How To Break Into The Video Game Industry

It’s undeniable that Super Mario Bros is one of the most influential games ever made, but it had to come from somewhere.

Nintendo didn’t simply decide to change gaming history overnight; instead, they worked painstakingly on something they knew would revolutionise the world of gaming, releasing it at just the right time (when the video game industry was attempting to recover from a major crash and desperately needed a hot app to help it come back).

While you may never make the next Super Mario Bros (for who can?), there’s absolutely no reason you shouldn’t pursue your very own career in the video game industry. There are a host of jobs you could do; if you’re not much of a game designer, then there are a wealth of behind-the-scenes roles that might appeal to you more. If you’ve always wanted to break into the gaming industry but never felt like you could, now may be the perfect time to try. Here’s how you can break into the video game industry!

Know your specialisation

Let’s get one thing out of the way first: “the gaming industry” refers to a lot of disparate jobs, so knowing which one you think you’d like to do will help immensely when it comes to breaking into it. Would you like to be an indie game developer? How about working for a publishing company, or perhaps even working in marketing? You could become a game composer if you’re musically inclined, or maybe you could work as a QA tester. There are many different gaming job hats, so knowing which one you want to wear is a good idea.

Keep working in the meantime

While you’re looking for the perfect entry-level job in the world of games, it’s a good idea to keep your nest feathered, so to speak, which is why you should keep cash on hand. If, however, you simply can’t stand being at your current job anymore and you need to leave posthaste, then you should try to find other sources of income, however temporary they may be. In this instance, you may find that even £500 loans come in handy; they could tide you over until a major interview gives you that first opportunity you need, or they could pay for food while you relocate, for example.

Do it for the love, not the money

It’s reasonable to expect to be paid fairly for your efforts, no matter what kind of work you’re doing. If you’re an indie developer, don’t be afraid to ask for money for your game; you don’t have to make a free-to-play game just because that’s the way the big-money industry is going. However, you should also make sure that you’re trying to get into the gaming industry for the sake of love, because there might be a protracted period of time during which you’re not earning any money for doing the work you love. Keep that passion and you’ll go far within the industry.

Network and talk to other gaming industry employees

If there’s one thing that recent discussions around video game industry unions have taught us, it’s that talking to other employees in the gaming industry is a good idea. Having a network around you can help immensely when it comes to entering the gaming industry. You might be able to find opportunities that others can’t, for instance, and even if you don’t get benefits like that, you can take advantage of existing employees’ expertise to help you identify ways to get into the world of gaming. Watch the gaming calendar for industry events and try to attend if you can.

Create a CV specifically for gaming

You’ll often hear employers telling you that it’s a good idea to create CVs specifically for certain industries. That’s true everywhere, so it won’t surprise you to learn that it’s also true for the world of gaming. Make sure that you have a CV ready to go that tells gaming industry employers why they should hire you. If you don’t have any experience in the gaming industry, then emphasise your love of the medium and your appreciation for its inner workings. Just putting “I love video games” on your CV probably isn’t going to be enough in this instance.

Volunteer if you can

Again, you should always make sure that you know how much you’re worth and how much you should be paid for your work, but sometimes, it’s a good idea to seek out volunteering opportunities, especially in competitive industries like gaming. Many companies will be looking for volunteer work in certain areas, and while this can sometimes be a minefield (with some companies allegedly outsourcing work that should be paid to volunteers), it can also be a great source of experience. Keep an eye out for enticing-looking volunteer positions in the gaming industry.

Don’t give up

Industries like gaming and music will always be rife with rejections. While you apply for the job of your dreams, you’re likely to be rejected time and time again, unfortunately. It’s a good idea to try and reinforce your heart and your emotions against these rejections. They aren’t personal; the people who aren’t hiring you don’t hate you, they just don’t have a space for you in their company at the moment. Pick yourself up and figure out what you might be able to do better next time. Don’t be afraid to ask companies who’ve rejected you for some advice as to how you could have impressed them more!