Before I start here's some back story on me. I'm 24 and hold a Bachelor's Degree in both History and Political Science. After college I was accepted into the United States Army Officer Candidate School. Unfortunately I was injured about halfway through training and was discharged. Since then I've been working as a manager at Gamestop until I can decide if I want to go to law school or rejoin the military.

This all being said I would love to get into video game journalism. However I'm painfully aware that this will most likely never occur. There are just too many others with the same desire and not enough review sites to employ them. Gamespot and IGN can only employ so many people and small sites like Giant Bomb arn't going to be hiring a nobody. While you will hear stories occasionally about someone breaking in due to their blog work they are the exception and not the rule. Most of the current reviewers floating around are like Jeff. They got in in the late 1990s and early 2000s when things were more accessible.

So, I'll continue to dabble in writing small reviews here on Giant Bomb for the various games I'm playing. I don't try to comment on current events because I often feel like I'm just saying the same thing that a million other news outlets have already said. It will most likely never get me noticed but it makes me feel like I'm at least trying.

I highly recommend the latest episode of A Life Well Wasted podcast: Episode 3 - Why Game?

http://alifewellwasted.com/podcast/

The podcast starts out by asking some people why they love gaming, etc. But afterwards is the part that applies to this topic. An interview is done with Jason Rohrer, who is an independent game developer. It's a really cool interview as Rohrer explains how he is able to live off $10k a year supporting his family and such while making independent games. Definetly not the life for everyone, but could provide some tips or inspiration to the people who are posting about wanting to go into indie development. The podcast is only 53 minutes long, so it's not that big of a time sink either compared to other gaming podcasts. Hope some of you guys find this helpful, or at least interesting.

No, I don't want to make or write about games, I just want to enjoy playing them as a hobby.

I find it a little bit of a cliche on videogame forums that 90% of the people plans to become a game journalist or a game developer, yet most of these people's ages go from 12 to 19. I've seen many cases of people giving up because they don't realize how hard it truly is. But if someone here does become a (good) developer then I wish him/her the best of lucks.

It's a difficult area to get into

I'm doing a Computer Science major, in my third year. I hope to work at IBM one day, plan on doing my internship there after this year or the next.

I'm doing some game development stuff on the side though. I've got design docs for 2 games I've written but haven't really got around to fleshing them out with code yet. Not really because I want to get into the "industry", but it's decient pratice.

One is a turn based strategy card game and the other is a platformer.

Personally if I was running a game dev company I think I would put all the Digipen and other game school resumes in a separate pile, the pile marked "if all else fails". I'd much rather see a resume from a Comp Sci major who worked their ass off doing their degree and building games on the side., though I may be baised becasue thats what I'm doing. 

I would love to work in the industry, but I don't know what I'd want to do. I'd much rather be a videogame journalist tbh.
I'm really working towards that as my goal, as apposed to developing.

"No, I don't want to make or write about games, I just want to enjoy playing them as a hobby. I find it a little bit of a cliche on videogame forums that 90% of the people plans to become a game journalist or a game developer, yet most of these people's ages go from 12 to 19. I've seen many cases of people giving up because they don't realize how hard it truly is. But if someone here does become a (good) developer then I wish him/her the best of lucks. "

Working in the industry is definatly a possibility I'm seriously considering at the minute. I'm coming to the end of of my first year of a Computer Science with Mathematics degree here in the UK. I'm not 100% set on working on video games, which is why I purposely chose a course that would give me some broader options. One reason I did choose to study here (University of Bath) was the strong industrial placement program, where you have the opportunity to get some experience between your second and third year of study. In particular there are links with Rare which I'll be looking into soon, as it is a great opportunity to get an insight into the industry and help gain some experience (depending if I can get such a placement obviously). I would definatly encourage anyone thinking about studying in order to get into the industry to look into what similar schemes are available.

i'm currently doing my degree in Computer Animation - the plan is to eventually get a job as a technical animator. my BA should (fingers crossed) provide me with the skillset to fit in anywhere on the spectrum between Programmer and Animator. It was a bumpy ride getting to this point though, the careers advice we got at school wasn't really prepared for someone with such a specific aim - when I asked how do I get a job in the games industry I just got blank stares. The only advice I can give to people who want to work on the production side of the games industry is that you should find a degree which takes advantage of your strengths. I jumped into this degree with a heavy arts background but have had to learn loads of maths and programming at quite an intimidating speed. I'm not going to lie, i'm finding it hard. There are lots of different fields to go into, my advice is to aim at the one you have a realistic chance of achieving. If you take English and Philosophy you arent realistically going to do well as a programmer for example, which requires lots of maths and logic. As my lecturer pointed out, you basically have to be born into a life of programming and know you want to do it from an early stage in your education - it's not something you fall into by accident.

I would also like to stress that the video game industry is not something you go into for money. You have to have a genuine interest and passion for making games. Making is not the same as playing. Just because you completed gears 2 on Insane doesnt mean you will make a good character modeller or level designer. Hell, it doesnt even make you a good critic. Understanding how computers work, a decent understanding of maths and algorithms, a background with a low level programming language like C or Python, a natural artistic capability and an understanding of human anatomy are all good places to start. A passion for playing games is secondary.

Lastly - We have been told from people in the industry (representatives from companies like Lionhead, Frontier Games etc) that there is ZERO demand for students coming from games design courses. The scope of these degree's is often too narrow to really acomplish anything practical. Go do a degree in animation, or illustration, or computer science, or programming. Avoid the generic Games Design courses, they look like fun but they won't get you a job.

Hope that helps kids, good luck

I would also like to stress that the video game industry is not something you go into for money. You have to have a genuine interest and passion for making games. Making is not the same as playing. Just because you completed gears 2 on Insane doesnt mean you will make a good character modeller or level designer. Hell, it doesnt even make you a good critic. Understanding how computers work, a decent understanding of maths and algorithms, a background with a low level programming language like C or Python, a natural artistic capability and an understanding of human anatomy are all good places to start. A passion for playing games is secondary.

I was considering it, but I think my place lies in the film industry.

"Sweep said:

I would also like to stress that the video game industry is not something you go into for money. You have to have a genuine interest and passion for making games. Making is not the same as playing. Just because you completed gears 2 on Insane doesnt mean you will make a good character modeller or level designer. Hell, it doesnt even make you a good critic. Understanding how computers work, a decent understanding of maths and algorithms, a background with a low level programming language like C or Python, a natural artistic capability and an understanding of human anatomy are all good places to start. A passion for playing games is secondary.

Does this apply to all video game-related jobs, like reviewing or retail (God forbid)?"