Are you a game developer? Have you broken into the industry? There are so many people who are working hard to get into the industry, but so far have no had any luck. What have you done to break into the industry?

Think back about the minute details that got you into the biz. Did you go to college? Did you learn how to do it on your own? Did you have a friend or acquaintance that helped you get the job? Did you have any connection with the company you worked for? Did you have a portfolio? Resume? When did you get the job? How long had/have you worked there?

Also, if that first industry job is not the job you have now, what did it take for you to get the job you have now? Why did you leave? How long did you work at your first job, how many jobs in between, etc. Did you make a connection with the company you're at now before you applied? What did you do differently to get the job you have now, of applicable? Try to be as specific as possible.

[Edited to add my own personal information]

Personally, I am an indie game developer and entrepreneur. I enjoy programming mainly, and creating new game concepts and building them. I went to college for computer science and have a bachelor's degree. I personally have never worked for another gaming company, but it was in part because when I tried to get a job for game companies when I was younger, I didn't have any professional experience.

I had only hacked together many small projects and they were often scattered. I had no organizational skills and didn't document anything. The way I was developing projects was also by learning at the same time so I could provide the businesses with no real timeline. There was no one to vouch whether or not I made the projects entirely by myself. Most of these projects I speak of are small game engines with basic network accessibility.

I had a long history of being rejected as a game developer because of their inability to know how I would respond in a team environment, lack of references, and lack of job experience. Not to mention, I finished college after developing these projects on my own and looking for these jobs.

I had the skill to complete tasks as a programmer for a game development company, but there was absolutely no way to verify this at all. For all these businesses knew that I was applying to, "I am just someone off the street trying to find a job and might know absolutely nothing." This is also in part due to my LACK OF RESUME and PORTFOLIO.

Since I had developed games as a young age, but I didn't fit the part of a professional developer, I never had success at getting a job. I just started my own business, which is fine. Now I am wondering what could I have done differently, or what can I do in the future to secure a job at a game development company.

J. Faraday, how about you? Are you a game developer? Have you broken into the industry? Did you go to college? Did you learn on your own" Did you have a friend or acquaintance that helped you get the job? Did you have any connection with the company you worked for? Did you have a portfolio? Resume? When did you get the job? How long had/have you worked there? Also, if that first industry job is not the job you have now, what did it take for you to get the job you have now? Why did you leave? How long did you work at your first job, how many jobs in between, etc. Did you make a connection with the company you're at now before you applied? What did you do differently to get the job you have now, of applicable? Try to be as specific as possible. I think it's just fair, when asking people to tell their story, that the asker start by telling his own.

I told my getting-started story already, at http://sloperama.com/advice/lesson18.htm

Tom, you're right. I should have posted my story immediately. I edited the topic to post my experience. Also, thanks for sharing.

Hi,

I am a sound designer and I am at my first job (which is a full time job, I say that because it's not always the case in my field) currently.

I have a master's degree in audio, I have a demo reel which is a remake of big game trailers. I didn't really have a great portfolio (and I still really don't feel super proud about it tho it's way better now).

Basically I was looking for an internship at the end of my degree. And I got into a start-up who is basically an audio service and small game dev studio mostly because I also know how to code in Unity and I know Pure-Data and Max/MSP with some basics on audio synthesis. I am pretty technical as far as junior sound designers go, at least that's what I am told. They didn't take me for sound design in the first place. It was like "if there is sound design to do you'll do some". Cool thing is that they were some sound design to do after all. It was also lucky that they basically needed someone just like me just at the right time.

I didn't know anyone at this company, I just contacted them by mail with resume/cover letter.

At the end of my internship they didn't hire me straight up because they were not sure they would need me but they told me they would like to do so. And they did three months later thanks to a coworker there who liked me / though I was technical enough to be independant. I work there since almost 5 months.

During the internship I didn't actually do games, but now I do.

I also got an offer not long ago for a job in a large AAA studio but it didn't happen because I am not in the US. I talked a bit with the person and he told me that what they look the most is the demo reels and they basically don't give much care about anything else (he probably didn't even read my resume because he didn't know where I was from when he contacted me). Granted it was already an audio guy so I didn't have to go through the HR part (which is where your resume and whatnot matters).

This guy noticed me because I won an award (during the 3 months I was unemployed) at an event where his company won one too and he got to my website this way (I assume, he ddn't tell me but I see no other way).

TLDR : Knew a lot more than sound design even if some of it is not at a pro level (like coding), some luck, was nice enough to work with, worked well enough (followed what I was told to do while trying to take initiatives on my own (not much tho it's scary to do so as an intern!) and respected every deadline).

I am a senior graphics programmer at Square Enix, working on the Luminous Engine and Final Fantasy XV.

I started programming at late 13 or early 14 on my own with a TI-81 calculator we needed for school, after spending many years designing my own games on paper or even Mario Paint, and deciding that if any of them were to ever have a chance at getting made I would have to program them myself.

I programmed constantly at home after school, and as a natural consequence I had a large portfolio to display by the time I was 17.

My school did not offer programming classes nor Japanese lessons, and since I had already skipped several grades in specific classes (2 in math, 4 in science, and 7 in English), I decided to stop wasting my time with school and dropped out of high school before turning 18.
This gave me more time to spend programming (and to study Japanese online).

At 20 I attended a 1-year vocational college in order to get a diploma in programming (not a degree, not a GED). A diploma is necessary for living abroad.

At 22 I took a vacation to Thailand for 3 months and intentionally missed my flight back to America. A few days before spending my last $50 on the last rent I could afford before having to move onto the streets I got a job making video games in Thailand at Sanuk Games.
I had never worked before so I relied heavily on those portfolio works I mentioned earlier and passing their interview test.

I stayed in Thailand and in that company for 5 years. During the last 2 years I studied Japanese at a school and made contacts with as many Japanese as I could, which was easy since many Japanese enjoy traveling to Bangkok.

One contact finally paid off when they randomly e-mailed me inviting me to head their new games division. I had accepted a job in Hong Kong and already put in my notice at work, so when the offer in Japan came I was ready to go (after giving sad news to the company in Hong Kong).

A few companies later and I wound up where I am.

What have you done to break into the industry?

I took calculated risks. I dropped out of high school but spent my time wisely, constantly working on programming personal projects etc.
Then I purposely missed my flight back home to take a chance on finding something abroad with no prior experience.

Did you go to college?

A 1-year vocational college specifically for programming.

Did you learn how to do it on your own?

Yes. College was a formality to get papers I needed to be able to live abroad. They only taught things I had learned when I was 14, 15, and 16. I got a 173% in C++ and 100% in Java.

Did you have a friend or acquaintance that helped you get the job?

No.

Did you have any connection with the company you worked for?

No.


L. Spiro