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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

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In this episode of Game Industry Career Guide Podcast, I answer a question from Mark O., who asks, “I’m wondering, in game development, which is the highest paying job, and how much experience would I need? And what would I have to study in college to get on my way to this job?”

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Which video game jobs have the highest annual salaries
  • Which game jobs require a college education, and which ones are more flexible
  • Why one of the game jobs is the easiest way to start out

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In this episode of Game Industry Career Guide Podcast, I answer a question from Arun, who wants to know, Is it possible to do game testing while learning programming languages and securing a degree? If the answer is yes, then how can I get started?

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • The specific steps I took to get promoted from a Game Tester to a Game Programmer
  • Why many people start their game development careers in the QA department
  • The best way to learn game testing and get a job, even if you don’t have a college degree

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By Posted in Careers, Podcast No Comments

In this episode of Game Industry Career Guide Podcast, I answer a question from Justin, who wants to know how he could change careers, and become a professional video game developer instead?

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Why it’s not too late to change careers, even if you’re in your 30’s
  • How to learn to make games while also keeping your current paycheck flowing in
  • How I successfully changed careers to become a game designer and programmer
  • Bonus: How building games as a hobby could help you at your current job

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By Posted in Podcast, Schools No Comments

In this episode of Game Industry Career Guide Podcast, I answer a question from John, his son is wondering if he should drop out of college and learn to make video games on his own?

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • How to push your boundaries in ways you never dreamed
  • The best way to convince employers that you know how to “GSD”
  • How to build deep, lasting connections with game industry insiders

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By Posted in Tools 7 Comments

The best way to learn how to make a video game, is to make a video game. And the sooner you start, the sooner you’ll see the look of surprise on your friends’ faces the first time they play a game made by you.

But you’re probably asking yourself, what’s the very first step I should take? What free game development tools should I use?

It may seem overwhelming at first, but fear not. These free game engines will get you started fast. Even if you don’t know programming, you can make your first game starting today.Read more »

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By Posted in Podcast, Schools 8 Comments

In this episode of Game Industry Career Guide Podcast, I answer a question from Sabrina M., who’s wondering whether she needs a college degree to become a video game tester?

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Two easy but powerful techniques for finding out the education requirements for any job
  • How to get hired as a Game Tester even if you don’t meet the official “requirements”
  • The best way to learn game testing and get a job without getting a college degree

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By Posted in Podcast, Schools 40 Comments

In this episode of Game Industry Career Guide Podcast, I answer a question from Chris B., who’s wondering how a computer science degree would be used in the video game industry?

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Why a computer science (CS) degree is helpful for a job in game design
  • How a CS degree could help you get one of the highest-paying jobs in the game industry
  • How a CS degree can provide critical job security when times get tough

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By Posted in Careers, Podcast No Comments

This is the first episode of my new Game Industry Career Guide Podcast. I answer a question from Michael M., who asks “I’ve wanted to become a video game designer for awhile but I also wanted to be able to do everything else like art and programming. How hard would it be to do that, if it’s even possible at all?”

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Why working with a team to make a video game is better than going it alone
  • Why the best game designers also know about game programming and game art
  • Which classes you can take in high school to give yourself a head start on becoming a game designer

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By Posted in Schools 3 Comments
Graduation hat in a grassy field
What can college teach you, that you can’t learn on your own?

I recently got this question from Jim, regarding his son’s game development career:

“My son is a freshman at a university with one of the Top 10 video game programming curriculums in the US according to Princeton Review Magazine. He says that he wants to drop out and self-teach himself to be a video game programer. I totally disagree with dropping out of college. What do you think?”

I don’t know Jim and I don’t know his son. But this question resonated with me in a big way. Not only because his son is about to make an important life decision that will tangibly impact his future. But also because I, myself, dropped out of school during my 3rd year of college and have been reflecting on that decision ever since. (That was back in 1995, so I’ve had ample time to think it over.)

So here are my thoughts on whether Jim’s son (or anybody else – maybe even you?) should or should not drop out of college and “go it alone” before starting a career as a professional game developer.Read more »

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