SXSW: The Inside Scoop - how to get a job in the game industry

Oh no. Excel is the worst program ever made I can't stand it. There go my chances.

I really doubt knowing Microsoft Office will get you a job in the gaming industry. Because then I'd have one already.

And doesn't everyone who owns a computer know about "E-mail" by now?

People need to face the music and realize that if you want to make it in the gaming industry, you have to start at the bottom. A friend of mine took every game dev course under the sun, got his degree (from a real university, not one of those "Learn to design games one day one night, saturday is alright!" schools) and then went looking for a job, head held high. Well, guess what, he looked EVERYWHERE (was even willing to relocate across the country) and no jobs were available that actually included designing video games in the job description. The only thing the game companies were looking for were general office managers and workers (which is why the report in the story says you should have excel skills). The only way to eventually make games, is to get in with that type of job, and then slowly work your way up. That is, unless you want to get payed very little and work for an indie development company, but the bills have got to be payed.

I am a senior producer in the gaming industry. It took me about 8 years of toiling in software quality assurance and sweating it out with all-nighters to get where I am today. Nothing is a bigger wake-up call until you realize that no matter how hard you work or how many hours you put in, the only thing that really matters is if your cousin or friend's friend works in a management position.

Regardless of your education or how badass you might be at writing bug lists or finding them, nothing is easier than having a good friend that's an executive producer or knows people in various areas of marketing. I experienced this first-hand watching numerous guys that spent less than a year in QA and all of a sudden they are my superiors! I had to grind it out until finally someone recognized my talents (or patience).

It's still a very tough industry to break into. It's like Hollywood but 10x worse because there are many more avenues for budding actors, directors, and writers to get their skills carved out. In the gaming industry, there's literally a hand full - EA, Activision, THQ, the big three console manufacturers, and then a sprinkle of Ubisoft, Atari etc. Hell, one kid became a development producer because his big brother was big in Hollywood. And there are plenty of executive producers with scripts in their offices!

I think mobile games have opened up a lot more doors and I would recommend those really interested in working in the industry to try that avenue out. Ahh...sorry for the rant..its 2:00 am and I need to go sleep!

#1 - what you mean is you don't know how to use it? Excel is a fantastic piece of software & essential for quite a lot of reporting tasks

#2 - you'd be surprised what people don't know.

Having worked for computer companies for over 10 years now (including 5 at a computer games company) Email is probably the thing that people least understand how to use properly (especially people sending massive attachments, major bugbear of mine!)

The thing is, the computer industry is based around a few people making loads of money & most making peanuts & working too many hours. If you want to play computer games & work with computers go work as an analyst or a contractor & buy a 360 with the more money that you get doing it.

Well, hell, I won a national competition for Excel in high school, bring on the job offers! XD

My problem is I don't want a job in the industry, I just want to do the write-up/animatics/concept work for my game and have somebody else build it. Not that I'm lazy, I just want to have a life(my family) outside of my cube.

I didn't read the entire SXSW article, but from the summary above I can tell you this information is universal for getting jobs.

There is nothing there that is specific for the gaming industry. Networking especially. Two years ago I lost my job, and I was able to field four or five different offers within a week. Those offers were from people and companies I had worked with in the past. I never sent out one blind resume to an HR department.

As far as having a good looking resume and wearing clean clothes and being on time well, they ought to teach you that in High School. I don't care if you're interviewing for a volunteer position cleaning the elephant crap at the zoo. Those are important qualities to show anytime.

#4 Icarus:

I can imagine the frustration. I've been sending out resumes and portfolios for a little over three years now despite the fact that every single "How to get a job in the industry" book, article, or interview I read always, and I mean always begins with "know somebody in the industry."

I'd like to think I am one of those people who are willing to start at the bottom. Getting the foot in the door (oh, the corporate metaphors hurt), however, seems next to impossible.

I have not, however, looked into mobile gaming. It would definitely be a start. ;)

I was a videogame producer at a publisher for a little bit. First thing you need to know, whenever you make your passion into your job, there is a possibility you will lose your love for it. sorry its just the truth.

also, I got a job with a relaitvely small publisher, at first as an executive assistant. the good thing about working at a small company is that there are many opprotunities to take on new responsibilities. I took on the legal aspects of the company, than did PR and marketing, and than moved on to producing. there are lot more opprotunity for advancement in a small company.
also I cold called the company I soon would work for, and asked if there was any positions they had open. also I knew alot about the company and knew of the games they were thinking of localizing to the states.
but honestly do you really want to work in the game industry, games are a recreation of life, you are in the business of simulating life not living it. just a thought.

#2 - most definitely not. Most people know how to "check" email and how to "send" email, but not how to organize their inbox, set up rules, structure foldes, and set up a good filing system so that you can access something quickly. Trust me on that, because my email inbox was a total disaster zone until a couple of years ago when I rolled up my sleeves and learned all the ins and outs.

Weird Coincidence:

I was just using Excel to organize a game idea...

I'm thinking of starting in game journalism and building up contacts before I try to get a job actually making games (I want to do concept art, story boards etc, not the actual coding). From what I've read in that report, it seems like it is the best way to break into the industry, though getting a job at a game magazine might be just as difficult.

Still 2 years of school to go, maybe the market will change before I'm out and it will be easy to get the job I actually want. I'm not holding my breath though

Well, I graduated with a comp. sci degree and then went into a Game Design course at the Vancouver Film School. I learned a lot about the industry just in terms of what production means, and what that entails. At the end, I programmed a mod within Source within 12 weeks.

Currently, I'm working as a junior game designer in Vancouver, and what got me the job was my degree as well as how I worked within a team, my self motivation to get work completed, and getting work done quickly and efficiently.

I think it totally depends on the studio, and having the fit of the right person into the team. But there certainly isn't one way to get into the industry. A lot of people that were hired for testing were referenced by other employees, so networking is extremely important.

A lot of people have graduated from the Game Design course, but that certainly does not entail you a job right away-- getting a job within the industry is another job in itself. Just work your ass off, and if you're determined enough, you'll get there!!

I have taken the Journalism route too. I am currently on one of the lower rungs of the ladder but I am getting paid and I am scratching a living out of it. I didn't need to go and complete a journalism course in order to achieve the modest level of success I have thus far. I did however graduate from University but my degree had little if anything to do with journalism and nothing to do with games, although I am sure it did convince some people who have employed me to take me seriously considering I had no experience in the field. It is all about initiative, I know it sounds patronizing (especially to someone who may have already worked very hard at getting a job in the industry through conventional routes) but if you just consistently pitch decent ideas and back them up with sources and a decent command of the English language someone will take you on in the games journalism field and there is no better place to make contacts.

The meeting people thing and networking thing is definitely true. The part where journalism comes in is it gives you a great excuse to just cold call people or even meet people at events. There are loads of industry events that very senior industry figures attend that may not necessarily have the same glitz and recognition as something like GDC or the now diluted E3.
I have spoken with the likes of David Gardner (EA Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer Worldwide Studios) and I have his number.

I have no cause to use it (yet) but the process by which I met him (covering EIEF a few weeks after I started working as a games hack) illustrated to me just how easy networking can be in a journalistic setting. There will come a point when I want to put some of the contacts I have made to good use and chances are I will be lacking in some other area of expertise of game design (incidentally I am one of many aspiring script writers for games).

If I was a struggling designer/programmer/artist finding it hard to get a break, I would spend six months on games journalism. Chances are if you are already qualified in your chosen area you are of the level of education that will make a quick stint in the journalistic field well within reach at some level whether you are inclined in that way or not. It stands to reason that if you are an individual in this position you will have plenty to say about the industry as it stands. Last thing I would say is if you are going to go this route, don’t shoot for print magazines and then be disappointed when they don’t take you up. Games journalism is increasingly net centric these days and there are lots of great medium sized sites that will take a risk with an inexperienced writer.

That’s my tuppence worth.

My point exactly. If you are in journalism, no self respecting manager of a game dev or publisher is going to refuse to take your calls (They want the publicity just as much as you want the connections). I'm especially interested in starting in the field of Journalism, and possibly dabbling in video reviews (Of the kind gamespot does).

Oh well, it's 2 years off and this is all just theory right now. I won't lose sleep over it untill next year at the earliest

Luck and timing also have something to do with helping you getting a job in the games industry if you are lacking in the contacts department. Owing to my hobby of blogging about games, I was contacted out of the blue and asked to apply for an industry job if I was interested. I was interested, so I decided to apply. My cover letter and (reportedly impressive) resume/CV got me through to the phone interview stage. That went well. I got to the in-person interview (all standard advice applies: dress well, act professionally, etc.) stage, and that went very well. I was contacted two days later with a job offer. And here I am, three months later on my second day at work.

So... Yeah. Even if you are talented and work hard, sometimes timing and luck can play a key role in getting you an opportunity to show off your talents.

Hi, this is Rishabh.I am Software prof. just joined a soft. firm.Working in the projects that have nothing to do with gaming but I want to make my career in gaming industry.So what all I needs to do if wanna step in to the gaming industry.
I do have college level commnad on C and C++.
Plz send me the suggestion I will be very greatful to u.