5 Actionable Steps to Become a Game Developer

Started as a means of entertainment, the gaming industry has evolved to become one of the most dynamic sectors globally. It offers endless opportunities for gamers and creators to monetize their love for games. With increased engagement, high mobile penetration, and improved user awareness, the gaming sector is expected to grow exponentially in the coming few years, making it an excellent career opportunity for youth.

Wondering how to become a game developer? We have got you covered with this no-nonsense guide. 

You can kickstart your journey in game development with these five actionable steps.

1. Get the Necessary Qualification

The first and the most important step to becoming a game developer is to get the relevant degree. To start your career in game development, you must necessarily have an associate degree in computer science, software engineering, or any other relevant stream. 

For graduates in other fields, you can opt for short-term game development courses online. For example, in India, Hero Vired offers the best online game development courses developed in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

2.Build Proficiency in Computer Skills

The entire game development process is carried out on computer systems. Therefore, it is very important for you to be familiar with advanced computer operations and programming languages such as Java, C, C++ etc. 

You should also be well acquainted with the core software development concepts and popular game engines. To get hands-on experience, you can join a developers' community that are generally known to support newbies. Most competent game design courses let you work on projects necessary to hone these skills.

3.Build a Portfolio

A portfolio speaks louder than your degrees! Therefore, start building your portfolio today. In the beginning, you might not be very skilled at game development, however, you should have something to prove your worth to the recruiter. 

To demonstrate your skills in programming, coding, visual arts, production, and design, start building game prototypes using the relevant software. Try to develop as many as you can. These prototypes will add considerable value to your resume.

4. Get Hands-on Experience Through Real Projects

It is one thing to read the theory and another to put it to practice. To ensure a smooth entry into the gaming industry, it is very important to get first-hand experience of how things work in the gaming world. Working on real projects helps you understand the nuances of gaming better and is also crucial for polishing your technical and practical skills.

To get hands-on experience, you can join an internship or an entry-level job in any game development firm. If possible, try to choose a specialization in gaming so that you can choose the projects accordingly. 

5. Get Enrolled in Advanced Courses

The gaming industry is constantly evolving in both its operations and technology. This necessitates the gaming professional to keep up with the latest trends. While the foundation courses help you understand the basics and complexity of the subject, advanced courses keep you updated. They make you industry-ready.

These courses help you develop superior analytical and soft skills that are equally important as technical skills. In the game design certification courses and post-graduate programs, you get to interact with the industry experts, explore new aspects of work, and become well-versed with industry-related skills. Hence, it is very important to enrol in advanced game design courses to excel as a game developer.

Is Game Development Really Worth Pursuing?

The answer is yes! The scope of game development is very promising in India. According to Statista.com, there are over 2.8 million gamers across the globe, with more than half of them, 1.48 to be precise, from Asia. This makes Asia the largest market for video gaming worldwide. The average salary of a game developer in India is 5LPA. Hence, if you are intrigued by video games and want to build your career in gaming, get started already.