Make a Living by Creating Video Games

Make a Living by Creating Video Games

Do you enjoy playing video games? Can video games be beaten after a single playthrough? Do you think you're getting an easy win at these games? If you really care about these topics, then you should follow your interests.

If you're at a crossroads in your career, do what you're passionate about.You might think about switching to a different major, one that you would be able to study for years without getting bored of. And if you're like a lot of people, that something is probably video games.

Absolutely correct! It's possible to get work in the video game industry, either making or playing games. Jobs that require a background in video games are listed below.

Video Game Programmer

Video game programmers are called the "heart and soul" of the industry by Gameinformer. They are the ones that come up with the programs that make video games work. Their work is often difficult, despite common perceptions to the contrary. Creating complicated algorithms and functions for video games is often more difficult than writing software for a large corporation.

Although game development isn't the best option for everyone hoping to make a living in the video game industry, think about which would make for a more fun career: creating the next Halo or some boring, unremarkable piece of software.

Game Tester Position

Working as a game tester is one of the few jobs where you can get paid to do what you love. The current Electronic Arts game tester, Doug D., claims that one's job is to "go over different components of a game and search for stuff that just doesn't make sense." Moreover, you would "wreck the game" or "do things a typical user would do and accidentally observe something go wrong."

For young people looking to "get into the industry," video game testing is a great entry point, according to Doug Powell. A "passion for gaming" and academic credentials are assets when applying for such a career. Doug suggests getting an advanced degree or training of some kind.

Animator for Video Games

Game characters' motion is orchestrated by animators. According to Alex Jones, a well-known game animator, success comes after a lot of "brainstorming, chilling, playing, planning, and testing" alongside the programmer, not just drawing anything on paper. When all the prep work is finished, though, the video game animator can get down to business. The finest part of Alex Drouin's job, he adds, is "coming in late in the morning, sitting behind his computer, putting on a wonderful CD, and then creating insane animation that will wind up in a game that will be watched all over the world by gamers." Obtaining a degree in the gaming industry makes it a real possibility.

Sound Engineer

Video game music and sound effects are the work of sound designers. Electronic or live instrumentation is used to generate the music for video games. In the age of ever-improving gaming consoles, the latter is often the first choice of sound designers when deciding on the musical score for their games. However, it can take some creative experimentation to come up with the right sounds for an effect.

As a sound designer for video games, you need to have the following skills and interests in order to be successful: 1) an appreciation for music and sound; 2) familiarity with recording equipment; and 3) awareness of the musical and sonic styles currently popular in the industry. Get a degree in video games, and you'll sharpen those abilities.

Game Designer

The "experience" of a video game is entirely the work of the game's designers. "The fundamental job of the designer is to make sure the game is interesting," video game designer Charles Perry says.

Wells elaborates by saying that designers are in charge of both the big picture and the finer details of a game's levels. The process of "figuring out the main mechanics of the game; the variety of level aesthetics, power-ups, etc." is known as macro-level design. The "real levels and the moment-to-moment gameplay within those levels... the adversaries, the objects, and the specific way you encounter those enemies and stuff" are all products of micro-design.

Designers for video games need more than just the ability to draw and code to make great games.