
Maybe your day job is already working on games, or maybe you’d like to build the skills to work in this industry.
We’ll guide you through a suite of skills you may need to master – though it should be said from the outset that the gaming industry is vast and diverse, so there are skills relating to the art side or the programming side. Plus, many people work in areas like business and accounts and help to keep the gaming giants ticking along financially.
Skills can vary, but we’re taking you through some of the areas where people may look to brush up.
Art and Animation: Bringing Games to Life
People who have an ability in art may find their skills in demand. Games start with drawings (usually) and also need a lot of different artwork including textures and animated characters to work well.
Photoshop, Illustrator, Blender, and Maya are industry-standard software options. People should try to get some experience with multiple software types but try to get good at one in particular.
People can practice drawing and designing characters, but also the many other assets that make up the games people play. Console gamers may think of the huge gaming worlds they play in, and artwork and animation can extend to creating these huge, textured worlds. Some of the top survival games for PC have huge open worlds, meaning a huge need for artwork and different in-game locations. Artwork may also mean creating super-realistic characters but art and assets are needed for a lot of different games.
Adobe has created a full guide to this field and building skills in the area, from concept art through to the intricate details in games.
Code and Programming
We’re facing a shortage of programmers and developers. Games companies are feeling the impact of this along with loads of other industries. Getting skills in this field can make someone an attractive employment option for a lot of different industries, using what they call “transferable” skills. Some estimates claim there are over one million jobs in this field that are currently unfilled (not all in gaming, of course).
Programming is the foundation of game development and refers to the language that is used to actually make games function. Learning to code is crucial if you want to create games or work in technical roles. Learners may start with languages like C++, which is widely used in loads of different scenarios. Game developers aren’t usually working from scratch anymore and need to know about different game engines where they can implement their skills.
Coding basics can be learned online, with no shortage of different courses for people to check out including some free options. Bootcamps and in-person courses can also be a chance to learn.
Unity and Unreal Engine are equally important game engines used to make loads of games of different types, from strategy through to FPS.
Beginners can check out the Unreal Engine 5 Beginner’s Guide and learn about everything from textures to making a full game. This course is perfect for getting to grips with one of the most powerful game development tools there is.
Project Management
Imagine setting a load of creative people loose in a studio. Sometimes, somebody needs to keep everyone on track and make sure the projects are seen through to completion. Games are complex projects that require effective management to stay on track.
Project managers are tasked with keeping things on target and ensuring the production goes to plan. Managers may use project management methodologies like Scrum. There are also loads more tools like Asana that are commonly used to manage tasks and timelines, even in the games industry, which is seen as a bit of a maverick.
For people who are fans of working in this type of environment, strong communication skills are essential, as you’ll be coordinating between different departments and ensuring everyone is on the same page (or should that be on the same level?)
Writing and Storytelling: Crafting Narratives
Not all games need a big and complex story behind them, but some of the best do – let’s say you have a passion for storytelling. The gaming industry offers opportunities to craft narratives and write about some of the most intriguing and even fantastical subjects. Game writers develop scripts as well as realistic dialogues and chatter between characters.
Writing in gaming can provide a fresh set of challenges, and as games have become so much more complex, writing isn’t a linear thing, there are flow charts and different possibilities for the ways that the game can actually pan out with complex characters and the skill is largely in understanding all these different outcomes.
Practice writing in different genres and styles. Understanding the basics of game design can help you create narratives that integrate seamlessly with gameplay. Portfolio is king here, a strong portfolio showcasing your writing skills and creativity is crucial for breaking into this field, but it is unforgiving and there are loads of writers out there with ideas who want to work in the industry.
Conclusion
Games industry skills often have a lot of crossover with other areas. Look at it this way, someone might learn how to code because they want to make a game, but those coding skills may be useful elsewhere. Dreaming of working in the games industry is not just a pipe dream and there are plenty of opportunities out there.
Gaming contributes billions to the economy and though it isn’t the top thing career advisors might tell you to get into, and work can be patchy, there are lots of skills people can develop to work in this industry.