Gaining Experience and Building a Portfolio

Making Games is a Business and Studios Want Experience

Making games is a business. The development team’s goal is to make a game that is fun and enjoyable. The business team’s goal is to reach as many customers as possible and to turn a profit from game sales, downloadable content, and/or merchandising. Studios need to minimize risk while maximizing productivity and potential revenue.

Therefore, game studios are primarily interested in hiring talented professionals to make a commercial product. Studios expect you to be specialized and already have the skills necessary to do the work that needs to be done. They will not hire someone that cannot prove they are competent for a role.

Fierce Competition for Entry-Level Jobs

A majority of the vacancies in industry are for mid-level and senior-level positions. There are far fewer openings for internships and junior-level positions. As more and more people are studying game development through higher education or as a hobby, competition for junior roles is higher than ever. For example, the acceptance rate for an internship at Blizzard Entertainment is less than 1%, so you have to make sure your application standout from the rest.

Alternative Entry Level Roles

If you currently do not have skills to fulfill a development or business role, then you can work in entry level roles. These include retail, game testing, customer service, IT desktop support, and various facility roles.

How Do I Get Experience?

There is only one way to get experience, and that is by using your free time to develop your skills.

• If you want to be a developer, then make games.
• If you want to be a producer, then manage game projects.
• If you want to be an artist, then make art.
• If you want to be a tester, then report bugs.
• If you want to be a marketer, the make ads and social media campaigns.
• If you want to be a community manager, then manage a community.

The Video Game Industry is an Entertainment Industry, and you need to show that you have experience. Document your skills and accomplishments through your resume and portfolio.

Have a Public Portfolio

Craft a Portfolio

Tailor your portfolio to showcase your best work. Do not show all of your work. Your portfolio is only as strong as its weakest piece.

Show the type of developer you are and the experience you have

• If you are applying to be a designer, show that you can design game mechanics and systems.
• If you are applying to be an engineer, show that you can program the systems that the studio needs programmed.
• If you are applying to be an artist, show that you can make art in the same style and quality as the studio.
• If you are applying to be a producer, show that you can manage a project under a tight schedule with great organization and detail.
• If you are applying to be a marketer, show that you can market games to a target audience.
• If you are applying to be a community manager, show that you can manage a community and have excellent communication skills.
• If you are applying to be an QA tester, show that you can test games and find bugs.