If you’re like many, you’ve probably spent countless hours lost in the immersive worlds of video games and perhaps even dreamt of turning that passion into a profession. The idea of getting paid to create these digital realms, whether through programming the intricate mechanics or designing captivating gameplay, is undeniably appealing.
You might be envisioning yourself as a video game programmer, bringing digital worlds to life, or a game designer, crafting the next big hit. But a big question looms: Is Video Game Programming A Competitive Career, and is breaking into the game industry truly attainable, especially if you’re unsure where to start?
This article provides an insider’s perspective on navigating the competitive landscape of the video game industry and focuses on practical strategies to secure your dream job as a video game designer or programmer, even without a traditional degree or certification.
Drawing from over 20 years of experience as a professional game designer at renowned studios like Blizzard Entertainment, Riot Games, and Moon Studios, this guide offers real-world advice, not just theory. These are strategies I’ve seen work for numerous individuals, and I’m confident they can work for you too, provided you are dedicated and willing to put in the effort.
Consider this your roadmap to understanding the realities of the industry and positioning yourself for success.
Let’s dive in and explore how to navigate this exciting, yet competitive, career path.
It’s no secret: the video game industry is fiercely competitive. Landing a job, especially in the coveted roles of game designer or video game programmer, is challenging. There are no guarantees, even with expensive degrees.
In fact, the competition for game design and programming roles has become so intense that a single job posting can attract thousands of applications!
Imagine being a hiring manager tasked with sifting through potentially 2,000 resumes for one position. How can your application possibly stand out in such a crowded field? How do you beat these odds in such a competitive career like video game programming or design?
This guide will give you an insider’s look at what’s truly required to land a well-compensated job in the video game industry. You’ll discover proven techniques to outshine countless other applicants, many of whom might seem more qualified on paper.
Think of this as your cheat code to breaking into the industry.
You’ll soon realize that overcoming the competition is more achievable than you think if you apply straightforward and effective self-marketing principles. Because so few candidates utilize these strategies, they offer you a significant, almost unfair, advantage.
It might seem improbable that you can enter the industry without years of formal education or extensive experience. However, my own journey, along with the experiences of many designers and programmers I know, demonstrates that it’s absolutely possible.
So, give this your full attention. What you’re about to read could be the key to realizing your dream of earning a comfortable living doing something you genuinely love.
The Misunderstood Role: What is Game Design Really?
Let’s address a fundamental misconception right away: many people misunderstand what “game design” actually entails. This confusion is a common pitfall for aspiring game developers.
When I mention I’m a game designer, the typical assumption is that I create the visual art for games.
And when I clarify that I’m not an artist, the next guess is that I must be a programmer.
While programming is a critical aspect of game development, it’s not synonymous with game design.
In my view, a game designer is someone with a profound understanding of how to craft fun and engaging game experiences. It goes beyond simply having interesting game ideas. It’s about understanding the player experience deeply.
A game designer needs to grasp how to motivate players towards specific actions, evoke powerful emotions, and design challenges that genuinely captivate and invest players in the game world.
This distinction is crucial, and it should be encouraging. It means you don’t need to be a coding prodigy to excel as a game designer. While programming skills can be beneficial, they are not a prerequisite. I’ve collaborated with many exceptionally talented designers who have never written a single line of code.
Many studios have ample programming talent. However, skilled game designers are consistently in high demand. Why? Because good game designers are rarer. Unlike programming, game design isn’t as readily taught through formal education, and the most talented individuals are often already employed or working independently.
Therefore, once you master the essential skills of game design (and remember, formal university training isn’t the only path), and you can effectively demonstrate these skills through a strong game design portfolio (more on portfolio building later), securing a job at your dream studio becomes significantly more attainable.
Keep in mind that your initial roles will likely be entry-level game design positions:
- Junior Game Designer
- Assistant Game Designer
- Associate Game Designer
- Game Design Intern
These entry-level roles mean you don’t need extensive prior experience to get hired. Employers primarily want to assess your aptitude, cultural fit, and growth potential.
Is Game Design (or Programming) the Right Path for You?
As a game designer in a AAA studio, your primary responsibility is to be the “Keeper of Fun.” Your role is to solve problems and enhance the player’s enjoyment of the game. Similarly, as a video game programmer, your focus is on creating robust, engaging, and technically sound game systems that contribute to the overall fun.
Let me illustrate with an example from my time at Riot Games:
I was assigned the task of improving the League of Legends character, Xerath. He was statistically powerful (with a 55% win rate) but surprisingly unpopular, ranking as the third least-played character.
My objective was to understand this discrepancy and then modify his attributes and abilities to increase his play rate.
My approach began with playing over 100 games as Xerath, meticulously noting what aspects I enjoyed and disliked. I then gathered feedback from colleagues and players on the League of Legends forums about their experiences with Xerath. Finally, I analyzed my findings and collaborated with teammates to decide on changes aimed at making Xerath more enjoyable for a broader player base.
The outcome was impactful. Xerath’s win rate normalized to 50%, achieving better balance. Simultaneously, his player base expanded from primarily lower and mid-skill players to include professional players, who began picking him in competitive play.
In essence, I made him more balanced, more competitive, and more fun for a wider range of players. The player feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and my supervisors were highly satisfied.
Does this kind of problem-solving and creative challenge excite you? If so, a career in game design or video game programming could be an excellent fit.
Let’s be realistic. It’s not always easy. The job can be demanding, especially during crunch periods.
However, personally, I feel incredibly fortunate every day to be doing what I love for a living. I know many people who dislike their jobs or are uncertain about their career paths, so I feel incredibly lucky to get paid to design and, in essence, play video games.
This is why I’m sharing this guide: Being a game designer has brought immense joy and fulfillment to my life, and I’m passionate about helping aspiring game designers and programmers navigate their path into this industry.
Shortcutting Your Path into the Game Industry
My journey in the game industry wasn’t always smooth. I learned many valuable lessons through hard experience and trial and error.
Early in my career, when I decided to make games, I spent two years developing a game that ultimately failed. It was called Graal New World, a multiplayer game inspired by the Zelda series. However, I overambitiously scoped the project, attempting to do too much, and eventually had to abandon it entirely.
It was a devastating setback, but it was also incredibly instructive. The lessons I learned from that failure were invaluable and directly contributed to the success of subsequent projects, many of which became bestsellers with player communities numbering in the millions.
My aim is to help you avoid the common mistakes I and many others have made. Your time is valuable, and I want to ensure you can achieve your career aspirations as efficiently as possible.
Now, let’s address a question I frequently hear from individuals considering a career in game design or video game programming:
“Should I Get a Game Design or Development Degree?”
The straightforward answer is: a strong portfolio is your most powerful asset. If you possess a compelling portfolio, you can secure a job even without a degree.
Conversely, even with a degree from a top university program, you will likely struggle to get hired without a portfolio.
Let’s consider the current landscape…
Many institutions now offer Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in game design and game development. These programs can be incredibly expensive, costing upwards of $83,500 for an undergraduate degree and an additional $31,880 for a graduate degree. Financing this through student loans can mean decades of debt repayment.
Initially, I believed these specialized degrees were beneficial, until I started working at Blizzard. I realized that hiring managers often didn’t prioritize candidates solely based on these expensive game degrees!
From a hiring manager’s perspective, a game design or development degree doesn’t guarantee a candidate has the practical skills to create commercially successful video games. It primarily indicates they’ve invested money and completed coursework.
Instead, hiring managers prioritize other, more tangible qualifications during the screening process, which I’ll elaborate on shortly.
The key takeaway is this: a specialized degree is not a prerequisite for a career as a game designer or video game programmer. While a degree won’t necessarily hurt your chances, it doesn’t guarantee employment either.
Case in point: I never obtained a degree in game design or development, and neither did the vast majority of professional designers and programmers I’ve worked alongside.
In fact, some of the most talented game creators I know either never attended college or dropped out. You’ve likely heard of their games and perhaps even played them:
- Geoff Goodman, Lead Hero Designer of Overwatch, never went to college.
- Gabe Newell, co-founder of Valve (Dota 2, Steam), dropped out of college.
- American McGee, creator of Doom 2 and Quake 2, dropped out of high school.
- Eric Barone, creator of Stardew Valley, developed the top-selling indie game while in college.
- And the list goes on…
It’s important to understand that the university system, particularly in the USA, often operates as a business, with profit as a primary driver. This includes charging high tuition fees and offering degrees in “trending” career fields. Currently, video game design and development are considered high-growth industries, making them attractive degree programs.
Don’t misunderstand me. There are excellent video game design and development programs available. In fact, some of my close friends are professors in these very programs.
However, for every good program, there are at least three that are subpar, often taught by individuals without substantial industry experience. They may be regurgitating textbook theory rather than providing practical, real-world insights.
Hopefully, this is reassuring if you lack the time or resources for a game design or development degree.
What’s far more crucial when seeking a job in a game studio is to…
Build an Impressive Portfolio to Showcase Your Abilities!
Now you understand that hiring managers in game studios don’t heavily weigh fancy degrees.
Instead, they are far more interested in a portfolio of your work.
Why? Because a degree or certificate suggests you might know about game design or programming. A portfolio demonstrates that you actually do.
In today’s world, traditional degrees and certifications carry less weight than they once did. Much of the knowledge taught in a four-year college can be acquired online, more affordably and at your own pace.
Believe it or not, some of the best programmers I know are entirely self-taught, learning through online resources and tutorials, without formal computer science degrees.
Similarly, a friend of mine, a successful music producer, learned his craft through YouTube tutorials and dedicated practice. He compiled a mixtape (his portfolio) of his best tracks and secured a record deal – all without a music degree or formal training.
Why? Because he mastered producing genres that are currently popular. Traditional university curricula often struggle to keep pace with rapidly evolving fields like music production or game development! You won’t necessarily learn cutting-edge EDM production techniques in a traditional music class.
Of course, this doesn’t apply to all professions. You can’t become a surgeon solely through online courses. But in fast-paced, dynamic industries like game design and video game programming, self-directed learning and practical experience can be more valuable than formal classroom education.
I may sound repetitive, but it’s vital to start doing right now. Take action instead of just accumulating theoretical knowledge.
You might be wondering…
“How Do I Start Building My Portfolio?”
Your portfolio doesn’t need to be elaborate to start. A simple yet effective approach is to create a blog documenting your game design or programming journey and thought processes. Here are some content ideas:
- Games you’ve analyzed and explored.
- Games you’ve completed or modded.
- Case studies of game mechanics or combat systems.
- Reverse engineering analysis of popular games.
- Examples of games you’ve designed (even board or card games).
- Programming projects, tools, or game prototypes you’ve developed.
This is the path I initially took to gain visibility. Not only was creating my blog enjoyable and educational, it also generated countless opportunities for industry professionals to discover my work and connect with me.
This is what I mean by “self-marketing.” Showcase your strongest skills, whether it’s art, storytelling, mechanics design, or programming prowess.
A hiring manager will gain far more insight into your capabilities by reviewing your game design portfolio or programming samples than by looking at your degree.
Even Greg Street, Head of Creative Development at Riot Games, has publicly emphasized this point:
Now, this next tip is arguably the single most effective way to “get your foot in the door” at your target studio.
It’s worked for me and many of my colleagues, providing an unfair advantage over the competition, even those with seemingly superior qualifications.
The Power of Networking: Getting an Internal Advocate
It’s widely acknowledged that securing a job often depends more on who you know than solely on your qualifications. We all know individuals who might be underqualified on paper but get hired or promoted due to personal connections.
If you aren’t actively networking, you need to start immediately.
This is precisely how I landed my first role at Blizzard, before I had any formal industry experience.
Begin by joining online gaming communities and connecting with “creators.”
“Creators” are individuals who actively contribute to gaming communities beyond just playing. Examples include fan website contributors, mod developers, content creators offering game recommendations or patch suggestions, and fan artists.
- Join gaming forums like ResetEra.
- Engage in Facebook developer communities.
- Participate in game design and developer communities on Twitter.
- Join Discord servers of your favorite developers and game designers.
- Become a member of your local chapter of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA).
- Participate in game jams on platforms like itch.io.
- Join game design communities like Funsmith Club.
It’s increasingly rare for individuals to land their dream job at a game studio solely through blind applications and resumes.
A far more common path is to connect with studio employees online – through the communities listed above – and leverage those connections.
I secured an interview at Blizzard because I met an employee while playing Starcraft. He invited me to beta test a new game they were developing. I demonstrated some game design knowledge (as detailed in the next tip), and he recommended me to the hiring manager.
The majority of people are consumers, not creators. But it’s the creators who often have industry connections.
So, immerse yourself in communities you’re passionate about. Actively participate and genuinely offer value. You might be surprised by the opportunities that emerge.
Especially when combined with the next crucial step:
Accelerate Your Game Design and Programming Skills
No amount of networking or portfolio building will secure you a job if your fundamental game design or programming skills are lacking.
And it’s a tough truth, but many aspiring designers and programmers are initially not very skilled. I certainly wasn’t when I started.
The good news is that there are common mistakes that novice designers and programmers make, and by addressing these, your games and code will become significantly more polished and enjoyable.
This is critical because fun games are games that sell. Studios prioritize hiring individuals who can contribute to creating engaging and successful games.
It took me years to identify these common pitfalls, and I still observe them frequently, even among some professionals. This is partly because video game design and programming are relatively young disciplines without established, universally accepted “textbooks” (which, again, underscores why university degrees aren’t always the most effective preparation).
Believe it or not, you don’t need to be the most inherently creative or intellectually gifted game designer or programmer to have a stable career in a studio. You simply need to avoid certain common errors that can undermine the “fun” of a game or the stability of the code and ultimately impact sales.
What are some of these common mistakes?
The single biggest mistake I see in newer game designers is focusing on their own preferences and what they find fun, instead of prioritizing the player and what players might want.
Studios don’t care about what you personally find fun. They seek individuals who understand how to create experiences that are enjoyable for a broad player base.
Discover How to Master the Gameplay Design Skills Game Studios Are Actively Seeking To…
- Increase interview invitations & job offers.
- Replicate design decisions that make games engaging and fun.
- Accelerate your learning with mentorship.
See All 7 Case Studies →
The second major error designers and developers make is lacking clarity in communicating game information to the player.
It seems simple, but this is a major source of player frustration.
Again, this often stems from being too self-focused and not sufficiently player-centric.
You might understand what’s happening in your game, but your player might not. This could be because you haven’t communicated game information clearly and effectively.
I call this concept “clarity,” and it’s arguably the most crucial element of game design and development.
Without clarity, your game will feel “off,” even if players can’t articulate exactly why.
And if your games currently lack clarity, don’t be discouraged. Even seasoned professionals struggle with this at times!
For example, compare Gearbox’s Battleborn (a “B-tier” game) with Blizzard’s Overwatch (a AAA title):
Both are in the same genre and share similar gameplay mechanics.
However, notice how the Battleborn screen is visually cluttered with bright, oversaturated colors and numerous distracting elements. The user interface is crowded with pop-ups.
Contrast this with Overwatch.
There’s a clear focal point – Zarya’s laser, which is the immediate threat. The bright visual cue directs the player’s attention to the most critical information.
While both games exhibit high art quality, Overwatch is significantly more simple and clear.
Is it coincidental that Battleborn now has a very small player base and has shut down its online servers, while Overwatch boasts millions of active players and continues to grow?
This concept of “artistic clarity” is just one of several types of clarity essential for player engagement and satisfaction. It doesn’t necessitate Hollywood-level graphics; it simply means the visuals must clearly communicate game information to the player.
Beyond clarity, there are other fundamental elements crucial for creating exceptional game experiences.
It took me years to understand these principles, and they are often what distinguishes AAA games from the rest. You can explore these further here.
