Different Career Paths in the Video Gaming Industry

It's common for gamers to aspire to work in the video game industry and help create, develop or distribute games and gaming news to other fans. It only makes sense. When humans are passionate about something, they long to be a part of it. Being part of the gaming industry allows gamers to not only spend their time playing video games, but it also allows them to help create better games and connect with other gamers.

The path of choosing a career in the gaming industry, however, isn't as simple as it sounds. The video game industry is a rough industry to break into because of how competitive it is. It's also difficult to stay in the industry because most game developers hire employees in waves.

When a new project is announced, waves of engineers, developers, artists, writers and game testers will be hired temporarily on a contract agreement. Once the game is released, that game's budget lessens significantly and most of the core development team will be let go. Professionals in the industry learn to adapt because it's what they are truly passionate about, but it isn't an easy road.

Choosing a Specialty

The first thing to keep in mind when looking into a career in the gaming industry is that like all jobs, game studios are split into a multitude of departments and teams that each specialize in a different area of game creation. In any given game company there are software engineers, sound designers, user interface developers, animation developers, character artists, environment artists, localization and translation teams, cinematic designers, writers, quality assurance consultants and more. There are also separate teams for human resources, community management, information and technology and customer relations.

The more involved the game is, the more manpower must be behind its development. When choosing a career path, one must find an area of expertise and sink all of their passion into learning everything they can in that niche. Aspiring character artists should go to college for Art and Computer Design and study everything they can to become a specialized expert. This goes for all areas of game development as well.

Never Stop Learning

Most technical specializations of game development require a college degree and experience. Experience can generally be obtained after holding down an internship or two. Even aspiring game writers and quality assurance testers should consider going to college to learn everything they can about the industry.

It's also possible to learn about the industry from other professionals. Get to know as many professionals in the chosen specialization as possible and start networking as early as possible. Never turn down an opportunity to learn.

Other Alternatives

There are other ways to stay connected to the industry besides creating games. Game publishers and retailers allow video game enthusiasts to stay directly connected to other fans. These days, it's also possible to get involved in the gaming press, write for a gaming site such as this or publish video content that lets fans stay connected to games, developers and players.

There are many options for career-aspiring gamers including a future in game development, publishing, retail or working for the wide variety of press venues and sites. Landing that dream job will not be easy, but with solid connections, research and passion, that dream can become a reality.

Author Bio:

Kevin Borr is a writer and blogger who also happens to work in the gaming industry as an indie marketer. You can find his work on GameSkinny.com.