HOW TO BREAK INTO THE GAME INDUSTRY IN 2023

Game Industry: What Do You Need to Know?

The game industry is not only about children's entertainment anymore. According to GameSparks, the average gamer’s age is 35, and there are almost 3.5 billion gamers, which makes the sphere even more lucrative than the music and movie industries.

As for now, the video game industry is worth roughly $98 billion in the US only and $178 billion globally. Moreover, the global gaming market is expected to grow to $270 billion worldwide by 2025.

It means that the demand for qualified people will definitely grow in the long term. Below, we will explain how to start your career in the game industry and provide some information about the most popular professions in gaming.

How to Start Your Career in the Game Industry

There’s always a way to make a career out of your hobby. The game industry is a huge opportunity field for professionals of all kinds, from game developers and designers to scriptwriters and sales managers. Believe it or not, any digital professional can find a job in the gaming industry.

First of all, you need to know what you want to do. Is it a complete career switch, or do you want to maintain your job position in this industry? Do you want to be more technical or creative? What skills and knowledge do you already have?

You probably have favorite games and know what’s trending among gamers. Now it’s time for deeper research. You can use LinkedIn to monitor current job openings in gaming companies. What’s more important, you will see people who already work there. Compare their education and experience to yours to know your chances of getting the job.

According to Statista, the five biggest companies in the gaming industry are:

1. Activision Blizzard
2. Nintendo
3. Electronic Arts
4. Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc
5. Roblox Corporation 

Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo also need professionals. It doesn’t necessarily mean you will start your career in the video game industry with these companies. But they are perfect for research and understanding the sphere from the business side. 

Depending on the career path you have in mind, you can choose your course of action: 

1. Use your current knowledge. If you already have some work experience, try to find a job similar to yours but in the gaming industry. For example, if you have a marketing background, search for marketing positions in gaming. Your knowledge might only apply to some requirements, but you will know what skills or qualifications you need to obtain. 
2. Switch your career. If your current job is outside the gaming industry, you can always start over. The good news is that any career background and education gives you hard and soft skills. List your strengths and qualifications, and look for career opportunities with similar requirements. 
3. Start from scratch. There are many opportunities to gain knowledge in video gaming. A college degree with a required internship is a good choice for high school graduates and young professionals. You can consider online or offline courses if you need a quicker and cheaper way to find a job.

TOP Professions in the Game Industry

1. Game Developer 
Game developers create software for gaming and are responsible for programming logical solutions. Most likely, a game developer specializes in one type of content (design, art, or programming) and works with one gaming device (console, PC, mobile). Their main tasks include developing features and creating visual content for games. The most popular coding languages in game development are Python, C#, C++, and JavaScript.

2. Game Designer 
As a video game designer, you will need to develop concepts and rules for video games. It includes creating the plot, characters, and fantastical worlds. While game designers can be familiar with coding, their main task is idea development and pitching during pre-production. In the following stages, game designers might as well manage projects, supervise several teams, and do quality control.

3. UI/UX Designer 
User interface design is an inseparable part of gaming too. It includes everything a player interacts with: menus, navigation, logic, buttons, etc. Good interface design matches the aesthetics of a game, and nothing distracts or confuses the user. UI/UX designers aim to create intuitive, user-friendly interfaces that improve the gaming experience.

4. Game Analyst 
Game analysts deal with metrics and design data collection systems. The information they obtain and process helps them see a full picture of the company and market. Their goal is to determine trends and predict consumer behavior based on data. It is beneficial to have some technical knowledge, like knowing how to manage SQL databases or code in Python.

5. Video Game Writer 
Video game writers create dialogs, storylines, and written descriptions. They form character descriptions and align background stories. Game writers can also participate in creating marketing materials and other promotions for video games. It is perfect if you have some experience in scriptwriting or storytelling when applying for this job.

6. Video Game Artist 
Video game artists create the visual vibe of a game. They choose the style of the game world, color palette, and main graphic elements. For more complicated games, there are separate game artists for characters, exteriors, objects, textures, weapons, etc.

Some professionals prefer working with 2D/3D art, while others stick to old-school manual sketching. In any case, any visual artist needs to have strong drawing skills and knowledge of lighting, shading, perspective, composition, and proportions.

7. Video Game Producer 
Video game producers are responsible for managing the project from start to finish. It includes supervision of the teams of engineers, designers, artists, and other professionals involved in game production. Their primary responsibility is to ensure that the project moves in the right direction and the deadlines are met.

8. Game Tester 
Game testers (or quality assurance specialists) examine each stage of a game to ensure there aren’t any bugs or glitches. Playing games and describing user experience is also one of the main tasks. Once they find something concerning, they send a report for the developers to work on it. Game testers also encounter game compatibility and localization problems.

9. Animator 
Video game animators deal with visual effects for characters, scenes, and other objects. They collaborate with artists, designers, and programmers to create interactive animations. You will likely be required to know After Effects or 3ds Max as an animator.

Depending on the project and company requirements, some animators need coding and drawing skills, but not necessarily.

10. Audio Engineer 
Audio engineers manage video game sound effects, character voices, and music. They use sound libraries and create sounds by themselves. The main goal of sound design in gaming is to conceive realistic gaming experiences and immerse players into imaginary worlds. Audio engineers need extensive sound production and editing software knowledge to succeed in their careers.

Does any of these professions sound like something you want to do in the future? If yes, you have plenty of opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed. The sooner you start, the sooner you can get your job offer!

At ELVTR, we believe that learning new skills should be fun and productive. That is why we cooperate only with experts who have already built successful careers in the gaming industry and are still in the sphere. And it is not only about studies - we do our best to create a community of passionate professionals and encourage networking.