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GETTING STARTED

  • How long have you dreamed of making a video game?

    Video game development is a substantial industry, employing over 40,000 people in North America alone. But while many people daydream about working in game development, few have the chops to follow through and take action. We know that's why you're here now: to take action.

    These Getting Started pages will introduce you to the world of game development by breaking down some of the complex information. Our goal is to introduce you to career paths, educational options that fit your needs, and advice about how to successfully - and realistically - break into the video game industry.

    If you've got the basics down, our homepage has daily news updates and feature articles to keep you in sync with the professional world. Follow the trends, and you'll be a more successful job candidate.

    Check out our community forums, too, where you can network with fellow newbies and ask working professionals for their opinionated advice.

    To work in game development, you've got to have tenacity. You've got to be willing to work on it every single day. So check in with us often - we'll help you keep tabs.


  • Game Career Guide Salary Survey 2014 [08.27.14]
  • img In the annual Game Career Guide for 2014, you'll find the results of Gamasutra's most recent industry-wide salary survey, which offers useful learnings to indie and AAA developers alike.
  • Look, Ma, No Code [08.19.14]
  • img GameSalad and Scirra’s Construct 2 offer amateur developers simple drag-and-drop tools to create entire games without ever learning to program. Let’s take them for a spin.
  • Game Developer Salary Survey 2013 [01.30.14]
  • img Game Developer magazine presents its 12th annual Salary Survey, tracking pay rates across multiple industry fields and comparing salaries across regions and educational backgrounds.
  • 5 Phone Interview Mistakes You Must Avoid [08.01.13]
  • img The phone interview is your first and best chance to make a strong personal impression. Jason Bay explains how you should think of a phone interview as a movie trailer tailored for your career.
  • Breaking Into Game Design, Part 1 [07.25.13]
  • img BioWare veteran Ethan Levy offers his insider knowledge in this series of tips for up-and-coming designers looking to land a job in the games industry.
  • What Should You Put in Your Portfolio? [07.09.13]
  • img John Pearl explains what you should include in your portfolio when hunting for a job in the game industry -- and what you should leave out.
  • Get Your Dream Job in the Games Industry [06.20.13]
  • img Olga Novikova offers a selection of job-hunting tips for games industry hopefuls, giving hints on how to tackle resumes, cover letters, and phone interviews.
  • Building a Strong Game Resume [06.04.13]
  • img Looking for a job in the games industry? The Game Prodigy author Brice Morrison will help you build a solid resume with this collection of insider tips.
  • Excerpt: How to Become a Video Game Artist [04.25.13]
  • img In this excerpt from How to Become a Video Game Artist, Sam R. Kennedy outlines industry basics and gives tips for newcomers wishing to work in the field of the visual arts.
  • Test Drive the Unreal Engine [01.10.13]
  • img In this reprinted article from Game Developer magazine's 2012 Game Career Guide issue, Sjoerd De Jong details the steps involved in making a simple third-person game using the Unreal Development Kit.
  • Game Developer Salary Survey 2012 [08.09.12]
  • img Originally published in Game Developer magazine, this annual survey provides a comprehensive breakdown of salaries and job prospects for entry-level game developers and beyond.
  • How To Break Into The Industry, Part 3 [03.22.12]
  • img Destin Bales' series of articles for aspiring developers concludes with some essential tips for finding a job and achieving long-term success in game development.
  • How To Break Into The Industry, Part 2 [03.15.12]
  • img In part two of this introductory series for aspiring developers, Destin Bales discusses some of the best ways to develop real experience and prepare a solid portfolio for a future job.
  • How To Break Into The Industry, Part 1 [03.13.12]
  • img In part one of a new series on getting into the game industry, Paragon Studios' Destin Bales outlines the importance of understanding the industry and preparing for a future career.
  • Who To Know And What To Do In The Game Industry [09.08.11]
  • img In this article, first published in Game Developer magazine's 2011 Game Career Guide issue, we provide a roundup of the key events and organizations to know when breaking into game development.
  • FAQs for High School Students [10.01.07]
  • img A list of frequently asked questions for high school students who are interested in a career in game development.
  • FAQs for College Students [10.01.07]
  • img A list of frequently asked questions for college students who are interested in a career in game development.
  • Game Design, An Introduction [08.20.07]
  • img What is game design? What do game designers do? What does a designer need to know? How much money do designers make? What job titles can a game designer have? What types of people or personality traits make good designers? What other resources does GameCareerGuide.com have for me if I want to know more about game design?
  • Game Programming, An Introduction [08.20.07]
  • img What is programming, as it relates to video games? What do programmers do? What does a programmer need to know? How much money do programmers make? What job titles can a game programmer have? What types of people or personality traits make good programmers? What other articles does GameCareerGuide.com if I want to learn more about programming?
  • Game Art and Animation, An Introduction [08.20.07]
  • img What is art and animation, as it relates to video games? What do video game artists do? What does a video game artist need to know? How much money do game artists make? What job titles can an artist have? What types of people or personality traits make good artists? What other resources does GameCareerGuide.com have for me if I want to know more about art and animation?
  • Game Production, An Introduction [08.20.07]
  • img What is production, as it relates to video games? What do producers do? What job titles can a producer have? What does a producer need to know? How much money do producers make? What types of people or personality traits make good producers? What other resources does GameCareerGuide.com have for me if I want to know more about production?
  • Game Careers: The Basics [04.12.07]
  • img Ed Magnin, Chair of the Game & Simulation Program at DeVry University's Dallas-Metro campus, gives basic advice about game careers, including topics such as what it takes, career options and trades, and breaking in.
  • Applying for Your First Game Industry Job [09.01.06]
  • img Game artist Samuel Crowe gives thorough advice on issues to assess when applying for your first game industry job with insight from industry professionals with a combined thirty years of experience.
  • Putting Together a Compelling Resume and Demo [07.11.05]
  • img The first step in finding a job in the game industry is to put together a compelling resume, as well as a demo where applicable. This article, written by veteran HR expert McShaffry, serves as a guide to that first important step.
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