The Games Game

The Path to Designer (August 2003)

Dear Tom:

I have worked as a game designer since 2001. But in France (where I live and where I'd like to stay), the game industry is in decline. I'm without a job, and I can't find any game design job openings right now.

What do I have to work on to improve my chances of finding a job close to game design: my ridiculous programming skills, or my bad designing skills?

Do you think that becoming an independent worker could help find a permanent job? That is to say, is there enough demand for freelance game design projects, especially given that I have only two years of experience in the game industry?

François-Xavier Boffy

Dear François-Xavier,

The position of "game designer" can be tenuous, subject to interpretation, and some companies may not have a full-time position with that title. It is also a "sexy" position, and thus much in demand. It's great that you have had the opportunity to work as a game designer - it looks good on the resume.

To find another game design job, though, is likely to be very difficult. Especially since you yourself say you are not very good at it. Since you also are not a programmer, then you need a skill or talent that is needed by game companies, so that you will be hired. All you need is a job at a game company - ANY job. I personally know people who started in Q.A. and became designers, and I know one guy who started as a forklift operator in the warehouse. He rose to the position of producer and eventually became the president of a very significant game company.

Designers come from many different origins. Graphics, programming, audio, testing, producing, customer support... All you need is a job at a game company - ANY job. Oh, did I say that already? (^_^)

So if you aren't a programmer, and you don't have any artistic talent, then I hope that you are a good team player and that you learned a lot about the process of making games during your two years as a game designer. You should be able to get a job as an assistant producer or a tester or ... something. Game designers are communicators, so perhaps you could work in customer support.

But let's consider two less pleasant possibilities.

Firstly, maybe you need to go to college. If you don't have a four-year degree, and you aren't yet over 30 years old, then it's not too late to go back to school.

Secondly, maybe it was discovered (by others) that you don't have the talent to be a game designer. If this is so, then like I say, there are lots of other rewarding jobs in the game industry. The next step for you is the same - if you have a four-year degree, get a job in a game company. ANY job. Any game company. Then you can move diagonally or sideways from there.