Jobhop Jobhop's blog : The Five Best Video Game Jobs (EVER!)

Growing up in what I consider the “Golden Age” of video gaming, I always dreamt of someday creating my own game from the ground up. Battling impossible foes and rescuing the defenseless were very attractive roles to play, especially to an over imaginative 10-year-old boy! Now, being a gamer for nearly 25 years (and going!), I understand there’s a little bit more to making a blockbuster game than having a cool concept. Truly, there are many talented people that help bring ideas to life in the digital playgrounds we enjoy!

After a lot of consideration, I’ve put together the five best video game jobs ever!

While this doesn’t include every single job that’s necessary to make a game come together, I felt that these positions are the ones that are the most appealing…especially if you want to turn your ideas into the next sensation!

QA Tester

QA Testers are regularly thought of as people who get to play video games all day, but that’s only a part of the story; in reality, there’s more to it than that. Testing for bugs and various ways to find game breaking elements is typically the main focus to help the developers avoid shipping a game that crashes. Being able to communicate well in various ways, be it email, phone, or in person, is extremely important for this position!

QA Tester positions are a fantastic way to network and to get an “in” before moving on to a more specific area (like Level Design or Producer.) Jobs are normally contractual and for specific games; very few are hired as a full-time Tester, but there are positions available, especially at bigger studios. A passion for games is the only requirement, but a degree of any sort (especially in a related field, like Computer Science or Art) will help pave the way to permanent employment.

Artists

More than just drawing, the Artists of the gaming world transform the written words and ideas of a game into a visual reality…kind of like Amaterasu of Okami. Artists in the gaming world are in varying different levels in a game’s development. For example, Conceptual Artists lay the foundation for a game’s overall visual style and interpret what the writers are trying to convey. 3D Rendering Artists, on the other hand, tackle making the character models and level designs, from the Alpha build all the way to the finished package.

The level requirements vary based on class, but an Arts Degree is the obvious core choice. If you want to get more into the techy side of this field, you’ll want to focus on 3D Design. Having experience with several programming languages will also be a plus. And, of course, a very active imagination; you are building a game, after all!

Physics Programmer

From the amazing explosions in games like Borderlands 2 to the specs of dust floating around in Battlefield 4, Physics Programmers make sure the rules and boundaries of a game world are kept in check. The natural laws that we’re grounded in may or may not apply, depending on how realistic or absurd a game is trying to be. That practically makes the Physics Programmer the driving force of all the natural elements within any given game!

The position of Physics Programmer is, as you may imagine, very technical. It requires an excellent understanding of Newton’s Law as well as (you guessed it) physics! Proven experience with programming languages, such as Java and C++, are extremely important as well. I find it very interesting to know that most in this position didn’t start out as Physics Programmers; most companies want to see a proven record of one’s attention to detail, and often promote people that have worked in other technical areas of a game (like Level Designers.) If the idea that you get to be the one that creates in-game explosions and rag doll effects tickles your fancy, then a degree in Computer Programming, Game Development, or Advanced Mathematics is the way to go!

Game Producer

Game Producers make sure everything is in balance with everyone involved in the gaming process…kind of like a Jedi Knight with the Force! Communication and management are their tools for success; they keep their designers focused, communicate between developers and publishers, handle marketing, and a whole host of other important roles. The Game Producer’s drive is to make sure their current project is within budget and on time, which means keeping everyone focused on their roles in a game’s development.

Pursuing a career as a Game Producer requires a passion for people. You need to be able to talk with everyone within your team and with people outside to be successful. Being able to drive success and produce results is very important as well; each “stage” has a time limit, after all, and there are no extra lives! A Bachelor’s Degree in any field is required, but consider having a Business or Business Management Degree; I feel that will prepare you the best for this position!

Game Designer

From tricky conversation options like in Mass Effect to brain numbing jump puzzles in Portal, the Game Designers drive and shape all things creative behind a game. Like Artists, Game Designers are involved in various stages of a game’s development. Content Designers take an idea and make the plot, characters, and various other elements; Writers create dialogue for characters, and Level Designers create the world that these character and elements interact with. Being able to take an idea and turn it into actual content in the game, to me, sounds like the ultimate position for anyone creative!

Being knowledgeable in computer programming languages is important, especially for Content and Level Designers. Having a degree in Computer Science or Game Development is also a major plus! Writers, however, will want to have a degree in Journalism or English. Again, like Artists, being imaginative and creative are the keys to success!