Design. Code. Play A career in video games

Design. Code. Play A career in video games Design. Code. Play How To Make Video Games For A LivingPosted October 29, 2014, by Vivien LuuEver flirted with the idea of making video games for a living?Whether you want to be a kickass indie developer and make the next Braid or Super Meat Boy, or its your dream job to work on mega franchises like Elder Scrolls or Grand Theft Auto your career in the video game industrys got to start somewhere. So to equip you with the XP needed to level up in your pursuit of game development glory, we take a closer look at the industry and what it takes to make it.A snapshot of the industryWhat used to be dismissed as a frivolous pastime for teenage boys is now a multibillion-dollar industry. From the humble beginnings of Pong to epic franchises like todays Fallout and World of Warcraft, the gaming industry has grown exponentially over the belastung few decades, last valued at $91.95 billion in 2015. Games are also moving well beyond the straight sho ot-em-up bloodbaths were used to seeing. Game mechanics are becoming more inventive (look up Framed, a comic-book game in which you flick and switch around panels to move the story along), narratives are becoming richer (check out The Last of Us if youre not convinced a video game can rival cinematic storytelling), and developers are taking bolder risks when it comes to exploring themes and meaning. Take A Song for Viggo for instance, a heartbreaking game that deals with grief, depression and guilt, taking place seconds after you unintentionally kill your own son. Games are clearly catering to a more sophisticated and discerning audience, and so they should, because (in Australia anyway), the average age of the video gamer is 32 years old. What does this mean for you? Its an exciting time to space bar jump into the industryWhat sort of jobs are there?Lots of people make the mistake of thinking that to work in video games youve got to be some sort of programming wunderkind. Wh ile being able to code is important, there are other jobs that are just as crucial to the development of a video game.The gameplay entwurfThis is where game ideas are first conceived. Game designers are the visionaries on the team they set up the rules of the world, decide how the game is structured and how its meant to be played. Depending on the scale of the project this might be one person or a whole team.Writers Come up with the games narrative drive and plot, write dialogue for characters and in-game text.Game mechanic designers Construct the rules for interacting with the game and its world, so the experience is engaging and fun for players.Level designers Take the game mechanics and build specific levels and missions for the game, taking into account whats needed to challenge players at each stage of their gameplay.Interested in studying game design? Check out this Bachelor of Games Development.The artThe look and feel of a game, the aesthetics of the world you explore an d the characters you play all come down to the art department.Concept artists Are usually the first port of call when it comes to design. These guys will conceptualise important elements like the characters and game world.Animators Animate the cutaway scenes in between gameplay, as well as player-controlled actions like running, jumping and fighting.Background artists/modellers Draw and construct the environments and settings in which players game e.g. football stadiums, abandoned warehouses, alien planets.Texture artists Add the detailed textures needed to make a game look and feel real.Want to build worlds and characters from scratch? Check out this Diploma of Screen and Media (Game Art and Animation).The programmingThese guys are the technical masterminds behind a game. There are a lot of different disciplines under the coding umbrella, so if youve got the skills theres room to move about.Generalist programmers Action and implement the gameplay rules.Game engine programmers These guys are in charge of coding the actual game engine what makes the game tick.User Interface (UI) programmers Are in charge of creating user interfaces like option menus that are slick and appropriate for the game.AI programmers Creates the AI (the computerised opponent you play against), ensuring the AI is smart enough to challenge you but not so smart you give up.Sound programmers Integrate music, speech and sound effects into the gameplay.Game tool programmers Produce the tools needed to assist the development of a game.Keen on learning how to code? Consider this 13-week Object-Orientated Programming in C++ course or Certificate IV in Programming.The extra touches and testingBut of course, its not just code and art that makes a game great.Sound engineers Are needed to record, mix and compose the musical score and sound effects that accompany a game. This is a really important component as sound often dictates the mood of a game, and when done well, becomes an iconic par t of the game itself.Testers Carry out quality assurance to ensure any programming kinks and bugs are worked out before release (or for updates).Want to become a sound engineer? Consider studying this Bachelor of Audio.Whats the pay like?It really comes down to what discipline you specialise in and how much experience you have, but the stats below will give you an idea of how much you can expect to earn. In 2014,Gamasutrapolled 4,000 game developers worldwide and collated the average salaries per professiongeschftsleben and management US$101, 572Audio professionals US$95, 682Programmers US$93,251Producers US$82,286Artists and animators US$74, 349Game designers US$73, 864QA testers US$54, 833What do I need to get started?Ask this question to any of the bigwigs from development studios and theyll all tell you the same thing. To get a foot in the door you need passion, experience and a killer portfolio. The cardinal sin a lot of developer hopefuls commit is not spending enough t ime on samples of their work. Ultimately I look more at their portfolio of work than their CV, Oli Christie, founder of Neon Play studios told IGN. We need to see what a candidate can do. Rhodri Broadbent, co-founder of Dakko Dakko agrees. His advice to wannabe game designers is to make stuff, make stuff, make stuff. Knock up demos and concepts, get things moving on screen. The most important thing to do is try, Broadbent told The Guardian. Its invaluable experience as well as demonstrating initiative, passion and intent to learn. So that means you dont have to bother with uni or a course, right? Well, not exactly. For newcomers a degree is definitely helpful, especially if you are looking into mainstream games, co-founder of Nyamyam, Jennifer Schneidereit also told The Guardian.A lot of companies are looking for candidates with a solid education background and passion.So, where can I study game design in Australia?CG SpectrumIf youre interested in becoming an animator, a nd want to work on producing game art, CG Spectrum is the perfect study option. CG Spectrum is the brainchild of two animators who wanted to provide students with access to the industrys best artists. CG Spectrum tutors have worked on world-class titles such as Assassins Creed, Batman Arkham City and Resident Evil Operation Racoon City.So what are you waiting for? Level up with an animation or game design course today How do I get myself noticed?The Australian gaming industry is growing, and there are a lot of emerging networks and events helping to nurture home-grown talent. PAX Australia, for instance, is a fantastic opportunity for n00bie game designers to network with seasoned experts, showcase their work, and gain valuable advice from industry insiders. There are a lot of exciting and creative indie games being developed at present, says Guy Blomberg, PAX Australia Content and Community Manager. We are proud to be able to showcase as many as we can at PAX Aus this year. Se bastian Perri, AIEs Incubator Coordinator agrees.For recently graduated developers to show off their ideas and make themselves known is fantastic, Perri says.PAX Australiais being held in Melbourne over three days, 31 Oct to 2 Nov, so get along and speak to some professionals, or kickstart your career with an online coursetoday.Level up with an online course in games designDesigning ResourcesAssistant fashion designer cover letterGraphic design graduate resumeCareer Insider StoriesElizabeth OConnor-Cowley - Director, eeni meeni miini mohKim Fletcher - MillinerTherese Moussa - The Grounds Head Stylist & Creative DeveloperInterested in becoming a?Web DesignerIT ManagerInterior DesignerJunior Graphic DesignerInterior DecoratorPopular Career Searchesperth designing courseswhat skills do you need to be a interior designercertificate iii in design fundamentalsinterior design courses sydneyhow to become a Kitchen DesignerDesigning CoursesBachelor of DesignEnquire Online Enquire OnlineMixed Reality Design CourseEnquire Online Enquire OnlineUser Experience Design Accelerated Course (1 Week)Enquire Online Enquire OnlineUser Experience Design Transform Course (Full-Time)Enquire Online Enquire Online Vivien LuuViv is a writer who enjoys researching and writing about creativity, how the human mind works, and neuro processes. She values creativity above all else and admires people who pursue their career dreams, no matter the sacrifice. In her spare time, she binges on HBO shows and epic fantasy novels.Related ArticlesBrowse moreCAREER ADVICEJOB HUNTING5 Jobs for Creative PeopleDo you enjoy using the left side of your brain? Do you push yourself to think outside the box? See our five careers for creative people that help make a real differenceDesignDesigningDesign graduates need to impress in competitive industryDesign graduates take heed it takes more than great skills to get one of the top jobs in this competitive industry.DesigningFashion DesigningFashion career fact she etConsidering a career in fashion? Check out this fun fact sheet for everything you need to know about the industry, at a glance.