Debunking Myths about Game Dev - The Standup

When we asked the team at Ascendant about what types of myths they tend to hear the most surrounding game development, we were amazed at what rumors still make the rounds. From development being as easy as pushing a button (if only!), to the mysterious job available to the zero years of experience college grads dubbed “Game-Thinker-Upper,” to the presence of any bug in a game meaning the studio is lazy/indie/didn’t play their game, there still seems to be quite a divide between what the general public thinks and what actually goes into to making a game.?

In the last issue of The Standup, we took some time to debunk a few of the more common myths so that whether you’re an aspiring game developer, a concerned parent, or a keyboard warrior, you have some know-how on what really goes down to make the games we all know and love. Here’s a quick preview:

Myth: You have to know how to program to work in game development

If you want to make a game by yourself, you may need to learn some basic coding skills. However, if you want a job in game development, programming is just one of many pieces that come together to make a video game. Big budget games often have large teams of many different, yet vital roles contributing to all aspects of the game. You need designers to articulate where objects are placed in the level and balance player and enemy skills to make sure the game is fun and has good pacing. You need artists to ideate and sculpt a cohesive world, regardless of if it’s in 2D pixel art or realistic 3D graphics. Producers will be critical for deciding what to prioritize, how to keep the game in scope, and help eliminate roadblocks so that the whole team works together fluidly. A few more critical roles include skills in music and sound design, animation, user interface design, pipeline management, writing, quality assurance (QA), visual effects, and more.

These are just a few of the roles that are specifically within game development. Just like other media industries, game companies also need people specialized in a vast array of skills: marketing, law, business development, IT support, operations, recruiting, and more. Even if you decide you don’t want to work directly on a game, there are tons of opportunities to provide support and get involved in the game industry. Plus, just you might get conscripted to assist with some mocap shoots. You never know! ; ).

You look past the curtain on the other myths we debunk by reading the full blog post here. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, The Standup,to get updates on future blog posts, Immortals of Aveum news, game dev insights,and more. Check out our podcast Rise Above for in-depth? interviews with game industry experts and follow us on YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and here on LinkedIn to keep up with our other exciting content.