Questions tagged [career]

Career refers to the progression, over time, of one's chosen profession. Questions using this tag should be related to such topics, but note that opinion-oriented discussions, such as solicitations for career advice are off-topic. See the full tag wiki for more details.

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67 votes
8 answers
30k views

Where to start with game development? [closed]

I asked this earlier in this thread at stackoverflow.com. One of the early comments redirected me here to gamedev.stackexchange.com, so I'm reposting here. Searching for related questions I found a ...
35 votes
6 answers
11k views

How do I get a job in the games industry as "the one with the ideas"?

So, I am very interested in making great games that the consumers will love, but I am not the best at programming or art, and I don't have a team. If I show that my ideas can bring in a steady stream ...
Joshua's user avatar
  • 395
33 votes
5 answers
11k views

What is meant by "System Programming"?

I am preparing for an internship as game programmer at a world-renowned game development company. When I searched their website for necessary prerequisites, it showed me this: Added Advantage ...
Dhannanjai's user avatar
27 votes
2 answers
5k views

What are milestones for a game developer to gauge their progress?

I know actually completing a game is a massive milestone, a complete polished, holistic experience. Something that I've not yet been able to commit to. There are of course classes and degrees to ...
tokenblakk's user avatar
25 votes
3 answers
3k views

Is game development a super elite club? [closed]

We all read job vacancies via the internet like GitHub jobs or StackExchange Careers 2.0 for example. You know, web app development, iOS/Android jobs and many other things. We even read about jobs ads ...
Chiron's user avatar
  • 795
21 votes
5 answers
4k views

What do potential employers look for in a good portfolio?

A buddy from work and myself are wanting to get into the indie scene for game development. I've done a few tech demos demonstrating different ideas and approaches for various problems. Now, I feel it'...
Justin Self's user avatar
16 votes
3 answers
5k views

Will Unity skills be transferable?

I'm currently learning Unity and working my way through a video game maths primer text book. My goal is to create a racing game for WebGL (using Three.js and maybe Physic.js). I'm well aware that ...
Starkers's user avatar
  • 961
15 votes
9 answers
11k views

Games Dev Work Experience for Teenager [closed]

I have a teenage son that wants to work in games development and design when he is older. We've been to several conferences that explain the importance of experience when looking for a job. Also being ...
evoelise's user avatar
  • 153
13 votes
5 answers
1k views

Independent game developer career advice [closed]

I recently left my full-time job for an independent game development career. So far things are going well: I've created two games for the iPhone (one has been in the app store for a month or so and ...
MrDatabase's user avatar
  • 1,951
13 votes
2 answers
704 views

How do I move from mainstream to indie development?

I'm a game programmer for a AAA-level developer and publisher—which I know falls into the 'nice problem to have' category. However, I'm becoming disenchanted with the direction of both the company and ...
Salano Software's user avatar
13 votes
2 answers
861 views

Are any 3D design skills required for game development?

I am no graphics designer, but I'm a good developer with lots of experience. So, my question is the following: Are any 3D design skills required for game development? If not, how does one write a ...
Will Marcouiller's user avatar
9 votes
4 answers
1k views

Is it possible to be a game artist and not work on character/creature animation?

If I don't want to develop and animate living characters (animals, humans, robots, et cetera) for games, but I do want to develop/animate objects (TVs, phones, cars, et cetera) or levels... is it ...
IvanIvanovichIvanovich's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
485 views

What to focus on in developing a game demo for an interview?

In other threads on this very website, it has been repeatedly stressed that having a game demo to showcase at a job interview is of paramount importance, so I decided to have a go and write my own ...
mac's user avatar
  • 1,375
9 votes
2 answers
201 views

Can learning how to do empirical research help a game developer?

I know this may be an odd question, but I have the opportunity to take a graduate class that teaches how to do empirical research. I've taken a Human-Computer Interaction class in the past where it ...
Joey Green's user avatar
  • 2,509
8 votes
6 answers
738 views

Game companies - Involvement of programmers in the design process

This is a question basically to programmers with experience working in game companies. How common is it that game coders participate in the design process of the game? Both gameplay design, and ...
Zaky German's user avatar
  • 1,136
8 votes
2 answers
697 views

What should I expect from volunteer playtesting?

I have recently been invited to do some volunteer playtesting for a pretty well known developer. They made it very clear that it was on a volunteer basis only. It's not a job and I won't be getting ...
Amplify91's user avatar
  • 1,217
8 votes
2 answers
2k views

Architects into videogames

I'm an architecture student in my last year. I've always been interested in videogames design. I use 3d Max and Photoshop on a daily basis, and I was thinking about aiming for a career in videogames, ...
Ángel's user avatar
  • 89
6 votes
2 answers
3k views

How likely will I be able to get a job in game design with a masters in computer programming? [closed]

I'm currently attending college and am almost finish with my Bachelors in Computers science.I plan on getting my masters in computer programming in hopes that it will help me get into game design. If ...
nathan rivera's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
541 views

Career in game development move: hone developper skills, go indie, or a mix? [closed]

Question When you have a current stable job as a developer in another field, what is the best course of action to enter the game industry? Wait (indefinitely?) for an opportunity to sell your skills ...
Silver Quettier's user avatar
5 votes
5 answers
7k views

Do game studios hire people based on their math knowledge alone?

I have very little programming skills outside of very basic levels of Java, but I have excellent math and science knowledge. I was wondering what I could offer any potential team if I were to go into ...
BKH's user avatar
  • 51
5 votes
4 answers
2k views

What is the breakdown of jobs in game development? [closed]

There's a project I'm trying to start for Indie Game Development; specifically, it's going to be a social networking website that lets developers meet through (It's a secret). One of the key ...
Destry Ullrich's user avatar
5 votes
6 answers
3k views

Is there a typical career path to learn game development "on the job"? [closed]

The extended version of the question is: what is the typical career paths that a developer without specific experience in game development should take if he/she wishes to work in the game development ...
mac's user avatar
  • 1,375
5 votes
3 answers
701 views

What are ways I can transition from enterprise application development into gaming development?

I'm currently a software architect using the Microsoft stack of enterprise app development tools (.NET, C#, SQL Server, etc.). I've been thinking about transitioning over to game dev. What paradigms ...
TheHolyTerrah's user avatar
4 votes
5 answers
3k views

If I want to become a professional game developer, is learning Win32 API a must? [closed]

If I want to become a game developer, is learning Win32 API a must? Does X-BOX or PS based game developers need to know Win32 API? Is it possible for a professional game developer to develop games ...
user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
2k views

What is a good strategy to switch my career from full-stack developer to game developer? [closed]

I am senior full-stack developer at age of 30 and I mainly work with Java EE/Spring/... in back-end and Angular/React/JQuery/... in the front-end. I love programming but my dream job was game ...
Arashsoft's user avatar
  • 143
4 votes
2 answers
11k views

Game Design vs Game Development [duplicate]

What is the difference between a video game developer and a video game designer?
CptJackLoder's user avatar
3 votes
4 answers
20k views

What programming languages would be used to make an Apple App like Angry Birds or Cut the Rope? [closed]

I'm currently working in the Multimedia industry and although I'm better at design then development. I have knowledge of HTML, CSS, very basic jQuery, Actionscript. What programming Languages would ...
Josh's user avatar
  • 147
3 votes
2 answers
1k views

How to get a job in the game industry if you live in a country where there are no game companies? [closed]

You know not everyone of us is living in the US/Europe where there is potentially many more employers/opportunities than other countries, I live in a country where there is literally zero game ...
concept3d's user avatar
  • 12.7k
2 votes
1 answer
125 views

How can I evaluate an entry level salary in game developer?

I want to make some informed decisions about an entry level game developer position. Specifically, how can I determine if I'm getting a fair salary. I realize that many different factors can impact ...
Nishitha. A's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
125 views

Is there a place in games for people with financial engineering or operations research backgrounds? [closed]

I just started my first year in college in an engineering school. I haven't had any classes about programming, and although I'm in an engineering school I'm not that good at (and don't enjoy) physics ...
maeric's user avatar
  • 21
2 votes
1 answer
114 views

Game development equivalent of Movie Director

Is there a job in game development that is equivalent to being a movie director?
user138487's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
1k views

Costs/profit of/when starting an indie company [closed]

In short, I want to start a game company. I do not have much coding experience (just basic understanding and ability to write basic programs), any graphics design experience, any audio mixing ...
Jack's user avatar
  • 121
1 vote
5 answers
967 views

Is a Masters degree in computer science beneficial over a Bachelors in the game industry? [closed]

Suppose a student (who is seeking to become a video game developer) is studying Computer Science at a state-level university, and is about to complete his or her bachelors degree. Would the student ...
Sparkz63's user avatar
  • 303
1 vote
3 answers
852 views

Programmer career roadmap [closed]

this is my first post on this SE, and I have noticed the large numbers of closed/downvoted career-related questions, so I will try to ask in a fashion most gingerly. What would the career roadmap for ...
grimmsdottir's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
299 views

What is a game development portfolio?

What is a portfolio in game development? Does it include programming or modelling and animation too? Can somebody explain it to me?
Parthi's user avatar
  • 69
1 vote
1 answer
129 views

As an artist, how do I go about gaining "experience", and how do employers define it? [closed]

I'm a freelance 3D artist, and recently I've been looking into getting a full-time job as a character/environment artist (character prefered) and up until now I've only been doing unpaid commissions ...
Kevin Nash's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
199 views

Do game studios look at personal projects when hiring? [closed]

I am 17 and I have spent the past 5 years making games for fun. But now I am faced with college and it might be time to get serious about this hobby. So do Game Studios want to see personal games or ...
HelpMehIDonKnowLinearAlgebra's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
80 views

Do game testers have to live locally to be considered?

I've been told by a few former game testers that you must live in their city because game testing has few educational requirements so it's easier to hire someone local. Some descriptions say "you ...
user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
73 views

Computer Graphics degree or Game Development degree to get into game industry? [closed]

I am currently having a BSc degree in Computer Science. I want to get into AAA game industry. My focus is on the core stuffs like rendering, physics, graphics programming. I plan to get a master's ...
Shuvo Sarker's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
164 views

Picking college degree (want to be games programmer) [closed]

Alright, so I know there's plenty of questions that have to do with college degrees on this site, but I don't feel that any of them really answer my question. I recently got accepted into Northeastern ...
Malphrush's user avatar
  • 121
0 votes
1 answer
797 views

Different aspects of games development [closed]

I am and have been quite interested in programming games for quite a while now, however an interesting question I've thought about lately is what do I want to specialize in? After doing some research ...
JimmyK's user avatar
  • 153
0 votes
1 answer
519 views

Does game design (numerical value planning such as attack/defense/ rates of critical hit) need a strong mathematical background?

I will go to college very soon and I want to choose math major. I want to know if being graduate with a strong mathematical background will help me success in game design. For example if I want to be ...
Mr Monkey's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
171 views

Where can I find a game development team that is willing to accept a 2D artist with no experience in game development?

I'm a book illustrator, but I want to try my hand at game development. I have experience working with clients as a book illustrator, but have never worked on a game development team before. Where and ...
Notisle's user avatar
0 votes
4 answers
1k views

which courses in Computer Science are really needed for game development? [closed]

I would like to know what courses that somebody interested in game development, should take in a Computer Science Career? I suppose that are necessary for example: ...
Layla's user avatar
  • 125
0 votes
2 answers
228 views

Mentality for the hard initial stage of game development [duplicate]

I feel like there is a lot of excitement involving the initial steps towards developing games. Kids (myself younger self included) get very excited about making games and talk for hours about the ...
Hoytman's user avatar
  • 175
0 votes
1 answer
311 views

Black Box Functionality Testing Methods that apply to an MMO [closed]

I've been interesed in a career in Video Game QA for a long time now. I've participated in roughly a dozen+ public/closed betas for different games, everything from FPS, MMO, MOBA and RTS, as well as ...
Prototype958's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
76 views

Is tools programming experience useful for other positions?

What does the possible career progression look like for a tools programmer? Would experience in that field be useful to gain other programming jobs in the industry, like gameplay, engine or AI ...
linkalonk's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
96 views

How to figure out if I'm on the right path [closed]

I'm a software developer from Israel, I've been programming professionally since 2011, my first job was in HP software and lasted 2 years after which I decided that I want to pursue my dream in ...
Amit Ofer's user avatar
  • 115
0 votes
0 answers
43 views

Discrete mathematician? [duplicate]

I'm studying a relatively new mathematics degree called 'discrete mathematics'. This degree intertwines mathematics and computer science such that you can solve most mathematical programming problems (...
Paze's user avatar
  • 169
0 votes
2 answers
320 views

How to switch career to game engine/graphics programming [closed]

My whole background is related to enterprise applications but I've been thinking of switching my career path from enterprise/business to something that I feel is more challenging and interesting. One ...
PentaKon's user avatar
  • 338