How to Get a Job in the Video Game Industry

Do you have a passion for gaming? If so, a career in the video game industry may just be what you are looking for. With many different gaming consoles and types of games available, there are many opportunities for employment within the industry. Here are a few steps that you can take in order to achieve your goal: 1. Think about what kind of position you want. Since the creation of commercial video games is a complex project that sometimes involves hundreds of people working together to achieve their goal, there are many different positions that will be available to you. During the game development process, a company will need programmers, Game Design experts, game testers and many other types of specialized individuals. If you are unsure, why not look at a video game company's website and see what kinds of positions are available? Then you should be able to find one which matches your skills and interests. 2. Get some info on the companies that are hiring. Businesses in the game development industry are scattered all around the nation. If you live in or around a major city, chances are one is located close to you. But in any case, think as to whether you would be willing to relocate. If you decide to pursue a career in game design or any field related to video Game Development, there is a chance that you might have to move. 3. Make sure that you have the skills that they are looking for. Depending on what type of position interests you, candidates will need to have certain skills and qualifications. For entry-level positions like Game Testers, you would need to have good observation skills, in addition to the ability to communicate ideas clearly in writing. Since video game companies develop games in many different languages, knowledge of a foreign language such as Spanish, Japanese, French or German will often be viewed as a great asset to have, no matter what position you are hoping to get. Jobs that involve video game design may require knowledge or programming languages, software development tools, graphic or video design programs, as well as some technology unique to video games. 4. Get the most industry experience possible. Working on projects on your own, such as creating simple video games for the web, or creating mods for existing games is a great thing to have in your portfolio. There are also plenty of freelancing opportunities available online where you can do many projects that are related to video games. This experience will make you more valuable to an employer. Remember: hands-on experience is often used to demonstrate that you have the overall creativity and skills necessary to succeed in the video game sector.