What entry-level game development positions require creativity?

There are a plenty of game designers variations all over the games dev market. If you are looking for the entry position, then maybe you can consider such roles as Technical GD, Content GD, Narrative GD - more narrowed variations. Tha main task in the current mobile games industry is not the creating of the new games, but creating a content and a liveops for the living projects. So, on the entry level you mostly will move characters, build maps, or write the dialogues. To be allowed for creating new mechanics (mostly steal from the competitors) you must proove yourself in the very hard way for the years of work.

You've provided a comprehensive overview of the role of a game designer. It's essential for aspiring game designers to combine a deep understanding of game design principles with effective collaboration and adaptability to create engaging and technically feasible gaming experiences. Building a strong portfolio showcasing creativity and skills is indeed a key step in entering the field.

According to the article, the only thing a GD doesn't do is programming and drawing :D I think that the definition of GD here is very broad and should be broken down into smaller chunks, like Technical GD, Narrative Designer, Regular Game Designer, Combat Designer and probably a few I forgot to mention. All of them require creativity, just different ones. The most important part is not being creative but communicating with other people what you would like to achieve.

There is an interesting and difficult time for the artist to rise now. On the one side — you must have experience of working with AI to increase your speed and skip some parts of prototyping and rendering. If you reject use AI, you can be rejected in some companies. On the other side, you can't create real good stuff with AI, if you don't have a perfect sense of style, proportions, compositions and etc. which can be got only with years of hard practice and learning. Please, consider both sides of the education to grow and evolve. AI is strongly necessary tool, but only tool.

Once again - all artists are in the same bag. If you are a concept artist, you don't really need to know how Unreal, Unity or any engine works. No one expects this from you unless you also want to work on some Environmental Design. Don't go with "versatility". People are looking for artists that are good at THAT. It's for the best to specialise in one topic and then maybe learn something new, that to try to be good in all of them.

Yes a game programmer should be logically strong for problem solving skill, debugging and many more. Programmers should be able to adapt to any programming language.

In my opinion: - Degree is rubbish. - Portfolio if all. Don't wait for anything, create games. Many games. Try to keep single game development's time in range of 3-6 months. Look for hard new tasks. Keep learning for the new methods. Look for the other programmers' feedback.

If you want to be valuable tester, you not only must be accurate and evil player wth the pen, but also think in terms of the whole product. That's mean - learn programming for the testing automatization, learn game desing to better understand what production side really need. On the entry level - start to create your portfolio by analysis of the giang games in the stores. Google docs with issues you've found can serve you great when you are looking for the job.

You've highlighted the crucial responsibilities of a game tester accurately. Attention to detail, analytical skills, and effective communication are key attributes for this role. A genuine passion for gaming, combined with a diverse understanding of game genres and platforms, enhances the ability to identify issues. Crafting a resume or cover letter that emphasizes both creativity and enthusiasm for game testing is indeed valuable in entering this field.

Where to look for game development jobs: - Amir Satvat Video Game Resources - LinkedIn Jobs - Hitmarker - RemoteGameJobs - Angellist [Wellfound] - FlexJobs - GamesJobsDirect - Work With Indies

You've compiled a great list! To enhance your search, consider checking out industry-specific forums like Unity and Unreal Engine communities, Gamasutra's job board, and company career pages. Networking at game development events and conferences can also open up opportunities. P.S. Look for attitude, there is nothing like a hungry individual who want’s to make a mark.

There are a few positions missing, like for example Writers. They are not really game artists, programmers, QA testers or game designers. But all of them benefit from a good writer.