Game Design

The video game industry can be appealing for some, especially those who enjoy playing video games as a hobby. Whether you’re passionate about video games or interested in working in this industry, you can find a job for yourself in the field! It might sound unbelievable that you can break into the video game industry without years of formal training or experience but it’s totally possible!

To break into a skilled industry like game design, you have to start somewhere. But how do you prove yourself when you haven’t yet earned experience on paper? Here are some ways you can find an entry-level game art/game design role:

• Build Technical Skills:
  • Learn programming languages: C++, C#, Java, or Python depending on your desired role
  • Game design tools: Unity, Unreal Engine, Game Maker, etc.
  • Art and animation skills: 3D modeling, 2D art, animation software if you want to pursue art-related roles
• Build Your Portfolio & Join Game Projects:
  • Create your portfolio & highlight projects: Create small games or mods to showcase your skills and understanding of game development principles.
  • Game jams: Participate in game jams to work collaboratively on short game projects within a time limit.
  • Open-source contributions: Contribute to open-source game projects to gain experience and collaborate with others
  • Consider commissioning temporarily on small projects, or with small video game companies who may want only one or two pieces from you rather than hiring you as a full-time employee.
• Build Your Own Games:
  • One of the best ways to get experience is to build and complete your own games. Your output will prove your determination, creativity, and hunger for growth.
• Network & Connect With Fellow Gamers:
  • Industry events and conferences: Attend gaming conventions and meetups to connect with industry professionals
  • Online communities: Join online forums and communities dedicated to game development to learn from others and share your work
• Craft Your Resume:
  • Take the time to tailor your resume and cover letter to the job or internship you are applying for. Highlight your relevant skills and experience, even if it’s not directly related to the job.
  • Consider using a functional resume format that focuses on your skills and abilities rather than your work experience.
• Explore Internships or Early Career Development Programs:
  • Apply for internships: Look for internships at game studios (like Epic Games or Activision) to gain hands-on experience.
  • Pursuing an internship at a game studio and or applying as a QA tester are also other ways to break into the industry.
  • Research early career development programs in the gaming industry.
  • SNHU has partnered with several employers on Handshake where these gaming industry employers post jobs and internships targeting SNHU students:
    • Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, Belfrost Studios, ZeniMax Online Studios, Girls Make Games, Rainbow Unicorn Games, & Veterans Gaming Mental Health Mission

• Explore Entry-level Jobs:
  • Sound Engineer: They may edit sounds for all aspects of a game, such as voice acting lines, sound effects and the game’s soundtrack.
  • Animator: In the video game industry, they may create 3D models, textures, objects and any cut scene objects an area uses during a fight or narrative scene.
  • Writer: Writers can work in the video game industry and provide their skills in scriptwriting, editing and formatting for an entire script team.
  • Artist: An artist is someone who illustrates environments, backgrounds and characters for concept art or textures throughout a video game
  • Video Game Tester: A video game tester is a quality assurance employee who helps measure, test and discover bugs in a video game.

If you’re a game design student or graduate, chances are good you’ll want to know some of the best mid-level gaming industry jobs out there and where to start looking. Employers are eager to find game art/game design students and graduates, especially those who have mastered skills such as character design, Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects), and 3D modeling/sculpting. Some experienced professionals find they are looking to make a new career move.

Knowing how switching to a gaming career can be beneficial can help you plan the next part of your professional life!

• Switching Careers – Advice for Career Changers:
  • As a career switcher, you have a distinct advantage over graduates and early-career job seekers: Your career to date. Through your career you’ll have accumulated lots of skills and knowledge which may be transferred into a new career and are sought-after by employers!
  • In many cases, making a successful switch is a matter of refining specific skills, and highlighting transferable skills from your past experience.
  • Spend time researching the skills your ideal game art or game design job requires, and spend time updating your resume and applications to be sure you have noted all your current/newly acquired skills, relevant certifications, and transferable skills from your past experience.
  • Create a portfolio that demonstrates your skills! You should include samples of your work, such as games, prototypes, designs, scripts, or art.

• Popular Game Design Jobs To Explore:
  • As you begin considering career options, you might want to spend some time researching the various game design career paths out there and which aligns closest with your passions and skillsets.
  • While researching specific roles, you will want to consider researching some of the top companies looking to hire gaming students and graduates!
  • SNHU has partnered with several employers on Handshake where these gaming industry employers post jobs and internships targeting SNHU students:
    • Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, ZeniMax Online Studios, Girls Make Games, Rainbow Unicorn Games, Veterans Gaming Mental Health Mission.

• Popular Gaming Industry Job Boards To Explore:
  • You are probably asking, where can you find jobs with great companies? Well, job boards are one place you can start!
  • We put together this list of the best game industry job boards so you can quickly and easily find jobs to apply to!

• Explore & Research Job Titles:
  • Gameplay Designer
  • Level Designer
  • System Designer
  • Narrative Designer
  • Technical Designer
  • Quest Designer
  • World Builder
  • Character Designer
  • AI/UX/UI Designer

As a seasoned professional in the gaming industry field, employers may be expecting that you have not only the experience in the field, but the technical knowledge and certifications to prove your expertise! Career paths for more senior game artists or designers are diverse and wide ranging!

• Senior-level Jobs:
  • Lead Game Designer: Manages the design team, and makes sure the design elements align with the game’s goals
  • Game Director: Has the final say on the creative aspects of a project, including design decisions
  • Video Game Producer: Oversees the design of a video game, and may work with the creative team, quality assurance, and public relations.

• International Game Developers Association (IGDA)
• American Gaming Association (AGA)
• Esports Trade Association (ESTA)
• DiGRA Digital Games Research Association
• IEEE Game Engineering Special Interest Group
• Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association (FSGA)
• Global Gaming Women
• International Federation of Match Poker
  Association of Players, Casinos, and Webmasters

• Game art and game design certifications can quickly and affordably improve your skills and job prospects in the gaming industry.
• Its import you take the time to first explore certification types and find options to find the best fit for your unique career goals!
• Common certifications include:
  • Certified Game Designer (CGD) from the International Game Developers Association (IGDA)
  • IGDA Certified Professional Program
  • Unity Certified Developer Program
  • Unreal Engine 4 Certification Program
  • Adobe Certified Associate in Digital Media: Game Design

• When creating a resume for a game art or game design career, it’s important to highlight the relevant skills that demonstrate your expertise and qualifications in the field.
• Here are some key skills:
  • Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects)
  • Creativity
  • Project Management
  • Visual Scripting Languages
  • Digital Drawing/Illustration
  • 3D Modeling/Sculpting
  • Lighting, Shading
  • Texturing
  • Rigging
  • Character Animation
  • Creature Design