Tips that Can Get You Your First Video Game Design Job

Video game designers usually love the industry from the time they’re young. They adore video games and spend all their time playing them. They may feel so passionately that they want to create that feeling in others.

They can do that by designing games and creating entire worlds people can enter. It’s escapism that genuinely changes lives, and often for the better.

How do you get a job designing video games, though? You can follow different paths, but certain tips can help if you eventually want a spot in this lucrative but challenging industry.

We’ll discuss how you can get a job designing video games now.

Learn to Code

Designing games takes dedication and skill. First, though, you must learn to code. You can attend college classes, but some coders also teach themselves. You can learn online when you take courses, or some people study programming languages and master them.

You can start by learning Python, JavaScript, and Kotlin. Once you start understanding some coding basics, you can consider yourself well on your way. The better you can code when approaching video game companies with open positions, the better your chances.

Design Simple Games

You can also design simple games with basic gameplay. You can show off your games when you start doing some job interviews at video game companies.

Simple games don’t take much effort. If you’ve mastered basic coding, you can show your game as part of your resume. That can get your foot in the door. You want something that shows you can start a project, but also complete one.

Use Discussion Boards

Many times, you can find discussion boards where you can locate and befriend other would-be video game designers. You should post your work so others can critique it.

In the Evening Creative Young Video Game Developer Works on a Desktop Computer with Screen 3D Videogame Level Design. Stylish Creative Studio Office. Over the Shoulder Shot

This works like writing short stories and posting them while learning creative writing. You are getting feedback from the world at large.

This helps you accept constructive criticism. That’s a skill you will definitely need if you do enter the video game design profession.

Get a Degree

Some video game designers never attend college, but they’re in the minority. Most designers have a degree from an accredited four-year program.

You should get a video game design degree, or, failing that, you should get a degree in a related field. If you can, attend one of the better schools, like MIT, Drexel, or the University of Southern California. Once you get your degree, you can make that your resume’s centerpiece.

Getting a college degree doesn’t just mean you learned about video game design. It also shows you stuck with something to the end. That’s dedication, and you’ll need it as a game designer. It should impress your potential boss when you’re interviewing.

Become a Game Tester

Game testers have essential jobs. They must test the games exhaustively when they’re in beta. You can enter this industry in a minor way when you become a video game tester. It doesn’t pay much, but you can work on your own games on the side while you do it.

When you become a game tester, you’ve entered this world, if only in a small way. You can work your way up. It’s like starting in the mail room. You want a more prestigious job, but at least you’re in the show. With dedication and resilience, you can gradually move up the ranks.

Get an Internship

You can also work at a video game studio as an intern. Interns make no money, but you can learn about the industry while you get coffee and do any other minor task your boss demands.

If you make it clear that you want a more substantial job there, you can probably position yourself to make that happen. Proving that you’ll willingly put in your dues can show your boss that you have the passion and enthusiasm that the job takes. You are establishing your character, and that matters.

Create a Gaming Blog

Creating a gaming blog that becomes popular can help you as well. It shows a potential boss when you start interviewing that you have passion and also that you can think analytically.

If you talk about how much you love video games on your blog, that’s good, but you should also critique them. Talk about what you like and also about what you don’t. You’re establishing a persona. That might come in handy when you want your first breakthrough design job.