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By Posted in Culture, Interviewing 13 Comments
This article is part of our Video Game Job Hunt Guide. Read the full guide to learn how to write a strong resume, build a winning portfolio, ace your job interviews and more.
Woman interviewer dressed in black
Even if the interviewers are dressed olde Victorian, still plan on wearing something more casual.

Game studios are like a lot of other tech companies: Casual. But when you add game culture into the mix, things can get weird.

I used to work with an amazing programmer who wore the same ripped-up shorts and ancient t-shirts most every day. And with an amazing artist who sometimes came to work wearing a miniskirt and cat ears. So, let’s just say, the game industry is a little bit… different.Read more »

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By Posted in Careers, Tools 14 Comments

The Internet is full of info about the game industry. But only a handful of resources cut through the noise to offer current, practical information to help you get a job and grow your career in games. And they’ll save you a lot of time and effort along the way.

The resources below are the cream of the crop, and come recommended by top game schools and industry professionals. And – bonus! – most of them are absolutely free. Enjoy!

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By Posted in Careers 175 Comments
This article is part of the Video Game Developer Salary series. See the annual pay for all video game jobs here.
An astronaut with colorful planets
Why shoot for the moon when Reach and Pandora await you?

Table of Contents

  1. Search for Game Tester jobs
  2. Game Tester salary: Overview
  3. Game Tester salary: Factors
  4. Game Tester salary: Details
  5. Other factors that affect Tester salary
  6. Demand for Game Testers
  7. Should I become a Game Tester?

When I was a kid, everybody dreamed of growing up to be an astronaut or firefighter, a ballerina or doctor. Things have really changed! Ask a modern kid what they want to become. Even the old standbys of “rock star” and “pro athlete” have been bumped off the wish list, replaced by something that once seemed out of reach: a job as a video game tester.

By now, most grown-ups know that getting a job as a video game tester doesn’t mean you sit around and play games. But it’s still a great way to break into the game industry. In fact, I’m the poster boy for starting as a tester. I began my career in quality assurance (another name for testing, or QA). Later I went on to become a designer and an engineer, and eventually a director in charge of multiple departments. I did go to school to learn programming, but only after I’d started my QA job.

After you’ve done your research on what a video game tester actually does, you may wonder about a more practical matter: What is an average video game tester salary? Read more »

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By Posted in Careers 320 Comments
This article is part of the Video Game Developer Salary series. See the annual pay for all video game jobs here.
Man wondering How much do game designers make?
You can make games. But can you make money?

Table of Contents

  1. How much do game designers make?
  2. Game Designer salary: Factors
  3. Search for Game Design jobs
  4. Game Designer salary: Details
  5. Other factors that affect Designer salary
  6. Demand for Game Designers
  7. Should I become a Game Designer?

When people find out that I work at a game studio, there’s always one or two in the group that excitedly explain how badly they want to become a video game designer. They love to play games, talk about games, and read news about games. Boy oh boy, they’re passionate about games!

I always encourage them to follow that passion. But I also temper it by describing what a brutally hard job it can be at times. Once their enthusiasm simmers down a bit, the next question is usually a little more practical: How much do video game designers make?

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By Posted in Careers 2 Comments
Photo of Kris Durrschmidt looking crazy
Is he really a viking? Is he actually crazy? Let’s find out.

Kris Durrschmidt is the co-founder, CEO and creative director of Crazy Viking Studios, an indie game development shop in the Seattle area. In the days just prior to completing his first major title, we spoke with him about life as a self-employed indie dev, the ups and downs of having complete creative control, and how to stay motivated.

In Part 2 of this interview, we’ll chat about running a Kickstarter, the future of the videogame industry, and advice for devs starting their careers in games. And – bonus! – the unsavory art portfolio that landed Kris his first industry job!

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By Posted in Careers No Comments
Concept Art / Poster for Volgarr the Viking Videogame
Who will win, Volgarr the Viking or this giant man-eating rattlesnake viper? I know who I’m betting on!

Kris Durrschmidt is the co-founder, CEO and creative director of Crazy Viking Studios, an indie game development shop in the Seattle area.

In Part 1 of this interview (which you should definitely check out), we talked about life as a self-employed indie dev, the ups and downs of having complete creative control, and how to stay motivated. In Part 2, we chat about running a Kickstarter, the future of the videogame industry, and some advice for devs starting their careers in games. (And – bonus! – the unsavory art portfolio that landed Kris his first industry job!)Read more »

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By Posted in Interviewing, Resume 2 Comments
Big and Small Goldfish
There are advantages to being a small fish in a big pond.

Without a doubt, this is a tough time to look for a new job in the game industry. Dozens of studios have have been hit by layoffs or have been shut down. Many others are barely treading water. From smaller shops like Harmonix and OMGPOP all the way up to big industry fixtures like EA, LucasArts, and SEGA, nobody has been immune to cuts. As a result, the job market is flooded with veteran game developers, and they’re fighting against fresh-out-of-school newcomers for many of the same jobs.

If you’re a recent graduate, you might be thinking: How can I get hired when I’m just a guppy going up against so many sharks? Is the pond big enough for everybody? How can I compete with established developers that have years of experience?Read more »

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By Posted in Applying, Interviewing No Comments
This article is part of our Video Game Job Hunt Guide. Read the full guide to learn how to write a strong resume, build a winning portfolio, ace your job interviews and more.
Rubber Stamp With Denied Word
A rubber-stamp rejection can sting, but it’s not the end of your job search. Acknowledge and move on.

You’ve been sending your resume to dozens of game companies, getting a few phone interviews, or maybe even an on-site interview with a company you’re super excited about. Things are going great! Until you get that dreaded email:

“Thank you for your interest in our company. Unfortunately, you’re not good enough. Not smart enough. Not talented enough. Goodbye, and don’t come back.”Read more »

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By Posted in Careers No Comments

Photo of Patrick ConnoleThe role of technical artist is a fairly new career in the game industry. We’ve always had artists and programmers, but tech art evolved organically. As games got bigger and timelines got smaller, studios needed people who could program tools, rigs, and automation – but also have a deep understanding of the artistic process. Thus, the Technical Artist was born!Read more »

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By Posted in Applying, Interviewing, Resume 2 Comments
This article is part of our Video Game Job Hunt Guide. Read the full guide to learn how to write a strong resume, build a winning portfolio, ace your job interviews and more.
Illustration of Winged Boy with Skateboard
Is your online art portfolio setting you up for success? Or dragging you down?

Building an online art portfolio is a critical part of applying for video game artist jobs. But it isn’t just about showing your awesome work to the art director before an interview. It’s also important to highlight your individual passion and personality as an artist.

We’ve assembled a collection of 7 game artist portfolio examples from working, industry professionals. Each artist offers clear and actionable advice on how to make your online art portfolio really shine.

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