Your Guide to Landing a Career in the Gaming Industry

Your Guide to Landing a Career in the Gaming Industry was originally published on Firsthand.

Picture this: It's 3:00 in the morning. You have to go to work in a few hours, but your eyes are still locked on the screen as you try to beat the final boss in Final Fantasy XV. You know that staying up late will make it harder for you to get to work later, but you do it anyway because you enjoy gaming. At the same time, you're frustrated because your 9-5 is not something that you really want to do, but you need to make a living. Then you think to yourself, “I wish I could be paid to discover dungeons or level up characters.”

Well folks, what if I told you that your fantasies could easily turn into reality? Just imagine making money by doing something that you love. You never have to think of work as a downer, and you'll have something to look forward to every day. And if you think the prospect of pursuing your passion for gaming sounds too good to be true, I'm here to tell you that it's not. You just have to put your heart into it and follow the right path, and you can always land the job of your choice.

Starting a career in the gaming industry is no way an easy feat. Like every role-playing video game you've ever played, the journey can be quite daunting. There are times can make you wish there were save points in real life in case you mess up. But don't worry—I've got tips on how to make it to the finish line. Get them right and you'll be on your way to a great adventure!

Put yourself out there.

As cliché as it sounds, no one has really gone far by staying in their comfort zones. One way to leave yours is by getting the word out that you're an aspiring game developer. Start making your own indie games, and let people see and criticize them. Trust me, you'll learn so much from self-professed and professional gamers alike in the process. If you ever find yourself stuck, you can always use their input to make the necessary improvements to your current games or to future projects.

There are plenty of discussion boards or threads for this. The trick is that you have to find the right audience for your game. Later, you'll be amazed at how many people find your work full of potential. You may even get noticed by huge gaming companies, if you're lucky. And if not, you'll have a great resume to shop around for a more mainstream game-development position.

Get in the game.

Why not start your own gaming studio? This is for those who are gunning for the stars and planning to take over the industry. Call it a bold or brazen idea, but I like to believe that when you couple business acumen with tenacity and grit, you can do almost anything.

There are a ton of resources that can help you learn the ins and outs of the gaming industry. GamingScan, for instance, regularly updates its readers on what's happening in the gaming world. They also hold nothing back when it comes to sharing their thoughts on new releases. Reading their articles and other resources can help you come up with a strategy for your next game.

Write.

Not everyone knows how to use those tools that developers utilize to create a game. Some of us just love playing video games, and that doesn't make us less of a gamer. You can still get that dream job of yours.

Games in this day and age are very interactive compared to the days of Pac-Man and Galaga. Players, especially those who are big on role-playing games, need to feel a great sense of adventure in their games. As a result, story arcs, gameplay tutorials, character biographies, dialogues, side quests, and other game elements are more complex than ever.

If you're a fiction-lover, this is the area of game design that might speak to you. A game writer's job is to make sure that the game communicates effectively with its players in all aspects. As a gamer yourself, you don't want to play something that barely makes sense, right?

If fiction isn't your thing, you might want to try writing for gaming-focused websites. There are tons of pages that put out reviews, guides, or walkthroughs for different genres of games, old or new. GamingScan is a good source for this, as well. Consider this option if you already have a trove of games on your shelf waiting to be reviewed or if you have a word of advice to other gamers like you who want to improve their gaming experience.

Start a gaming channel on YouTube or Twitch!

It's rare, but possible, to become an internet gaming sensation through posting videos or streaming your gameplay to viewers who, like you, can't get enough gaming in their lives. But to be successful in this route, you have to be one of the best of the best players out there.

So to all the hardcore gamers out there who have the skill, the equipment, the voice, and the time to pull this one off, this might be your chance. Try watching other gaming vloggers and taking some inspiration from their methods. Social media can help you up your online presence, but the key to being a top gaming streamer is to be entertaining to watch and to game, game, game!

When it comes to the gaming industry, there's practically no limit to what you can achieve—this is a growing industry that favors those with ambition and drive. The key is to always be ready and raring to take on any challenge you face. With hard work and perseverance, you can become the victor in your own game.

Samuel Stewart is the editor-in-chief of GamingScan.

By Firsthand
We help applicants, students, job-seekers and professionals like you find the right career path using the power of firsthand experiences.