Hi, I'm a third-year Computer Science Engineering student at the Ohio State University. My goal is to get into the game industry, but realistically I know that it is difficult. I am looking to get an internship for the following summer (of 2008). I've been looking at a lot of websites but it seems like getting an internship at a game company is both a rare and difficult to do. It seems that the best idea right now is to just find an internship at a software company in general (not specifically gaming). Is this a helpful step in my game industry goal? Or is there a more productive use for the summer? I heard a helpful step is to be a game tester, but I am hesitant to use my summer for that (or is it a good idea?). Should I just be a normal CSE college student and then look for game company openings when I graduate? My ultimate goal is to make an independent game company, but it seems smart to first get industry experience (or a job in general so I don't starve!). And I should probably put this pending degree to good use. Thanks!

You're about the fifth person to ask that question here this month.

Read this, then please reply with the correct answer to your question.

"S Warmer" wrote:
>My goal is to get into the game industry, but realistically I know that it is difficult.

Name something worthwhile and/or desirable that isn't! (^_^)

>I've been looking at a lot of websites but it seems like getting an internship at a game company is both a rare and difficult to do.

It is not rare. It's no more difficult than getting a job.

>It seems that the best idea right now is to just find an internship at a software company in general (not specifically gaming).

Please justify that comment. How is this the best idea? What criteria did you use to arrive at that conclusion?

>Is this a helpful step in my game industry goal?

Whoa, hold on. A second ago you said it was "the best idea." Now you're asking if it's even useful at all? Make up your mind, will ya? (^_^)

>Or is there a more productive use for the summer?

Yeah, a job that brings in cash!

>I heard a helpful step is to be a game tester, but I am hesitant to use my summer for that

Why are you hesitant?

>(or is it a good idea?).

You just said you'd heard that it was. Now you're asking if you heard right? (Am I hearing right?)

>Should I just be a normal CSE college student and then look for game company openings when I graduate?

That's a choice only YOU can make.

>My ultimate goal is to make an independent game company, but it seems smart to first get industry experience

YESS! (^_^) FAQ 29 - http://www.sloperama.com/advice/lesson29.htm

>(or a job in general so I don't starve!).

Which is what I said above.

"F Rob" recommended you read my site. In addition to FAQ 29, I recommend you read FAQ 5, and FAQ 12. I haven't written one about interning, but I probably should.

Quote: Original post by frob
You're about the fifth person to ask that question here this month.

Read this, then please reply with the correct answer to your question.

Sorry, I read those posts but I had a slightly different question (and it couldn't hurt to ask). I just wanted to know if a game internship was even the right opportunity to pursue at the moment. Anyways, thanks for the link.

Quote: Original post by tsloper
>It seems that the best idea right now is to just find an internship at a software company in general (not specifically gaming).

Please justify that comment. How is this the best idea? What criteria did you use to arrive at that conclusion?

Well I was looking through a big of game companies and then checking their websites, and only found like 1 in every 20 had an internship opportunity (and half of them are in Europe :( ). I assume these are also highly sought after positions by people like myself. What I'm saying is that I should probably focus equally on finding an internship at a normal software company as with a game one. I guess I should keep trying though, I found this list here after some browsing on these fora. However, a lot of the companies listed don't actually have internships listed explicitly on the website. Does that mean I should still contact them and send them my CV while asking for an internship position? Or is that list just outdated?

Quote: Original post by tsloper
>Is this a helpful step in my game industry goal?

Whoa, hold on. A second ago you said it was "the best idea." Now you're asking if it's even useful at all? Make up your mind, will ya? (^_^)

Well, I was unsure. But I guess yes, any experience is better than none!

Quote: Original post by tsloper
>I heard a helpful step is to be a game tester, but I am hesitant to use my summer for that

Why are you hesitant?

It just doesn't seem like game testing is a better choice over getting an internship at a general software company (like Microsoft or IBM or whatever I can get). I mean, this is looking at the big picture for my future (which includes backup plans over an early game career). I mean it might be slightly better for getting a game programming job (is it? I don't know), but I think I would rather have the programming experience from a general software company internship that I could use (would look better on resume?) for either a game programming job or a normal programming job.


Anyways, thanks for the help guys. I'll think I'll go thoroughly read your FAQ and start filling out some applications.

[Edited by - Swarmer on September 11, 2007 12:11:55 PM]

I think what you're missing with the whole internship thing is that most internship opportunities simply aren't listed because because most companies have plenty of applicants anyways. What that means if that you need to take the initiative to simply send in your resume or CV to companies and explain to them that you are looking for an internship and what kind of internship it is that you're looking for.

Quote: It just doesn't seem like game testing is a better choice over getting an internship at a general software company (like Microsoft or IBM or whatever I can get). I mean, this is looking at the big picture for my future (which includes backup plans over an early game career). I mean it might be slightly better for getting a game programming job (is it? I don't know), but I think I would rather have the programming experience from a general software company internship that I could use (would look better on resume?) for either a game programming job or a normal programming job.

Game programmers have to work with game testers every day. You do realize that more time is spent fixing things than creating them as a programmer, right? A position as a game tester will get you familiar with those processes, which is very valuable.