Finding a Job and Carving your Niche in a Quickly Globalizing Video Game Industry

Susan GoldInternational Game Developer’s AssociationEducation Special Interest Group, Chair

GarageGames, Inc.Academic Coordinator

It Starts with an Education

Education gives you a foot in the door– responsibility– timelines– understanding differences– networking– broad understanding of the discipline

• pique of interest• explore a variety of ideas and theories• development of portfolio

That said...

Many members of industry do not hold degrees

The type of person industry is looking to hire is :

Shaped

Breadth

Versed in all aspects of industry, be it their subject or expertise or that of team members.

Breadth

Having a sense of history within the medium.

Breadth

Plays games and knows the market.

Breadth

Studies the classics as well as modern readingto better understand culture

Breadth

Has passion for video games & has the abilityto collaborate.

Breadth

Game StudiesGame DesignGame ProgrammingVisual DesignAudio DesignInteractive StorytellingGame ProductionBusiness of Gaming

Breadth

Depth

Top in area of expertise, well read, honed skill.

Breadth

Depth

Programmer or Artist - be excellent in one area, know what you like to do.

IGDA Education SIG

http://www.igda.org/education

Curriculum Knowledge Base

http://www.igda.org/index.php/Curriculum_Knowledge_Base

Syllabi

Key Component: Soft Skills

Speaking & Communication Writing Collaboration

Interdisciplinary Work & Courses

The ability to understand and work with a team of different disciplines

Acknowledging and respecting those disciplines

Communication Skills Breadth of Medium

Types of Programs

Many different types of programs Based on many different types of disciplines

– CS– Design– Film– Sound & Music– Architecture, etc..

Philosophies– Experimental design focused– Industry pipeline focused– Research oriented– Serious Games

Portfolio

Demo Reels– Only your best

• artwork• mods• game design documents

– identify what it is you did if collaborative work

• NO Audio

Online Presence– your own website

• easy to navigate• contact information

Code

Make Sure it is Clean– get rid of erroneous code– redundant code

Online Presence– participate in forums and discussions– get work into conferences or magazines & journals– share your game(s)

Play Games

Know what is happening in the industry– Gamastura http://www.gamastura.com– 1 Up http://www.1up.com– EGM http://egm.1up.com– Games for Windows– Game Informer http://www.gameinformer.com

• RSS Feeds• Blogs of Designers

– Personal Favorites

• Kokatu http://www.kotaku.com/• The Escpaist http://www.escapistmagazine.com

Breaking In

http://www.igda.org/breakingin/

Networking

Attend local conferences Attend local IGDA meetings Internships

Thank you

Susan Gold

IGDA Education SIG, chair

goldfile@gmail.com