A Complete Guide To A Career in Game Development

“We all make choices in life, but in the end, our choices make us.”
- Andrew Ryan, Bioshock

Game development is the process of making video games. A game developer carries out the programming involved in producing a video game. They’re also called programmers. While designers come up with the concept, developers transform these concepts into actual, playable products through computer code. Developers work in different teams and are responsible for several aspects of the game, like gameplay, setting, character development, and more.

The general stages of game development are divided into three main sections with subcategories of Pre-Production, Production, and Post-Production. The scale of game production pipelines can look quite different depending on the size of the production and development team as well as what platform the game will be on.

The concept artists are in charge of starting the world-building process and establishing the groundwork for later production teams during pre-production. They do this by creating sketches and visual aids that help define the tone for the title. The team will create a Game Design Document, or GDD, during this process.

To ensure that the game stays on track stylistically and conceptually throughout the lengthy process of the stages of video game development, a GDD functions practically as a reference handbook. Prototyping starts as soon as the primary outlines and components are laid out on paper and the pre-production team has established a broad theme. A chance to test the game's fundamental mechanics is provided via prototyping. Though ideas on paper may be intriguing, they are useless in the absence of functional (and enjoyable!) core mechanics. Following that, the production stage begins, during which all elements—from the plot and characters to the setting and assets—are refined.

The post-production phase is the next and last stage of the game creation process. It consists of:

Testing: For quality assurance, each feature and game mechanic must be tested. A game that has not undergone extensive testing is not even ready for an Alpha release.

Redesign: Depending on the results of the testing procedure, a number of parts may need to be repaired or revised.

Release: The game has finished development and testing and is now ready to be implemented and made available to a larger audience.

Support and Maintenance: After the game is released, the development continues. The journey is just getting started. In order to maintain steady user base growth and high retention rates, game updates are essential. The game is frequently updated with new modes, features, levels, etc. to keep it exciting.

While the terms ‘game designer’ and ‘game developer’ may sound similar, the terms are poles apart for those considering a game development career in these fields.

Simply put, game designers are the creative minds, the ones who visualize the entire process from start to finish. Game developers are those who create the magic - they spend hours together to ensure the coding is accurate.

Game designers put many skills to use, from graphic design to programming and even art and animation. They dream up and conceptualize the idea behind the game and, at times, the game story too. Another critical part of their job is designing the initial framework and flow of the game - this can often make or break a game.

Game developers are essentially programmers, and they focus more on the technical aspects of the game. Anyone who wants to pursue the game developer career path must have a thorough understanding of various programming languages such as Lua, Perl, C++, and more. If you think you’re a coding whiz or want to be one, then the role of a game developer is the right one for you.

You will work as a part of a team where you’ll write code that makes the game work. You will also have to fix bugs and help games that have already been released run smoothly.

“The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world.”
- G-Man,

Half-Life 2, Grand Theft Auto V, Red Dead Redemption 2, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 - what do these games have in common?

Not only were these the best-selling games in 2018, but they’re also the result of hundreds of thousands of hours of hard work, imagination, and coding brilliance. Yearning to be a part of a team that can create one of the best games ever? You’ll need the following set of skills required for game development to start a career in game development.

• Strong IT skills

  To succeed as a game developer, you need to anchor your knowledge in software programming and design. It would also help if you had a flair for design beyond your coding skills. Animation and graphics play a pivotal role in video games. As a game developer, it's a huge bonus if you familiarize yourself with user interface design, scenery design, character design, and other related subjects.

  Possessing artistic and technical skills will help create a game that is life-like, vivid, and realistic, which enables it to stand out in the market.

• Problem-solving aptitude

  Those interested in a game development career have to overcome challenges and resolve technical glitches nearly every single day. Grit and patience are what help you succeed when you approach problems or debug code.

  Thinking out of the box and looking at things differently can prove to be helpful game development skills.

• Time management skills

  Video games are complex – they have many facets and layers to them. To pull the pieces of a game together, you often need more than two heads and numerous artistic and technical teams to work together. Besides, you can’t create a game overnight; it takes several years to produce an award-winning game.

  To thrive in such an environment, you should be able to collaborate with others, work well under pressure, and stick to deadlines. It’s not just Soap and Captain Price who need to complete missions on time.

• Creativity and culture

  Creativity makes games what they are. Creativity should be your competitive advantage. In a market overflowing with creative ideas, you need original and incredible concepts for the virtual world.

  Along with creativity, you need to understand cultural preferences and tastes. Although people play games virtually with people miles away, games are a cultural product and a human activity. To swiftly capture and retain the interest and attention of players, game designers and developers need to understand human culture and psychology.

• Communication skills

  It’s easy for technical folks and programmers to overlook soft skills. Communication belongs in that category. To be a successful game developer, your communication skills need to be excellent so you can effectively communicate your vision, ideas, and thoughts to other team members ensuring the seamless working of the entire process.

Did you know that gaming is one of the top-grossing sectors in entertainment, apart from film and music?

While Avengers: Endgame made US$858,373,000 during its opening weekend, Grand Theft Auto V earned US$1 billion in just over three days after its release. And the GTA V release was back in 2013.

Slowly and steadily, the gaming industry is bypassing movies and music in terms of revenue.

The global gaming industry continues to grow at a rapid pace, with a 10.9% increase in 2018 and a valuation of $135 billion. India is valued at nearly $890 million and ranks 17th globally. While gaming in India lingers in the nascent stage, there’s still a lot of scope for recognition and growth, making the video game programmer career a lucrative one for those making their way into the world of gaming.

Today, gaming is no longer just a hobby. It’s a booming industry with scope for continuous innovation. With every passing year, the ecosystem of gaming is evolving and growing, and there’s a bright future for gaming in India.

After the game designers envision the initial framework and concepts to the end, it is the game developer’s job to bring the game to fruition. Game developers are technical geniuses who unite sound, artwork, and thousands of lines of code to bring magic to your screen.

If you are wondering what game development career are associated with game design, the following is just the tip of the iceberg:

• AI programmer
• Computer software engineer
• 2D/3D Game developer
• Lead programmer

Here are some of the popular game development companies in India

• Juego Studios
• Loon Games
• Game Shastra

and more

To become a game developer, you might follow the following:

• Get a degree for game development after completing your 12th board with mathematics.
• Refresh your knowledge of physics and math.
• Boost your knowledge about software engineering.
• Improve your narrative abilities.
• Build a portfolio for game developers.
• Get a job as a game developer at the basic level.
• Be ready to face fierce competition in the job market.

Most often, you can join a degree course for game development after completing your 12th board with mathematics. However, eligibility differs with different courses and institutes, so it is best to check out the course details before applying for the same.

Depending on a variety of factors like the duration of the course, where you pursue it, the level of certification, and other factors, the total cost of acourse in game development can range from ₹1 lakh to 16 lakhs.

A few courses in the field include:

• Advance Diploma in Game Programming
• Advance Diploma in Game Design and Development Application
• Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech) – Computer Science and Game Development
• Bachelor of Science in Animation Game Design and Development
• Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Game Design and Development
• Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Multimedia and Animation

While you’re enrolled in a game development course, here are some subjects you would study:

• Programming languages (C++, Java)
• Computer graphics
• Software engineering
• Artificial Intelligence
• Computer interface
• Operating systems
• Writing composition
• Calculus
• Geometry
• Trigonometry
• Algebra
• Computer Networks
• 3D animation
• Drawing
• Modeling and sculpture
• Game physics
• Game production
• Audio foundation
• Game theory
• Game architecture
• Game integration

The salary of a game developer varies based on several intangible factors like the person’s experience, skill, talent, market conditions, and more. The average pay for a game developer in India is ₹4,87,893/yr.

This is a rough estimate of the base pay, and this amount can grow to 12 lakhs or more by the time the candidate reaches a lead role or earlier, depending on the organization. But at the end of the day, you will be doing what you love.

Source: www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/india-game-developer-salary-SRCH_IL.0,5_IN115_KO6,20.htm

“If our lives are already written, it would take a courageous man to change the script.”
- Alan Wake

• Be capable of receiving criticism

  Just like you, there are many others out there who are passionate about video games. While it’s easy to find your own idea extraordinary, others might have a reason not to. It’s essential to be able to take a step back and take criticism. The other person can see a flaw that you may have overlooked. Think of it as part of getting better.

• Keep up with technology

  Technology moves at lightning speeds and sometimes in unexpected directions. What’s relevant today morning may be rendered outdated by the evening. It’s imperative you keep up with the constant changes. When your games use the newest technologies like AR or VR, you gain not only visibility but also recognition.

• Keep up with industry trends

  Like technology, the world moves at an equally fast pace. Who would have thought mobile gaming would beat console gaming? Staying updated with the latest industry trends helps you understand the market and player behaviour better.

Enrolling in the degree of your dreams is just the first step. Once you do, there’s a whole road paved out for you. To be at the top of your game, it’s best to keep your skills sharp.

• Think big, start small

  As a newbie, surely, you’re excited to work on games like StarCraft or Quake. But it’s best to begin your journey small and then progress based on your experience. Begin your development work with a simple and classic game that proved to be successful, time and again. It’s doable, which will make you feel at ease. Besides, it could turn out to be a great learning experience.

• Play similar games and critically review them

  Many games are not really new concepts; they’ve just transformed versions of popular games, which underwent a serious amount of developmental work that turned them into multi-million-dollar games.

  So even if you are working on games like Tetris, you need to get your hands on similar games and critically review them. See what makes them so great, and try incorporating similar elements in your version.

• Be as innovative as possible

  Game development is nothing without innovation. Do not be afraid to experiment and go crazy with your ideas. Stray away from the book. In gaming, the laws of physics need not apply - you make your own rules. It will be a success as long as the players find it interesting.

• Never stop learning

  A forever learning attitude is one that will get you ahead. In a matter of years, gaming languages and platforms have become outmoded. Game developers cannot take a back seat after learning a language or two and risk slowing down their learning curve. Follow what’s trending and take on learning every day with a never-give-up attitude.

If game development is what interests you, Seamedu has all the right courses to set you out on your way to success.

We offer industry-relevant courses that are comprehensively planned with the help of industry leaders, technicians, and artists and delivered by experienced individuals in the field.

It’s a beautiful thing when a passion and career in game development come together. Seamedu is where it all began for so many of our alums.

Got more questions about our game development courses? Get started by contacting us today.

• Location and facilities: First and foremost, do you want to go to an institution that’s nearby or far away? If you’re moving away, ensure the college is within city limits, is easily accessible, and provides state-of-the-art facilities.
• The reputation of the institution: If you’re unsure about the institution’s or college’s reputation, check reviews, speak to alums, ask family and friends, and join discussion boards to learn about the culture and experience on campus. The college should offer a balance of theory, practical learning, and free time, giving you ample opportunity for a balanced life.
• The staff and placements: Read up about the institution’s staff and their experience in the industry and placements. This will help assess if the college is the right fit for your needs.
• Course duration: Are you looking to start fresh off the boat, or do you want to hone your skills? Depending on your needs, choose a course that lets you gain knowledge while also helping you meet your game development career goals.

While the information listed here is research-based with the best attempts to keep it accurate and reliable, the actuals may vary according to the course curriculum, facility location, and an individual’s specialization, experience, current industry scenario, economic conditions, along with several other factors. We do not recommend or endorse any views expressed within the third-party information contained here. Employment opportunities or any included salary figures are not guaranteed.