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By Posted in Applying, Podcast 8 Comments

In this episode of Game Industry Career Guide Podcast, I answer a question from Kit, who asks “I live in a state where there is no real game development work around, which puts me in a pickle because when I graduate I will have a degree but nowhere to use it. I already know that my best bet is to move to another state like Washington, but how does someone like me who will be new to the industry land that first job when migration cost has to be a factor? I’ve heard that some companies will help with this if they really want you to work with them, but I will not have a reputation at this point so I don’t see that happening. Do you have any suggestions?”

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Why you shouldn’t move until you’ve signed an offer
  • Why game studios might pay you big bucks to relocate, even without experience
  • The 2 most effective ways to ask – and get – free money to pay for relocation

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By Posted in Careers 54 Comments
This article is part of the Video Game Developer Salary series. See the annual pay for all video game jobs here.
young video game artist
Does video game art pay better than finger painting? Or is it just slightly less messy?

Table of Contents

  1. Game Artist salary: Overview
  2. Game Artist salary: Factors
  3. Game Artist salary: Details
  4. Other factors that affect Artist salary
  5. Demand for Game Artists
  6. Should I become a Game Artist?

When I started playing video games way back in the 1970’s, the “art” was pretty terrible. A game’s screen could only show a few colors at a time. Often, the “character” you were playing was little more than a colored square. Games were so simple that it was common for a single developer to do everything by herself – all the design, all the coding, and all the art.

Over the years, that changed. Gaming systems grew more powerful, exploding from two dimensions into three-dimensions in full color. At the same time, the video game artist’s job became too much for one person to handle. Now, the job that was once done by a single artist has split into many different art specialties. Each one has its own tools and techniques that take a lifetime to master. But when it comes to the paycheck, not all art jobs are created equal.

How much do video game artists make? And how much could you make as a game artist?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 Applying 2 Comments
This article is part of the Video Game Developer Salary series. See the annual pay for all video game jobs here.
Game developer salary is on target.
Will you get paid what you’re worth?

When you apply for a job, it’s common for the company to ask, “What are your salary requirements?” If this throws you for a loop, you’re not alone. It’s a hard question to answer. You don’t want to give a too-high number and scare them off, but you also don’t want to sell yourself short.

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By Posted in Applying 4 Comments

This article is part of the Video Game Developer Salary series. See the annual pay for all video game jobs here.

Image courtesy of Jeroen van Oostrom / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Remember to negotiate your salary before you sign the offer contract.

If you go through the interview process with an employer and end up receiving a job offer (yay you!), the salary they offer could be lower than what you asked for. Should you take the offer, or negotiate for more?

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