Top 10 Tips for Getting Into The Video Game Industry

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[firebason]

A good way to get started developing with no prior knowledge is to join a mod team. If a game you like have mod tools start fuck around in it. you can find tutorials on animation, coding, modeling etc on youtube.

[daveid]

"There are too many ideas in the gaming industry right now"
Then why are developers rehashing the same crappy games?

[HE]

11. Make your own games and eventually go into business for yourself.

[crups]

"Have pretty good grades"
Me:Uhh
"Good Social Skills"
Me:Uhh
"Be persistent"
Me:Uhh alright fuck it whatever i'll work as a janitor...

[AdeptusSteve]

I disagree with the "work super hard and for as long as possible"... like, completely disagree. Im in the film/vfx industry and yeah, you have to prepare yourself to have to work late hours in crunchy situations. But our employers usually do a good job in avoiding that. We do 8 hour days and aim to keep it that way. If you work 70 hour weeks like those crazy guys in the video said, youd go burnout in a few months, maybe a year. You still need a balance between work and private time... That message is just not right..

[jimgunzel]

how to make it as a 3d artist:

step1 - learn a 3d program: Blender (free) 3ds max, maya, c4d etc...

step2 - learn how to unwrap and texture your model: Gimp (free), photoshop etc..

step4 - learn how to scultp your model: (zbrush, mudbox)

step5 - make a amazing portifolio (srs this is all you need)

step6 - become a freelancer

step7 - don't expect to become a artist over night.

[oldytron]

Fuck that, I don't wanna work in some big studio, I'd rather build my own. I don't work well with people breathing down my neck and having to eat shit at an internship just to potentially get my foot in the door.

[james]

making video games is one of the many professions that sound awesome but in reality is much less glamorous

[cristian-sigb]

I'm 15 and right now my main skills are math, physics and drawing and I've also started learning a bit of basic programming... (I think I will mostly focus on programming or graphic designer. I really like graphics.) These being said... I'm fucking freaked out! This video is not encouraging at all... The whole "move to another country" thing is not bad, that's actually something that I'm planning to do (I'm too much of an social inept to have a girlfriend to hold my back), and I have nothing against hard work (who needs sleeping, LOL?) but this video makes me feel so... Insignificant. It's that fear that there's always going to be someone better than you... I don't know if in 10 years I'm going to be a programmer or a cook in a pathetic restaurant, but I'm sure going to give my best . Good luck to all of you!

[carloscorpancho]

Top 10 tips to get into the music industry would be another great video!

[madberty]

I've always wanted to make video games but it doesn't seem like it's worth it at all. There's way too many people looking to do the same thing while some studios overwork their employees and even delay their pay by months. A lot of teams get fired straight off the bat after a game is done. Going indie is just as risky as you put everything on the with all of what you need coming out of your pocket. You don't know if your game is going to be a success. I love gaming but it's a scary place to work.

[GameDesignWithChris]

I can't stress enough how important number #7 is. Portfolio is the thing that most companies look at when they try to hire you! Great video!

[psypsy]

These are basically desk jobs that can potentially turn you off of gaming in general. I hear a lot of people whom think loving something is enough to make them good at creating that specific something. It's really not. If you're gonna want to be able to put up with the same type of work over and over than you probably do need to love it. But this "over and over" can really kill off your creative energy. I'd much prefer having a job that I can focus on for hours on end, rather than a job related to my most belove hobbies.

[KilgoreOnDrugs]

pfff... video game streamers are not a part of the video game industry, they are just consumers with a fan base.

[thelaymaneveryman]

I like how most of the people giving advice make money talking about the games, Streamer, Press Manager, Commentator etc but they did not really have anyone who is from the trenches coders, artists, animators etc.. A lot of these streamers are like Wrestling commentators never really done anything to earn respect from those within the business but make money from it.

[andruhaivashin]

Wait in 720p?!?! WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?!?!?!

[mtlmancer]

As someone who has always dreamed of making games with no idea how to go about doing it, this was really helpful. Thanks, Mojo.

[nickjaramillo]

its always been my dream to make games, im envious of people who were able to bring their gaming ideas to life. Hats off to the ones who made it.

[animakuz]

"There are too many ideas" - :( then why all the rinse and repeat crap AAA games with multi-million dollar budgets?

[MrTHotz]

1) Specialize - If it's QA then QA, if Artist pick between Environment & Character etc.
2) Portfolio - Find job listings and see what they want, only your best pieces/work.
3) Make games now - Grab Unity or GameMaker and make small things even Pac-man rip offs will earn you extra cred on your CV/resume.
4) Dedication - You have to suffer for your craft.
5) Network at Conferences/Industry Events & Social Media.

Things like 'Get an Internship' or 'Best Idea' are toss away things to bulk out the list to a Top 10, a university/college degree won't walk you into a internship - most companies DO NOT offer them it is an exception!! 

A degree also is hard because A LOT of them are scams with people who have no idea about the industry (or outdated knowledge) teaching the degrees, online courses as well are almost worth nothing unless art/modelling based - but if you go to Digital Tutors and start a portfolio then you stand a better chance. 

In fact I interviewed at Rocksteady (makers of the Batman Arkham games and they had hired someone who had no experience/games degree; because of who they knew (I only got the interview because I know someone who works there!)). I interviewed for a QA position and one of the most evident things they mentioned was that universities do not teach QA related areas in the courses, instead they focus more on the artistic side; this is because students with flashy portfolios looks better on their website than saying 'Hey Bob here made it into testing and breaks the games for a living'.