You want to break into game development. What are the best ways to gain experience?

Breaking into game development might be quite challenging in the beginning as it is a giant industry with too many subbranches. Firstly, you should understand the nature of gaming, why and how to make a game that keeps the player inside, and how to make it fun. You can find many articles, and videos about its theoretical side. For the technical side, you should understand the tools, art types, game design, and of course needed programming languages. After all, you should decide which style, tool, and engine is for you and which you enjoy the most to develop.

Mastering game development starts with the fundamentals of design, programming, and art. Online courses, books, and tutorials offer invaluable resources to learn these basics. By familiarizing yourself with game engines, tools, and frameworks, you can start creating your own projects. Dive into designing gameplay, levels, and mechanics while also exploring art, sound, and music creation. You don’t need to be an expert in everything right away, but building a strong foundation in these essential areas is crucial for your growth as a game developer.

Keep it simple, the best way to gain experience in makings games is actually making a game. Kind of obvious right? But I would say that finishing a game is much harder than starting it, don't try to make the next GTA or God of War if you are doing your first project most likely you will start with a lot of passion and lose your motivation when the game gets too big. Participate in Game Jams! Those events are really good because already set a deadline for you project so you know that you won't be in this endless looping of making your game forever and after only 48 hours you will have something that others can play and the whole experience of delivering a game.

Before you can create your own games, you need to learn the fundamentals of game design, programming, and art. There are many online courses, books, and tutorials that can teach you the basics of game development, such as how to use game engines, tools, and frameworks, how to design gameplay, levels, and mechanics, and how to create art assets, sounds, and music.

Familiarize yourself with game engines like Unity or Unreal, and pick up essential programming languages such as C# or Python. Explore tutorials, online courses, and free resources to build foundational skills. Understanding the core concepts of game design, development, and mechanics gives you the necessary groundwork to create your own projects and makes you more competitive in the industry.

I'll always emphasize this: if you lack “professional experience” your projects and game jams serve as your credentials — your “professional experience”. Show me another place like a game jam, where, with a small team, you go through the production cycle in 48 hours, presenting a working product. Gain portfolio entries and valuable teamwork experience. Look for them, google them, sign up. Gather friends or strangers from Discord, create something cool together — for the thrill of it. Put it on your CV, but remember to include working links! I can tell you right away that in recruitment, for junior roles, it's one of the first things I'll look for. Only then will I ponder if your summer barista experience reflects in your teamwork skills ;)

If you want to make games, make one! It can have one mechanic, one menu, and one win condition, but it will be infinitely more valuable to you as an experience than having "an idea." Use tools, like Bitsy, that are specifically designed for small games. You'll learn a lot about the process, level design, writing, scene composition, character, and game logic in a digestible and easy to understand way. Making small games is really fun too. Especially if you join a game jam. You can really push your creativity and that's always worthwhile.

The best way I've found to build amazing games better than what courses offer while learning Unreal Engine or Unity is taking part in GameJams. Although it's tough to take part in GameJams frequently but they rapidly increase your skills as you collaborate with other participants and learn building new features. This also gives a more holistic experience as you go from planing to designing, then developing and testing to finally distributing your application to gamers. You get a bigger community to get real feedback from users boosting your game development skills.

Making small games has been incredibly rewarding. It’s crucial to select projects you can realistically complete and to finish each one before starting a new one. This practice helps in refining skills and building a solid portfolio, setting a strong foundation for future, more complex projects.

One of the best ways to break into game development is by making small games. Start with simple projects to put your skills into practice, like creating basic platformers, puzzles, or arcade-style games. These small-scale projects allow you to experiment, learn from mistakes, and build a portfolio. Each game you complete helps you understand the full development cycle, from concept to finish, making you more confident and prepared for larger projects in the future.

Connect with other developers through online forums, social media groups, or local meetups. Engaging with a community allows you to share ideas, collaborate on projects, and get feedback from experienced developers. Communities often provide support, mentorship, and networking opportunities that can help you grow your skills and stay motivated on your journey into game development.

Contribute to Open Source Projects Joining and contributing to open-source game development projects can provide you with valuable experience and exposure to real-world game development practices. Many open-source game projects welcome contributions from developers of all skill levels and backgrounds. By participating in these projects, you can collaborate with experienced developers, learn from their expertise, and contribute to the development of games that are used and enjoyed by a community of players. Contributing to open-source projects allows you to: - Gain Practical Experience - Learn Collaboration - Build a Portfolio - Receive Feedback

Joining a community is essential for game development, as it is not a solitary activity. Engage with online forums, blogs, podcasts, social media groups, and Discord servers, or attend offline meetups, workshops, conferences, and hackathons. These communities offer support, advice, feedback, and collaboration opportunities. Learning from other developers, networking with potential partners and employers, and staying updated on the latest trends and innovations will significantly enhance your skills and career prospects in game development.

Joining a community is crucial in game development, as it fosters collaboration and growth. Engaging with online forums, blogs, podcasts, social media groups, and Discord servers, or attending offline meetups, workshops, conferences, and hackathons, can offer valuable support and insights. These interactions not only provide feedback and advice but also open doors to networking with peers, potential partners, and employers. Staying connected with a community helps you learn from diverse experiences, adapt to new trends, and enhance your skills, ultimately enriching your journey as a game developer.

Working on a team project is a fantastic way to gain experience and visibility as a game developer. It helps you develop essential skills such as communication, teamwork, and leadership while allowing you to experience various roles and responsibilities in game development. Collaborating with friends, classmates, or online partners, or joining an existing team, provides a richer learning experience. Additionally, team projects often result in more polished and professional games, increasing your chances of attracting attention and recognition in the industry. This collaborative approach is invaluable for growth and success.

Collaborating with others gives you hands-on experience in a real development environment, teaching you how to communicate, delegate tasks, and combine different skills to create a cohesive game. Whether it’s a game jam, a student project, or an indie collaboration, being part of a team helps you learn from others, expand your skill set, and build a network of connections within the industry.

In me experience the easiest way to get into gamedev is joking a QA outsourcing company. Requirements are low and it’s a good opportunity to start learning the industry from the professional side. After spending some time there you can transition into in-house QA position and if you play your cards right, show skills, passion and dedication you can move to other departments and start making video games.

Embrace Game Jams for Skill Enhancement Participating in game jams offers a unique opportunity to gain experience in game development. These events challenge you to create a game within a limited timeframe, fostering rapid learning and creativity. Engaging in game jams exposes you to diverse perspectives, collaboration dynamics, and time management skills. Leveraging game jams not only hones your abilities but also expands your network within the game development community. Joining or hosting game jams can propel your growth and visibility in the field.

Collaboration, feedback, idea-sharing, and teamwork are all real skills that need to be developed to make an effective team member. "Soft skills", yes, but they can make or break the difference between being asked on to another project or being left behind as "difficult to work with"! Always consider your teammates' input as valuable as your own.

Seeking feedback and constantly improving are essential practices for game developers. Feedback helps you learn from strengths and weaknesses, identify areas for growth, and discover new ideas and perspectives. Gaining insights from peers, mentors, testers, players, and online reviewers is invaluable. Being open-minded, respectful, and constructive in receiving and giving feedback is crucial. Continuously enhancing your skills, knowledge, and portfolio through courses, books, tutorials, and new projects shows dedication, professionalism, and passion for game development. This commitment to growth is key to long-term success in the industry.

Actively seeking feedback and aiming for continuous improvement is crucial in game development. It helps in refining your work and staying innovative. Embracing feedback and constantly learning shows commitment and can significantly boost your growth and professionalism in the field.

Share your work with others—whether it’s a small game, a demo, or even unfinished concepts—and ask for constructive criticism. Listen to the input from peers, mentors, and even players to identify areas for growth. Use that feedback to refine your skills and enhance your projects. Regularly iterating and improving based on feedback will accelerate your learning and make you a stronger developer.

Seeking feedback and continuous improvement is crucial for any game developer. Feedback helps you learn from your strengths and weaknesses, identify areas for improvement, and gain new ideas and perspectives. Engage with peers, mentors, testers, players, or online reviewers, and be open-minded, respectful, and constructive in the feedback process. Strive to enhance your skills, knowledge, and portfolio by taking new courses, reading books, watching tutorials, and making new games. This dedication to growth demonstrates your professionalism and passion for game development, paving the way for success.

Best thing to teach us experience in this field is "Time". With time, you get experience with doing clients projects. Clients projects teach me faster as compare to solo projects. Because sometime clients demand extra development that you didn't have done before, than you work hard to done it. It give to experience of that thing and after doing some more practice you become expert.

Building a strong portfolio, participating in game jams, and joining communities are crucial steps, as many have rightly pointed out. Additionally, attending gaming conferences can be incredibly beneficial. These events offer opportunities to network with industry professionals and gain insights into various roles within game development. My own journey began with a summer job in QA, leading me to discover my passion for delivering games. Remember, starting somewhere is key. Even if you lack experience, showcasing your problem-solving skills and thought process can make a lasting impression. Keep learning, keep exploring, and you'll find your place in this exciting industry.

Passion is the cornerstone of success in game development. A deep passion is essential to enter the field. To embark on your game development journey, focus on refining your skills and crafting a portfolio. Start by recreating small games to demonstrate your talents and creativity. As your portfolio expands, engage with and contribute to the community for networking and learning opportunities. After establishing yourself in the community, pursue internships or job opportunities to gain practical experience. Remember, with passion, dedication, and hard work, you can forge a fulfilling career in the realm of game development.

Breaking into the game industry can be challenging due to its saturation. Quality doesn’t always guarantee success, and many companies remain unknown. It’s crucial to build a fanbase and gain visibility. Social media can be a powerful tool for this. Showcasing your work and engaging with your audience can help you stand out. Remember, persistence and adaptability are key in this ever-evolving industry. Keep creating, keep learning, and don’t be discouraged by initial obstacles.

When developing your own small games, always collect feedbacks from friends, you may think your game is fun when it isn't or that it isn't fun when it actually is. Hear what people have to say.