Top 10 Tips for Getting Into The Video Game Industry

want to get into the video game industry

want to get into the video game industry but don’t know where to start well with

but don’t know where to start well with

but don’t know where to start well with a little help from smite developer

a little help from smite developer

a little help from smite developer hi-rez studios

hi-rez studios

hi-rez studios we’re here to give you some tips for

we’re here to give you some tips for

we’re here to give you some tips for getting your dream job welcome to

getting your dream job welcome to

getting your dream job welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re bringing

watchmojo.com and today we’re bringing

watchmojo.com and today we’re bringing you the top 10 tips for getting into the

you the top 10 tips for getting into the

you the top 10 tips for getting into the gaming industry number 10

gaming industry number 10

gaming industry number 10 check your ego at the door I know

check your ego at the door I know

check your ego at the door I know there’s a few of you out there that are

there’s a few of you out there that are

there’s a few of you out there that are desperate to see your best idea come to

desperate to see your best idea come to

desperate to see your best idea come to reality and also dream about getting

reality and also dream about getting

reality and also dream about getting perfect 10 review scores and winning

perfect 10 review scores and winning

perfect 10 review scores and winning numerous Game of the Year awards on your

numerous Game of the Year awards on your

numerous Game of the Year awards on your first game but believe us that is not a

first game but believe us that is not a

first game but believe us that is not a likely scenario one of the biggest

likely scenario one of the biggest

likely scenario one of the biggest misconceptions about video games is

misconceptions about video games is

misconceptions about video games is thinking that cool concepts alone make a

thinking that cool concepts alone make a

thinking that cool concepts alone make a great game don’t knock on a developer’s

great game don’t knock on a developer’s

great game don’t knock on a developer’s door saying that you’ve got the best

door saying that you’ve got the best

door saying that you’ve got the best idea you won’t have been the first your

idea you won’t have been the first your

idea you won’t have been the first your great ideas probably been thought of

great ideas probably been thought of

great ideas probably been thought of before we have too many ideas in the

before we have too many ideas in the

before we have too many ideas in the game industry it’s all about whether you

game industry it’s all about whether you

game industry it’s all about whether you can execute them well number 9 attend

can execute them well number 9 attend

can execute them well number 9 attend developers conferences while it’s not a

developers conferences while it’s not a

developers conferences while it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution for getting

one-size-fits-all solution for getting

one-size-fits-all solution for getting in the door dev conferences can serve as

in the door dev conferences can serve as

in the door dev conferences can serve as a good way to get other developers to

a good way to get other developers to

a good way to get other developers to know you some conferences may even have

know you some conferences may even have

know you some conferences may even have panels or workshops on what certain

panels or workshops on what certain

panels or workshops on what certain companies are looking for however it is

companies are looking for however it is

companies are looking for however it is absolutely essential that you actually

absolutely essential that you actually

absolutely essential that you actually have something to prove before you start

have something to prove before you start

have something to prove before you start rubbing shoulders with some of the

rubbing shoulders with some of the

rubbing shoulders with some of the industry’s best and don’t get

industry’s best and don’t get

industry’s best and don’t get discouraged if you don’t leave with a

discouraged if you don’t leave with a

discouraged if you don’t leave with a killer lead they go to the liking GDC or

killer lead they go to the liking GDC or

killer lead they go to the liking GDC or any of these conferences and they kind

any of these conferences and they kind

any of these conferences and they kind of put all of their eggs in the

of put all of their eggs in the

of put all of their eggs in the networking basket like oh I’m gonna meet

networking basket like oh I’m gonna meet

networking basket like oh I’m gonna meet the right person and that’s gonna get me

the right person and that’s gonna get me

the right person and that’s gonna get me this job it’s like that works yes

this job it’s like that works yes

this job it’s like that works yes sometimes it is the people you know but

sometimes it is the people you know but

sometimes it is the people you know but a lot of the times you really need to be

a lot of the times you really need to be

a lot of the times you really need to be able to prove with that networking that

able to prove with that networking that

able to prove with that networking that you are the right person for that job

you are the right person for that job

you are the right person for that job number eight apply as a QA tester often

number eight apply as a QA tester often

number eight apply as a QA tester often the most common entry-level role you can

the most common entry-level role you can

the most common entry-level role you can get when starting out is applying for

get when starting out is applying for

get when starting out is applying for Quality Assurance rules

Quality Assurance rules

Quality Assurance rules Quality Assurance can be a great entry

Quality Assurance can be a great entry

Quality Assurance can be a great entry path into the game industry it’s

path into the game industry it’s

path into the game industry it’s basically testing and there’s a lot of

basically testing and there’s a lot of

basically testing and there’s a lot of people that want to test video games but

people that want to test video games but

people that want to test video games but they have to realize that it’s different

they have to realize that it’s different

they have to realize that it’s different from playing video games you’re actually

from playing video games you’re actually

from playing video games you’re actually playing the game in order to break the

playing the game in order to break the

playing the game in order to break the game essentially if you’re one of those

game essentially if you’re one of those

game essentially if you’re one of those people who likes to push the game to

people who likes to push the game to

people who likes to push the game to their limits and try to do things you

their limits and try to do things you

their limits and try to do things you probably shouldn’t be doing this might

probably shouldn’t be doing this might

probably shouldn’t be doing this might be a good job for you a lot of higher

be a good job for you a lot of higher

be a good job for you a lot of higher profile game developers started out in

profile game developers started out in

profile game developers started out in QA and worked their way up making this a

QA and worked their way up making this a

QA and worked their way up making this a choice idea forget

choice idea forget

choice idea forget your foot in the door you’re basically

your foot in the door you’re basically

your foot in the door you’re basically producing bug reports so that the

producing bug reports so that the

producing bug reports so that the programmers and artists can find what

programmers and artists can find what

programmers and artists can find what you detected reliably reproduce it and

you detected reliably reproduce it and

you detected reliably reproduce it and then fix it

then fix it

then fix it number seven build an online portfolio

number seven build an online portfolio

number seven build an online portfolio let’s see I’m 1.8 meters tall ruggedly

let’s see I’m 1.8 meters tall ruggedly

let’s see I’m 1.8 meters tall ruggedly handsome chiseled ABS amazing hair this

handsome chiseled ABS amazing hair this

handsome chiseled ABS amazing hair this should be a no-brainer especially if

should be a no-brainer especially if

should be a no-brainer especially if you’re an artist but getting a portfolio

you’re an artist but getting a portfolio

you’re an artist but getting a portfolio or a show real online that’s easy to

or a show real online that’s easy to

or a show real online that’s easy to access by anyone is really important for

access by anyone is really important for

access by anyone is really important for getting any job in the industry it

getting any job in the industry it

getting any job in the industry it doesn’t matter if all the content isn’t

doesn’t matter if all the content isn’t

doesn’t matter if all the content isn’t game related as employers are often

game related as employers are often

game related as employers are often looking to see if you are skilled and

looking to see if you are skilled and

looking to see if you are skilled and well experienced enough to handle the

well experienced enough to handle the

well experienced enough to handle the work a well-organized portfolio and

work a well-organized portfolio and

work a well-organized portfolio and resume is an easy way to convey this

resume is an easy way to convey this

resume is an easy way to convey this from an art perspective it’s really all

from an art perspective it’s really all

from an art perspective it’s really all about your portfolio it’s the quality of

about your portfolio it’s the quality of

about your portfolio it’s the quality of the work doesn’t really matter how you

the work doesn’t really matter how you

the work doesn’t really matter how you got there whether it was from art school

got there whether it was from art school

got there whether it was from art school or self-taught it’s all about a really

or self-taught it’s all about a really

or self-taught it’s all about a really awesome portfolio that will just blow

awesome portfolio that will just blow

awesome portfolio that will just blow away unemploy or number six internships

away unemploy or number six internships

away unemploy or number six internships and practical experience this is very

and practical experience this is very

and practical experience this is very good if you’re just starting out or you

good if you’re just starting out or you

good if you’re just starting out or you need to get the feel of working with a

need to get the feel of working with a

need to get the feel of working with a team internships might not be great for

team internships might not be great for

team internships might not be great for your morale since you won’t be getting

your morale since you won’t be getting

your morale since you won’t be getting paid but it certainly helps for all

paid but it certainly helps for all

paid but it certainly helps for all those job listings that say you need two

those job listings that say you need two

those job listings that say you need two to three years of experience yes taking

to three years of experience yes taking

to three years of experience yes taking up internships and getting work

up internships and getting work

up internships and getting work experience seems like something that can

experience seems like something that can

experience seems like something that can go with any field but it’s just as

go with any field but it’s just as

go with any field but it’s just as relevant here as in any other real world

relevant here as in any other real world

relevant here as in any other real world job while there are war stories of

job while there are war stories of

job while there are war stories of interns being overworked for no

interns being overworked for no

interns being overworked for no financial reward ideally you’ll be in

financial reward ideally you’ll be in

financial reward ideally you’ll be in the right place when they start looking

the right place when they start looking

the right place when they start looking to fill paying positions one thing I

to fill paying positions one thing I

to fill paying positions one thing I would tell anyone looking to get in the

would tell anyone looking to get in the

would tell anyone looking to get in the game industry is that you have to be

game industry is that you have to be

game industry is that you have to be insanely just persistent and tenacious

insanely just persistent and tenacious

insanely just persistent and tenacious you cannot give up after the first no

you cannot give up after the first no

you cannot give up after the first no you have to just never give up doesn’t

you have to just never give up doesn’t

you have to just never give up doesn’t matter how doesn’t matter how many knows

matter how doesn’t matter how many knows

matter how doesn’t matter how many knows you get number five get into social

you get number five get into social

you get number five get into social media thank you all so much for

media thank you all so much for

media thank you all so much for supporting us and continuing to support

supporting us and continuing to support

supporting us and continuing to support us watching us on youtube and on Twitch

us watching us on youtube and on Twitch

us watching us on youtube and on Twitch this one is for all you who’d prefer to

this one is for all you who’d prefer to

this one is for all you who’d prefer to get a job as a video game journalist

get a job as a video game journalist

get a job as a video game journalist reviewer or live streamer Facebook

reviewer or live streamer Facebook

reviewer or live streamer Facebook Twitter Tumblr Instagram YouTube twitch

Twitter Tumblr Instagram YouTube twitch

Twitter Tumblr Instagram YouTube twitch set yourself up with an online presence

set yourself up with an online presence

set yourself up with an online presence for greater recognition you can and

for greater recognition you can and

for greater recognition you can and should alternatively write lots of blogs

should alternatively write lots of blogs

should alternatively write lots of blogs on gaming and don’t stop because whether

on gaming and don’t stop because whether

on gaming and don’t stop because whether it’s on gaming news reviews or opinions

it’s on gaming news reviews or opinions

it’s on gaming news reviews or opinions in the industry the more you write the

in the industry the more you write the

in the industry the more you write the better you’ll get at it for more on live

better you’ll get at it for more on live

better you’ll get at it for more on live streaming check out our video on top 10

streaming check out our video on top 10

streaming check out our video on top 10 ways to make money playing video games

ways to make money playing video games

ways to make money playing video games there’s simple things that can make you

there’s simple things that can make you

there’s simple things that can make you unique and different from a streamer but

unique and different from a streamer but

unique and different from a streamer but you don’t just want to be a bland boring

you don’t just want to be a bland boring

you don’t just want to be a bland boring personality that’s a mediocre the game

personality that’s a mediocre the game

personality that’s a mediocre the game you’re not gonna give you err in that

you’re not gonna give you err in that

you’re not gonna give you err in that way number 4 specialize in your field

way number 4 specialize in your field

way number 4 specialize in your field one of the biggest mistakes you can make

one of the biggest mistakes you can make

one of the biggest mistakes you can make in a job interview is to say that you’ll

in a job interview is to say that you’ll

in a job interview is to say that you’ll do anything remember you’re not the only

do anything remember you’re not the only

do anything remember you’re not the only one going for that job it’s usually

one going for that job it’s usually

one going for that job it’s usually about sticking to one field and being

about sticking to one field and being

about sticking to one field and being the best at it not just doing everything

the best at it not just doing everything

the best at it not just doing everything sort of averagely make sure you know

sort of averagely make sure you know

sort of averagely make sure you know what you want to do when you go into the

what you want to do when you go into the

what you want to do when you go into the interview don’t kind of say that you

interview don’t kind of say that you

interview don’t kind of say that you could do multiple things or that you’re

could do multiple things or that you’re

could do multiple things or that you’re a jack-of-all-trades no one’s really

a jack-of-all-trades no one’s really

a jack-of-all-trades no one’s really looking for someone to do multiple

looking for someone to do multiple

looking for someone to do multiple things out the gate they want to know

things out the gate they want to know

things out the gate they want to know what you can specialize in the main

what you can specialize in the main

what you can specialize in the main fields for any development team are

fields for any development team are

fields for any development team are usually art design programming and game

usually art design programming and game

usually art design programming and game design you’ll basically need to pick one

design you’ll basically need to pick one

design you’ll basically need to pick one and focus the best you can though with

and focus the best you can though with

and focus the best you can though with game design yeah best to hear it for

game design yeah best to hear it for

game design yeah best to hear it for yourself game design is tough you

yourself game design is tough you

yourself game design is tough you usually have to claw your way in and

usually have to claw your way in and

usually have to claw your way in and then eventually move across to doing

then eventually move across to doing

then eventually move across to doing design number three a college education

design number three a college education

design number three a college education these days many colleges offer degrees

these days many colleges offer degrees

these days many colleges offer degrees in the fundamentals of game design

in the fundamentals of game design

in the fundamentals of game design programming and the expectations you’ll

programming and the expectations you’ll

programming and the expectations you’ll meet in your career it’s especially

meet in your career it’s especially

meet in your career it’s especially important to get a college degree if you

important to get a college degree if you

important to get a college degree if you want to get into programming as most

want to get into programming as most

want to get into programming as most employers will require you to be

employers will require you to be

employers will require you to be familiar in common programming languages

familiar in common programming languages

familiar in common programming languages however people working in the industry

however people working in the industry

however people working in the industry come from a variety of academic

come from a variety of academic

come from a variety of academic backgrounds not just programming or game

backgrounds not just programming or game

backgrounds not just programming or game design higher education clearly makes

design higher education clearly makes

design higher education clearly makes you a better candidate for a number of

you a better candidate for a number of

you a better candidate for a number of reasons you get better writing better

reasons you get better writing better

reasons you get better writing better social skills that are time management

social skills that are time management

social skills that are time management ability more school probably won’t hurt

ability more school probably won’t hurt

ability more school probably won’t hurt your chances

your chances

your chances I’d encourage people to go to the best

I’d encourage people to go to the best

I’d encourage people to go to the best school that they can and really try to

school that they can and really try to

school that they can and really try to get good grades because that helps you

get good grades because that helps you

get good grades because that helps you get your foot in the door it helps your

get your foot in the door it helps your

get your foot in the door it helps your resume stand ahead number two start

resume stand ahead number two start

resume stand ahead number two start making games hmm there’s a video game

making games hmm there’s a video game

making games hmm there’s a video game I’m making it’s kind of like a side

I’m making it’s kind of like a side

I’m making it’s kind of like a side project oh good for you honey even if

project oh good for you honey even if

project oh good for you honey even if it’s in your spare time it’s just a

it’s in your spare time it’s just a

it’s in your spare time it’s just a hobby or starting a small studio with

hobby or starting a small studio with

hobby or starting a small studio with your friends and college classmates if

your friends and college classmates if

your friends and college classmates if you want to start making games you

you want to start making games you

you want to start making games you better start doing it now honestly there

better start doing it now honestly there

better start doing it now honestly there is no better teacher to highlight your

is no better teacher to highlight your

is no better teacher to highlight your strengths and weaknesses than yourself

strengths and weaknesses than yourself

strengths and weaknesses than yourself your first project will probably suck

your first project will probably suck

your first project will probably suck yes but it’s all part of the learning

yes but it’s all part of the learning

yes but it’s all part of the learning experience the Internet is awash with

experience the Internet is awash with

experience the Internet is awash with tools and tutorials that can help you

tools and tutorials that can help you

tools and tutorials that can help you make your first game many of

make your first game many of

make your first game many of them absolutely free or for a very

them absolutely free or for a very

them absolutely free or for a very reasonable sum if you can include a

reasonable sum if you can include a

reasonable sum if you can include a small game or demo in your portfolio

small game or demo in your portfolio

small game or demo in your portfolio that’s certainly going to earn you extra

that’s certainly going to earn you extra

that’s certainly going to earn you extra points with employers and will help

points with employers and will help

points with employers and will help demonstrate your dedication which of

demonstrate your dedication which of

demonstrate your dedication which of course leads to our number one tip if

course leads to our number one tip if

course leads to our number one tip if you’re not willing to sacrifice your

you’re not willing to sacrifice your

you’re not willing to sacrifice your weekends and nights then someone else is

weekends and nights then someone else is

weekends and nights then someone else is going to and they’re gonna step on there

going to and they’re gonna step on there

going to and they’re gonna step on there and make sure that you don’t get that

and make sure that you don’t get that

and make sure that you don’t get that job number one be dedicated like really

job number one be dedicated like really

job number one be dedicated like really dedicated it’s a really cutthroat

dedicated it’s a really cutthroat

dedicated it’s a really cutthroat industry out there everyone wants to

industry out there everyone wants to

industry out there everyone wants to make video games you’re potentially

make video games you’re potentially

make video games you’re potentially looking at 70 hour work weeks on average

looking at 70 hour work weeks on average

looking at 70 hour work weeks on average so be sure that you’re absolutely

so be sure that you’re absolutely

so be sure that you’re absolutely passionate about making games also be

passionate about making games also be

passionate about making games also be ready to move to another state or even

ready to move to another state or even

ready to move to another state or even another country when going to your next

another country when going to your next

another country when going to your next job with only a few months notice

job with only a few months notice

job with only a few months notice especially if there’s nothing in your

especially if there’s nothing in your

especially if there’s nothing in your immediate vicinity you might be in one

immediate vicinity you might be in one

immediate vicinity you might be in one part of the country maybe someone says

part of the country maybe someone says

part of the country maybe someone says yes to you but they’re like a couple

yes to you but they’re like a couple

yes to you but they’re like a couple states over go take that job you need

states over go take that job you need

states over go take that job you need that experience that’s the most

that experience that’s the most

that experience that’s the most important thing if you aren’t willing to

important thing if you aren’t willing to

important thing if you aren’t willing to put into work chances are there’s

put into work chances are there’s

put into work chances are there’s someone else who will and perhaps most

someone else who will and perhaps most

someone else who will and perhaps most importantly always be willing to admit

importantly always be willing to admit

importantly always be willing to admit that you screwed up because if you think

that you screwed up because if you think

that you screwed up because if you think your boss is a tough critic wait till

your boss is a tough critic wait till

your boss is a tough critic wait till you start hearing from consumers always

you start hearing from consumers always

you start hearing from consumers always work harder than the person next to you

work harder than the person next to you

work harder than the person next to you even if it’s yourself you are never

even if it’s yourself you are never

even if it’s yourself you are never working hard enough I do 60 70 hour

working hard enough I do 60 70 hour

working hard enough I do 60 70 hour weeks on the normal do you agree with

weeks on the normal do you agree with

weeks on the normal do you agree with our list is there any other advice you’d

our list is there any other advice you’d

our list is there any other advice you’d be willing to give anyone who wants to

be willing to give anyone who wants to

be willing to give anyone who wants to start making video games don’t be dead

start making video games don’t be dead

start making video games don’t be dead for more informative top 10s published

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