Almost every day, we get e-mails from aspiring game developers asking the same thing: how do I get a job at Gearbox?  What does it take to break into the industry?  Here are a few tips that might help you on your way:

Getting Started

     First, find out what you love doing: are you an artist, level designer, programmer, audio guy, animator, or any of the many other types that games need? There are tons of development jobs - environmental artists, technical artists, texture artists, character modelers, concept artists, gameplay programmers, multiplayer programmers, engine programmers, platform specialists, single-player designers, multiplayer designers, animators, cinematic designers, gameplay designers, audio technicians, composers, writers, UI artists and programmers - the list of specializations goes on and on.

     Start doing it!  If you don't love your discipline enough to be doing it in your free time, you might not have the right idea.  Game development is a demanding (and rewarding) career, but you have to have passion!  Work on projects by yourself or on a team, but start making things!

 Education

     There are some schools and programs like FullSail, the SMU Guildhall, and Digipen that offer programs aimed at game development that can be beneficial, but you don't have to have a degree from one of these places to get in.  In fact, it's not always the most important that you do have a degree, but rather that you are passionate and capable in your field.  Degrees relating to your profession are absolutely helpful, so don't write education off - just make sure that your primary focus is your passion for creating games.  Everyone can benefit from upper level education.  Artists have a lot to gain learning traditional art as well as digital, and programmers can always benefit from computer science, math, and software engineering instruction!

     Artists, depending on their specialization, need to be fluent with Photoshop and/or 3-D modeling software like Maya, 3DStudio Max, or zBrush.  The more you know, the better off you are.  Animators should also be fluent with animating using 3DS Max or Maya, and opportunities to work with motion capture software are a bonus.  At Gearbox, we primarily use 3DS Max.

      Designers should learn the ropes of level editors using many of the tools available: UnrealEd (Epic Games) and Hammer (Used by Valve games) are two popular choices (among more) for designers, who can also benefit from knowing 3-D modeling software.  Learning the scripting language associated with your editor is important!  Gearbox has been using the Unreal 3 engine for some time now.

    Programmers need to become proficient with C++ and be able to prove it.  Creating finished projects is key.  Good OOP skills and familiarity with version control (like Perforce) is important.  There are tons of sites where you can find C++ and game-programming-specific tutorials to help you on your way.  Become familiar with different editors, tools, and APIs, and find what you love to do, whether it's engine-level programming, gameplay programming, or anything in-between.

     Interested in something that's not one of these areas?  Audio, writing, voice acting, tools programming, and other tasks are very important parts of game developemnt.  To learn more about the game development industry and the jobs we require, make sure to visit many of the sites linked in this article!

     Many games come packaged with an editor that will allow you to create mods and begin learning how your discipline works.  People who are able to create good, completed mods and work on a team show skills that are needed in game development.  Designers who create popular, finished community maps also have a leg up.  Find others to work with and get your stuff complete and out there!

     Making your own small games can also be a great addition to your portfolio.  Whether you work alone or on a team, try to get exposure for your projects and make sure they're completed.  Participate in contests like Make Something Unreal, the IGF, contests on moddb like Mod of the Year, and keep your eyes open for more!  Gearbox primarily creates FPS games, so some of the links provided are geared toward such games, but many games offer toolkits - if you have a favorite game, find out how to make content for it!

      Hone your skills - practice whatever you do all the time.  Talk with other aspiring game-makers and established developers.  Communities can help instruct and inspire you: artists might try CGSociety, those interested in building their own games might like Garage Games, and everyone might check out gamedev.net, Gamasutra, or Game Developer Magazine.  For specific engines, check out Unreal Developers Network or the Valve Developer Community.   The list of resources goes on and on.

 Networking

     Get connected - learn about game developers in your area and find out what they're working on and looking for.  Find out if there's a local IGDA chapter.  Attend the GDC if you're able to.  Make friends with other mod-makers, game-makers, and developers and start building networks (with social apps like LinkedIn) and contacts that can help you in the future.  Get yourself out there!

Other Jobs

     Want in but not on the development side?  We need more than just developers to make games!  There are tons of other jobs in the game industry in marketing, IT, operations, QA testing, and more.  Keep your eyes open for postings for these kinds of jobs and make sure you're qualified - we can be picky.  Have a good education in your field or lots of experience and a passion for games and your job.
    

At Gearbox, we look for people with excellent portfolios (ones that contain the applicant's best examples of a variety of finished and polished work) who are passionate about games.  Keep your resume short - your portfolio is extremely important and is what we'll spend the most time looking at.  Be personable - communication is a huge part of game development, and if you can't work well with others, it will be much harder for you to get in.  Make sure you've researched the company - if you don't know anything about us, it shows us you're not that interested.  We're primarily an FPS developer, so make sure you've got some experience with the genre.

Visit our jobs page to learn about available jobs at Gearbox!

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