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Women in game development fight “a battle on two fronts.” How can you become part of the solution?

Last month, I opened an email sent to me by an aspiring video game developer named Esther. She was just starting on her degree in Game Art, but something was troubling her – she’d watched a documentary about women in the game industry, and many of them said their work was valued less than equivalent work done by male teammates.

So Esther had written to ask me about equality: “Have you ever seen a woman having more problems finding a job or being appreciated for her work? Have you ever noticed that a gender inequality exists in the game industry?” Read more »

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By Posted in Podcast 11 Comments

In this episode of Game Industry Career Guide Podcast, I answer a question from Joseph F. who asks, “I’m a high school student considering a career in game programming or design. I’m trying to learn C++ on my own with no background knowledge of programming and I wondered if you could recommend any tips for learning game-specific coding. My school doesn’t offer anything code related until junior or senior year and I’m having trouble knowing where to start. Is there anything in particular I can focus on to start practicing game coding while I’m in high school?”

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • How to learn the most popular game programming languages from scratch
  • How to learn to use the most popular video game engine, for free
  • The best way to combine your skills to make your first video game

Read more »

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In this episode of Game Industry Career Guide Podcast, I answer a question from Matthew who asks, “Hey Jason, I was looking into trying to get a job as a QA tester but all companies require years of previous experience. How do I get experience if no one will hire me unless I have it?”

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Why the “chicken and egg” problem affects every game job
  • How your career can take off once you get your foot in the door at a video game studio
  • Three of the top, proven strategies for breaking into your first game job

Read more »

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By Posted in Applying, Networking 53 Comments
How can you get your foot in the door, if the door won't open?

Does the video game industry seem like a black box, with no way to break inside? All you need is a foot in the door, but how do you get it to open in the first place?

You can get into game development. All you need is a solid strategy.

But it’s time to stop searching for “the right way,” because there’s no one “right way.” Instead, there are many ways to get your first job at a game studio. To discover the best strategies, it takes an understanding of how the current batch of professional game developers started out.

Here are 10 strategies you can use to break into your first job at a video game studio, along with examples of pro developers that have done it. It worked for them, and it can work for you. Read more »

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In this episode of Game Industry Career Guide Podcast, I answer a question from Paul N. who asks, “I was working full time for a small game company, but they closed and I was laid off. I’ve been looking for a new job ever since, but it’s been 18 months and it’s really starting to take an emotional toll. I’m smart, personable, creative and have numerous credits to my name, yet I always seem to come in second. So my question is, what the heck am I doing wrong?”

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • What are the key steps in your job hunt?
  • How can you target and improve each step to improve your success?
  • Why could you still be overlooked for jobs, even if you’re doing everything right?

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In this episode of Game Industry Career Guide Podcast, I answer a question from Mpho S., who asks, “The main thing I’m worried about when it comes to considering a career in gaming, is wondering what a day to day cycle looks like. What is a typical day as a game developer?”

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • What a typical day is like for a video game developer
  • The common stereotypes of a game development studio
  • Where the common stereotypes come from, and why even the bad ones have a grain of truth

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By Posted in Careers 3 Comments
A sad man wishes he could quit his job to make video games for a living.
Is every day a bad day at work? Maybe it’s time for a change.

Somewhere around the tender age of 18 or 20 years old, each of us is asked to make a decision that will impact us for decades to come. We’re made to answer the question, “What do you want to do with your life?”

I remember the year I was required to answer that question for myself. It was the year my university “strongly encouraged” me to declare a major, and I picked Biochemistry… even though I wasn’t sure what a biochemist did all day, or whether it would be a good fit for me. Knowing what I know about myself now, two decades later, I have no idea why I picked it. What the hell was I thinking?

I was expected to choose, and so I chose. Read more »

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In this episode of Game Industry Career Guide Podcast, I answer a question from Samantha, who asks, “My husband is studying to become an Artist and Animator in the game industry. We live in England, but realistically we would like to move to the US in 3 to 5 years to have better and bigger opportunities. Can you suggest any specific company or organisation in the US which could advise us on how to make this dream come true?”

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • What it takes to qualify for a US work visa
  • Where to find legal information, and the fastest way to get your application approved
  • How to successfully adapt and adjust to your new country and culture

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Video game developers walking through a Japanese city
“As soon as I made my decision, all the dread went away, and I just couldn’t wait to get there.”

Video game development is a global industry, so if you’re searching for your next game development job (or your first!), the world is your oyster. It’s common for game devs to take a job in a different city, but have you ever considered trying an entirely different country?

There are many reasons to relocate to a new country, especially if you’ve got your eye on one of the global locations that are video game development hotbeds. But does the thought of a far-away land with a different language, culture, and climate sound a bit… well… crazy?

Rest assured that it’s not at all crazy. In fact, it might also be the most rewarding and educational experience of your life.

We spoke with two brave souls who made the leap: game designer Brad Lansford, and game programmer Steve Vallee. Let’s find out why they did it, and why you should do it too. Read more »

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In this episode of Game Industry Career Guide Podcast, I answer a question from Lance, who asks, “It sounds like game writing and game designing are very similar. I was looking to become a game designer due to the fact that I was able to make the story but it seems like that’s what game writers do. Is it realistic to think that I can make the plot and story by being a game designer or should I consider switching to game writer?”

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • What a video game writer does at their job
  • How you can start learning video game writing
  • Why you should also learn game design to be a successful game writer

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