How to Get Into the Game Industry: Skills, Schools and First Steps

The game industry is the dream of many people who are closely involved with software and design. Today it has become a career choice for many, and there are multiple paths to get in. In our comprehensive guide, we answer the question that has crossed the minds of many different people, whether they have past experience in software and design or simply an interest in the field with no experience at all: how do you get into the game industry?

The first step awaiting those who want to enter the game industry, those asking how to get into the game industry, is to review their competencies. The games we install on our computers and download to our phones are actually the end product of a development process that takes months or even years. Throughout the process, many people with different skills work in harmony to bring this end product to life, which also increases the options for those who want to enter the game industry. In an industry where many different talents come together, from marketing to graphic design and from musicianship to programming, people who ask how to get into the game industry are needed from almost every field.

Similarly, people who will join the game industry not as developers but as players also need to decide clearly which games and skills they will stand out in.

What Skills Do You Need to Enter the Game Industry?

Because it is fundamentally a technology-focused industry, the first question in the minds of those who want to enter the game industry is usually, “Do you need programming knowledge to work in the game industry?” Of course, learning about programming is a good way to start, but there are many areas in the industry other than programming.

Within a development team, the people who do 3D and 2D design, animation, sound design and interface design generally do not need to know programming. In these areas, which deal with the design of the objects, music, sound effects and user interface that appear in the game, your daily work will mostly focus on tasks separate from programming.

In areas of the industry such as level design, you need to know about the design of game maps and learn to work with game engines.

Outside the development teams, many people with no programming expertise work in the industry in areas such as community management, store management and marketing. From this perspective, we can say that the people working as "software experts" are only a part of all industry employees.

For those whose expertise is on the software side, there are many programmer / developer positions in the industry. In an industry where many different programming languages and libraries such as C#, C++, Python and JavaScript are used depending on the platform being worked on, there are many areas where programmers are needed.

In short, the role you want to take in the game industry also determines the skills you need to acquire. For example, if you want to work on the design side, you may want to spend your time learning various techniques and focusing on design programs. You should go through the same learning and practice processes in software, marketing, community management and many other areas.

Is There a School Where I Can Take Courses on the Game Industry?

Yes: as the popularity of the game industry grows day by day, educational institutions are also opening programs for those who want to take part in it. At various universities in Türkiye, it is possible to find bachelor's programs in departments named game design or digital game design that cover many different aspects of the game development process. In addition, master's programs in digital game design are also offered for those who completed their university education in a field other than games.

For more information, you can check out our comprehensive review of game design departments in Türkiye.

Where Should I Start to Enter the Game Industry?

After deciding which of the areas mentioned in the previous sections you will pursue, the first step is to learn plenty about that area. Whether you join a training program in design, software or another field you will work in, or develop yourself by doing projects on the subject… you must complete your preliminary work on the topic.

After choosing your field and acquiring the basic knowledge in it, you need to research the entry-level jobs where you can gain experience in the game industry. You should apply for job opportunities that will form your start in the industry, such as internship programs and "junior" position listings.

From the early stages, many people have ideas about developing their own game project. However, when entering the game industry, it can be useful to put your own ideas and projects on hold for a while and gain experience in the industry. Whether in a small team or in a company with hundreds of employees, the game development process requires different tasks and responsibilities to be carried out simultaneously. Before moving on to your own projects, you can have the chance to experience this with your experience in the industry.

Alternative Ways to Enter the Game Industry

Of course, working on game development projects is not the only way to build a career in games. Many different areas such as esports and game media also attract intense interest from those who want to enter the industry.

If you want to pursue your career by playing games (as an esports player or game streamer), you need to be talented enough in one or more games that people will want to watch you. Although it may seem easy and fun at first, you will soon realize that it actually has various challenges.

Playing a game at an esports level means, as in other sports, that you will train for most of your day. You will also need to follow various statistical analyses related to the game and continuously improve your current skills according to updates made to the game. For streamers who are not involved in any esports discipline, the conditions are not always this hard, but spending time and effort to master games applies to them as well.

After showing skill that sets you apart from other players in a game's public tournaments and progression system, you will need to take steps in clans, teams and tournaments. You must go through stages that depend on the game you choose, such as showcasing your skills in tournaments you enter individually and joining a clan to take part in team games and tournaments. After proving yourself, to earn a regular income and make esports a career, you need to work with organizations that will move you forward, such as teams and sponsors.

On the streamer side, if you are not progressing alongside esports activities, you should produce interesting content about games and position your stream not just as game video but as a meeting point where viewers come to see and hear you. At this stage, you need plenty of production and patience for your content to be discovered, to become popular and to build your audience.