Working in gaming is a dream for a lot of video game players and programmers, and the field does offer a few perks. It is booming at the moment and there are multiple openings for people who are ready to look for them. It’s also not the easiest field to get into, however, so don’t expect your love for gaming and basic programming skills to get you a job with a top studio. You should also know that video game development is hard work, and you have to be ready to do things you won’t necessarily like or were expecting. Let’s take a look at what it’s like to work in gaming.
You’ll do a Lot of Grunt Work
One of the first things you have to know is that you will probably not start doing the type of work that you want. As a beginner in the industry, you might be assigned to menial tasks that won’t have a huge impact on the finished game. Don’t expect your work to be rewarded every time either. You will be doing a lot of anonymous work at the beginning, and you’ll have to work your way up before you can put your imprint on games, so be patient.
You Won’t Always be Able to Choose the Type of Games You Work On
Another thing you have to know is that you may not necessarily be able to choose what type of games you will be working on. So, if your goal is to work on retro platform games or massive open area games like Minecraft or Rust, then you might be disappointed by the offers you get.
This is why we suggest that you do your research on different gaming niches, especially the ones that are seeing heavy demand right now, like online gambling, for instance. Try playing a few casino games for real money and see how they work. Having inside knowledge of online casinos sites could help you stand out in case you decide to apply for a company that is involved in that space.
The Hours Are Long
Another thing you have to be ready for is the overtime that you might have to clock up, especially at the end of a game’s deadline. Projects have to be delivered on time, and you may be compelled to work more hours than you wish. This comes with perks like overtime pay, but don’t expect things to always go as expected in this field. Developer burnout is very real and many of the people who end up burning out in the industry do so because their expectations of the job were very different from reality.
This is why you should speak with a few people in the industry before you even think of entering it. Ask them about the hours and how much stress they have to deal with. Ask them about the things they like and don’t like about the job too. This will allow you to have a more realistic view of the job, and it can prepare for the challenges that come with it.
The video game industry is very vibrant and if you’re truly passionate about programming and think you have the skills needed to make it in the field, then you will love it. You have to know that making video games is not like playing them, however, so be ready for the hard road that lays ahead.
