Whilst looking at British Academy of Film & Television Arts, specifically the young games designers area in which competitions are set up to encourage young audiences to create their own games and even seek a career within the games industry. This area of the BAFTA website not only encourages young kids to seek an interest in developing games but also having the competitions involve latest, upto date information within the industry such as a competition in which building your own game in Unity is encouraged with additional tutorials for just wanting to make the game without the intent of entering the competition. Also there is a whole section which is linked to the BAFTA website which follows the latest goings on within the games industry and this is shown through their explanations of what to expect and work towards the goals met by the games industry, as you can see below is the section on locating jobs and how to get them, mentioning such things as getting stuck into any project which is games related as this markets yourself as ready for any job and also to apply jobs not only available but places which may not be hiring so when they do your name is fresh."Finding Work in Games
Possible Employers
Employment in this sector is primarily within Games Developers or Games Publishers. These can range in size from large, multi national studios producing triple A titles for the major consoles to smaller companies producing games for other platforms. Games can be created in a variety of forms for a variety of commisioners, in addition to PC, Console and Handheld gaming devices games are utilised by broadcasters such as the BBC, DVD and CD–Rom authoring companies, E–learning suppliers, Educational Institutions, Information Providers such as Government, Interactive Design Agencies, Internet Service Providers and marketing and advertising agencies
A Range of Opportunities
In such a fast–moving industry, with a continuous churn of companies, technologies, delivery platforms, software packages and working practices, equipping yourself with cutting edge knowledge and skills – and keeping at the sharp end – is a never–ending challenge.
It is not so much a case of learning the right tools, but rather becoming adept in the skill of learning. This means acquiring the technical principles, confidence, skills and experience to quickly adapt to new situations and processes, but being involved in learning and training as a continuous part of your career. One employer says, for instance, that members of his teams should master a new piece of software “about every two weeks.”
Finding Your First Job
Unless you are very well connected, this is the hardest part.
The Creative Skillset Job Profiles are invaluable here to help you find out about the areas you are interested in. See also the Useful Links section of this website for further resources.
Games companies emphasise the following:
There are genuine opportunities for bright, creative and well–organised people in this under–publicised and fast moving sector. To specialise in the Games sector will sometimes mean working long hours on high pressure projects with budgets of millions; but you could be part of a team producing high quality products at the sharp end – the retail market place."
This next piece of information i pulled from the BAFTA website is something i felt is useful as it covers the main set of skills that are needed within the games industry in general and that the last job is what stands out to a future employer but also the fact that along with technical abilities industries are looking for skills such as communication, team, marketing yourself and so on.
Employment in this sector is primarily within Games Developers or Games Publishers. These can range in size from large, multi national studios producing triple A titles for the major consoles to smaller companies producing games for other platforms. Games can be created in a variety of forms for a variety of commisioners, in addition to PC, Console and Handheld gaming devices games are utilised by broadcasters such as the BBC, DVD and CD–Rom authoring companies, E–learning suppliers, Educational Institutions, Information Providers such as Government, Interactive Design Agencies, Internet Service Providers and marketing and advertising agencies
A Range of Opportunities
In such a fast–moving industry, with a continuous churn of companies, technologies, delivery platforms, software packages and working practices, equipping yourself with cutting edge knowledge and skills – and keeping at the sharp end – is a never–ending challenge.
It is not so much a case of learning the right tools, but rather becoming adept in the skill of learning. This means acquiring the technical principles, confidence, skills and experience to quickly adapt to new situations and processes, but being involved in learning and training as a continuous part of your career. One employer says, for instance, that members of his teams should master a new piece of software “about every two weeks.”
Finding Your First Job
Unless you are very well connected, this is the hardest part.
The Creative Skillset Job Profiles are invaluable here to help you find out about the areas you are interested in. See also the Useful Links section of this website for further resources.
Games companies emphasise the following:
- Apply for jobs advertised, but you should also be approaching companies “cold" as many jobs are simply not advertised, and it may depend upon being in the right place at the right time.
- Always research what companies have done in the past.
- Get involved in developing ideas, working on projects (funded or non–funded) and generally show you are a Games person who is prepared to go “the extra mile” (or ten) for something that you genuinely desire.
“Talent is all, and people pay to get it and keep it”, says one long term Games industry observer.
There are genuine opportunities for bright, creative and well–organised people in this under–publicised and fast moving sector. To specialise in the Games sector will sometimes mean working long hours on high pressure projects with budgets of millions; but you could be part of a team producing high quality products at the sharp end – the retail market place."
This next piece of information i pulled from the BAFTA website is something i felt is useful as it covers the main set of skills that are needed within the games industry in general and that the last job is what stands out to a future employer but also the fact that along with technical abilities industries are looking for skills such as communication, team, marketing yourself and so on.
"Skills & Training for the Games Industry
People from all kinds of educational and cultural backgrounds work within Games. Once in the industry, people do move around and the majority find work through contacts and word of mouth. Few are freelance, however, as companies want to find and hang on to talent. Talent is valuable, and signed to permanent contracts. Many take short-term courses to maintain their high skill level, in an industry where the technology and thinking is ever advancing.
Reputation really counts. "You are only as good as your last job" is a common saying, and there is much truth in that. This is a small industry, and word goes round - fast, very fast!
Key skills for Games
Beyond the technical skills needed for a specific role, games companies look for employees with the following abilities:
Reputation really counts. "You are only as good as your last job" is a common saying, and there is much truth in that. This is a small industry, and word goes round - fast, very fast!
Key skills for Games
Beyond the technical skills needed for a specific role, games companies look for employees with the following abilities:
- Ideas, ideas, ideas!
- Creative Skills
- Communication Skills
- Problem-solving abilities
- Team Skills
- A flexible approach to life
- Tenacity
- The ability to sell your skills to potential employers
- An awareness of the applications of, and the possible applications, of technology
- The willingness to go "extra ten miles" if necessary, devoting yourself to the production and its deadlines, and living and sleeping on the job a times if needs be.
Training and Relevant Qualifications
Games industry workers tend to be degree educated, especially in highly skilled areas such as programming. However employers often tend to be less concerned with formal qualifications than with relevant experience, portfolios and knowledge of specific software tools.
Many of the most successful games professionals are qualified in the broad-based disciplines that draw on both creative and analytical approaches. The industry contains creative and technical directors from a diverse range of backgrounds, ranging from architecture, art and design to psychology and music. Specialist training in games related disciplines, following a more general degree, seems to be a good approach. Relevant course titles for a first degree might include the following:
- Computer science
- Computer arts
- Interactive media
- Computer games design
- Computer games technology
- Software engineering
- Virtual reality design
- Maths / Physics
- Fine Art
- Animation"
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