The 5 Ways to Break Into the Video Game Industry
Video games are big business, with the industry raking in over $100 billion in revenue every year. For many people, working in the video game industry is the dream job they’ve always dreamed of having, and they can’t wait to take their first steps toward that reality. However, breaking into the video game industry is often difficult; it requires skills, education, and connections – all things most people without access to video game insiders don’t have readily available to them.
1) Try making your own games
The first way to break into the video game industry is by making your own games. This is a great way to get your foot in the door and start learning about the industry. You can use tools like Unity or Unreal Engine to create your own games. There are also a ton of resources online that can help you learn how to make games. Websites like Code Academy and Coursera offer lessons on programming languages such as Python, Java, JavaScript, HTML, CSS and more. These websites offer free courses that are usually split up into sections so you can find what’s most interesting to you and tackle it at your own pace. Try getting a job in game development: The second way to break into the video game industry is by getting a job in game development. If you don't want to take the time to learn how to code, this might be an easier option for you. A lot of these jobs require formal education but there are still some entry-level positions available for those without college degrees. Start networking: The third way to break into the video game industry is by starting networking with other people working in the industry. Check out conferences, events and conventions where you can meet potential employers. Create a LinkedIn profile and connect with professionals in the industry who work for game companies. Twitter is another great tool for connecting with professionals in the field who may be able to give you advice on breaking into the industry. Look for
2) Create fan games
One way to break into the video game industry is by creating fan games. This involves taking an existing game and making a new version or sequel of it. Not only does this show your passion for gaming, but it also demonstrates your skills in programming and design. Plus, it's a great way to get your name out there and make some contacts in the industry. Some notable examples are The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Zelda-Hackers), The Binding of Isaac (Binding-of-Isaac), Super Mario Bros X (SMBX) and Sonic 3 Complete (Sonic3). Many more games exist, as well. Be wary of copyright infringement though; if you create a fan game based on a popular copyrighted franchise, it may lead to legal issues with the creators and copyright holders. For example, Nintendo successfully shut down all mention of Pokemon Uranium on Reddit, including any links to the download files on their own servers. While there are many other reasons they could have taken action against the project, trademark violation was likely one of them. If a fan game is created that breaches trademark law, then chances are good that the company will not be happy about it and will take action accordingly. Create original IPs: Another option for breaking into the video game industry is to create original intellectual properties (IPs). Original IPs can be anything from board games to tabletop RPGs and beyond. It can be difficult to establish a foothold when entering such a competitive market, but don't let that stop you from pursuing your dream! You might want to try developing an idea outside of what's considered normal fare--a dark comedy RPG? An interactive murder mystery? Whatever your heart desires, as long as it has enough quality content to bring people back again and again. You'll need to think carefully about how you'll present your game or product and promote it effectively so that players feel invested in it. Sometimes they just need a title before they can decide whether they like the look of something or not. Once you've established yourself, marketing becomes easier because people know who you are and know what kind of products to expect from you. Posting on social media sites like Facebook is always an easy way to generate buzz for new releases without spending money on advertising costs. Offer crowdfunding rewards: Crowdfunding has been increasingly popular among small developers looking for ways to fund their projects without having investors breathing down their necks every second.
3) Contribute to an existing project
The first way to break into the video game industry is by contributing to an existing project. This could be in the form of beta testing, providing feedback, or even just reporting bugs. Not only will this give you a foot in the door, but it will also help you build up a portfolio and gain experience. If your contributions are good enough, then there’s a chance that the developers might contact you for future projects. Or, if they need someone with your skill set they may reach out. Another plus side to this approach is that there's no risk involved as the work is voluntary.
A variation on this approach would be reaching out to developers via social media with questions about their process or offering input on their product ideas. You may not receive any response at all, but it can't hurt to try.
It never hurts to ask how you can contribute! Offering criticism: It is important to note that criticism doesn't have to be done harshly or maliciously. We've all been told don't speak negatively about something unless you have a solution so take those words to heart when speaking out against problems in video games. There are many ways one can criticize without being too harsh including questioning the design decisions made, pointing out potential drawbacks, and mentioning alternative solutions. All of these approaches can make positive changes while making sure both sides get heard! Pointing out flaws or defects in video games doesn't mean your criticizing the developer or individual who created them. Rather, you're trying to make the best possible experience for players. Providing feedback helps developers understand what people enjoy (or dislike) and where improvements can be made. Participating in alpha/beta tests allows gamers to see new features before anyone else and provide more detailed feedback since they know what is like from a player perspective. Reporting bugs provides an outlet for gamers who enjoy finding errors in order to improve gameplay for everyone (and getting rewarded for doing so). And finally, offering input on product ideas gives creators another perspective when working on developing their next great game idea!
4) Post on forums and social media
One way to break into the video game industry is by connecting with others who are already in it. You can do this by posting on forums and social media. This way, you can learn from those who are already in the industry and get your foot in the door. To make a connection with someone in the industry, post something informative or interesting that they may be interested in reading. It’s also important to avoid being too pushy when making connections online because if they feel pressured or annoyed by you, they will likely block you. Make sure to only contact people once every couple of weeks so they don't feel overwhelmed by you. Be genuine and polite when reaching out to them; if they reject your request, take it as a sign that they are not looking for new contacts at the moment. Try to stay positive during all communications, even if the other person rejects you; this could lead them to reconsider their decision later on. Remember: Keep it short! Posting anything more than two sentences at one time could be seen as oversharing, which will most likely turn off potential contacts. Once you have made a connection with an influencer, create a LinkedIn profile and start networking through that medium. If you happen to come across an influencer's business card or email address, send them an email requesting to connect on LinkedIn. If they don't respond within three days, try again. Eventually, they will accept your invitation to connect or respond back with a refusal after getting the message. Don't give up! Be persistent and they might change their mind.
First impressions are everything - For the first meeting, make sure to dress nicely and bring any professional-looking materials such as resumes or portfolios with you. It's best to speak face-to-face so that there is no chance of miscommunication. Finally, always keep in mind how impressionable everyone around you is - it would be best not to talk about controversial topics at work meetings such as politics, religion, or anything else that may offend some people.
5) Collaborate with an established development team
One way to break into the video game industry is to collaborate with an established development team. This can help you learn the ropes and get your foot in the door. Plus, it's a great way to network and make industry contacts. Here are a few tips on how to go about finding a development team to collaborate withwith 1) Join forums where developers congregate - there are lots of them!
2) Find game design classes near you and start meeting people in those classes.
3) Meet up at conferences - these events usually have devs attending that would be willing to work with others.
4) Ask around - find out who is working on what project and reach out for some advice or collaboration opportunities. 5) Attend a gaming conference - many of these conferences will have attendees interested in collaborating with someone new, so take advantage and talk to as many people as possible.
6) Check social media channels like LinkedIn for anyone looking for collaborators or employees. A connection might offer you the opportunity to work together if they're not currently looking for anything specifically.
Collaborating with an established development team is one way to break into the video game industry. Joining forums where developers congregate, taking game design classes near you, and meeting up at conferences are all good ways to build connections. Asking around, attending gaming conferences, checking social media channels like LinkedIn for anyone looking for collaborators or employees are also effective strategies. Remember that your goal should be getting your foot in the door by any means necessary. You may not know what type of job you want right now, but any experience is better than none. Once you're inside the industry, you'll be able to assess which direction to take your career next. For example, maybe you'll decide that QA testing sounds interesting after talking with another developer. Or maybe going back to school sounds like a better option than developing games full-time when there's no guarantee of employment after graduation. Whatever path may come next in your career journey, breaking into the video game industry has been worth it for me so far!
