How to make your mark in the games industry

Digital distribution means games now have a bigger audience than ever before, and the industry is only going to get bigger. With more growth predicted this year and new technology creating exciting new developments for games, it’s an incredible time to get involved. So how do you start your career in the industry?

While there are universities offering specific games courses and qualifications, programming experience is always going to be a great starting point for developers. There are various tools you can use to hone your craft (GameMaker and Unity are just two), but if you’re committed to making games, there’s no better way to test your skills than by trying to put together a game yourself. Even if you’re hoping to work in a more creative part of the games industry, learning the basics of coding can be invaluable in helping to understand the nuances of the industry and will allow you to communicate with your coder peers.

If you’re not a creative or a coder, other ways into the industry exist in areas as diverse as QA and test, production, community management, marketing, localisation or customer support. The broader reach of games means there are many supporting roles that help bring these games to market in new ways. Getting that first break into the industry can be a challenge, but you can demonstrate your passion and commitment to the industry through social media involvement, blogs and contribution to forums. Game developers love to see candidates who are dedicated to the games industry in their own time.

For those who are looking to work in graphics and imaging, get a handle on Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, HTML5 and any other programmes you might need to have in your arsenal. Make sure all of these skills and examples of work shine through in your portfolio – and then come talk to us to help get the ball rolling!