Launch your career

in game development

A guide to getting started

in the video game industry

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 THERE’S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO
GET INTO THE VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY!

In just a few short decades, video games have

grown from the hobby of a few to a global gaming
market with active gamers making up over one-
third of the world’s population. $314+ billion 270,000
As games and technology become more advanced, Projected worth Video game industry
new career opportunities arise, offering game of the global gaming employees in USA alone
market by 2027
creators unprecedented scope for creative
expression through compelling storylines,
captivating visuals, and immersive experiences.

This guide is to help you get started in the video

game industry. You’ll learn about the game
development pipeline, explore different jobs, get
career tips, and more! 9.3% 3+ billion
Estimated growth of Number of active
game dev and design gamers worldwide
roles from 2016 to 2026
IN THIS GUIDE
Game development pipeline 3

Jobs in games 5

Ways to enter the industry 7

Where to find internships 8

50% 100%
Free software and resources 9
How much demand Amount the Women
for real-time 3D in Games Ambassador
Questions to ask before enrolling
skills has outpaced Program aims to increase
in a game dev course 10 information the number of women
technology skills by working in games over
Glossary 11
Student Work: Marc Carrala Arce

the next 10 years

Game development courses 13

Cover image: screenshot from “Wayfinder” (Airship Syndicate).

CG Spectrum Game Design course grad Dave Sullivan worked
on the game at Airship Syndicate.

2 www.cgspectrum.com
 GAME DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE
Much like a production line, the game development pipeline helps organize the workflow required to create
a video game so that everyone knows what they need to deliver and when. While pipelines vary between
projects and studios, the process is fairly similar across AAA, indie, and mobile games.

Even if you’re only responsible for one aspect of the pipeline, knowing every department’s order and purpose
can help you become a better game developer and an invaluable asset to your team.

PRE-PRODUCTION

STEP 1: CONCEPT

The game’s concept is refined and expanded

to articulate key elements. Designers work
on the core vision and pillars to define the
game and what will distinguish it from the STEP 2: DESIGN
competition.
A detailed design document is started—
it outlines the game’s core systems and
how they work and includes rough plans
STEP 3: RESEARCH for game stories, levels, technology,
TECHNOLOGY visuals, and other game elements.

Game engines, tools, pipelines, and

software that’s needed to build and
develop the game are evaluated,
STEP 4: VISUAL DESIGN
developed, and tested.

Early game visual concepts are

conceptualized, designed, modeled,
textured, animated, and tested before
STEP 5: PROTOTYPE being built.

Prototypes of core gameplay, visuals, a

level, and other important aspects of the
game are created, iterated, and tested to
see if they are fun. STEP 6: VERTICAL SLICE

A much more elaborate, playable version

of the game, called a vertical slice, is
created, which is representative of the
final game experience.

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 PRODUCTION

STEP 7: 3D MODELING

Game characters, enemies, vehicles,

environments, buildings, objects, and more < /> STEP 8: PROGRAMMING
are created, modeled, textured, and made
ready to be put into the game. Core gameplay systems are written by
programmers in C/C++ while designers
help implement, test, and evaluate
everything to make sure it’s fun and
STEP 9: 3D ANIMATION runs efficiently.

Elements such as characters, backgrounds,

objects, vehicles, and weapons are animated.
STEP 10: LEVEL DESIGN

Level designers create a rough version

STEP 11: ARTIFICIAL of game levels. Artists then add quests,
enemies, stories, puzzles, and all other
INTELLIGENCE
aspects needed to bring game levels to life.
The ‘brain’ of the game, made up of
complex algorithms that customize
gameplay, is programmed into the game. STEP 12: CINEMATICS

Short narratives that drive the story,

instruct on gameplay, or promote the
STEP 13: INTERFACE game, are added.

Heads up displays (HUDs) which update

the player on progress, and menus
instructing on objectives, available POST-
elements, and in-game purchases, PRODUCTION
are added. FIX & POLISH

STEP 14: SOUND DESIGN

Dialogue, special effects, music, and

foley are mixed and edited to create
STEP 15: EFFECTS
the final soundscape of the game.

Visual effects, explosions, and other

graphic elements are added and polished STEP 16: QA & REFINING
to make the game look great.
Quality assurance testers test the
game and provide feedback. Sound and
visuals are given a final polish.

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 JOBS IN GAMES

STARTING SALARY: 55K USD

$
MID-SENIOR LEVEL SALARY: 80K–111K USD
LEAD/MANAGER SALARY: 135K+ USD
Salaries vary depending on studio size and location

GAME DESIGNER
Focuses on the function of a game, creating
systems, rules, gameplay, and worlds to ensure
“As a game designer,
it’s playable, fun, and engaging.
your job is to find
Specializations include:
• Level designers: focus on creating and
the elusive fun and
implementing levels, environments, stories make an engaging
and quests.
• Systems designers: focus on designing and and compelling user
implementing the minute-to-minute gameplay
systems, such as controls, movement, and
experience.
combat, which make the game fun. — Troy Dunniway, CG Spectrum
Game Design mentor “
GAME PROGRAMMER
A field within software engineering. A game
programmer, usually familiar with one or more
programming languages, brings a game to
life through their code. They may specialize in
graphics, tools, artificial intelligence, audio, user
interfaces, or networking. HOW TO BECOME A VIDEO GAME
Student Work: Kameron Barger

DESIGNER
Read more about this challenging yet
rewarding role and get expert tips for
entering this career path.
cgspectrum.com

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 GAME MODELER GAME QA TESTER
Working from concept art, real-world reference, Ensures that games meet certain standards of
and scans, a modeler creates 3D assets such quality before they are released to the public. A
as characters, props, vehicles, weapons, and game QA tester usually plays a game extensively,
environments that populate and form the world of providing the team with feedback for user
a game. They may also be responsible for texturing experience and playability.
and shading assets and laying them out in the
scene. SPLASH ART ILLUSTRATOR
Splash art is the digital art displayed between
GAME ANIMATOR levels or loading screens in video games. Splash
Responsible for making 3D characters and other art illustrators are used for games that play
assets move through and interact with their digital individual matches (like League of Legends)
environment, tied directly to game logic and or have frequent load screens. A splash art
design. Animation makes a game more dynamic, illustrator also creates art for a game’s auxiliary
adds personality to its characters, and helps build media (booklets, marketing, etc.).
on the overall realism and interactivity. Animators
also make libraries of complex movements and CONCEPT ARTIST
cycles to be reused and repurposed. Develops the initial visual concepts (characters,
props, vehicles, environments) from a script or
TECHNICAL ARTIST (DEPARTMENTAL) creative brief. They set the tone and style of the
Often based departmentally, a technical artist work, giving life to an abstract idea. Concept art
works with game artists and developers to help can be used as a reference point throughout a
bridge gaps in the pipeline between departments game’s development.
and troubleshoot technical issues. They also work
on general research and development, create and PIXEL ARTIST
maintain tools and plugins, and help optimize A digital artist who creates images using pixels
workflows. This is both a creative and technical as their only building blocks and typically limit
role. their worl to 8 and 16-bit graphics. This is to
closely match classic arcade and older console
SOFTWARE QA TESTER graphics, which are still popular today.
Ensures that software meets its intended purpose
and is free of defects. Typically works with
developers to identify and fix bugs before the
software is released to customers.
Click to learn more about each of these
roles, including key responsibilities, salary
range, and how to get started.

DISCOVER YOUR IDEAL

GAMES CAREER:
cgspectrum.com/career-pathways

6 www.cgspectrum.com
 WAYS TO ENTER THE INDUSTRY
Here are some sure-fire strategies to help increase your chances of getting a job in game development.

GET THE SKILLS INTERN AT A GAME STUDIO

Look at game studio job ads to see the skills Not always a viable option, but it can be a great
they’re hiring for. Then build those skills: download way of gaining hands-on experience while also
and learn relevant software, watch online tutorials, networking.
or enroll in an industry-focused course.
GET A GAME QA JOB
STAY AHEAD OF TRENDS Kick-start your career with a job in Quality
Seek out online tutorials, webinars, conferences, Assurance. Expand your gaming knowledge by
publications, and other game dev-related content testing and pushing in-production games to their
to remain informed. See our resource section. limits.

CREATE YOUR OWN GAMES COLLABORATE WITH PEERS

A great way to understand the rigors of game dev Working with your peers is fun, you can learn from
and showcase your talent and basic grasp of game each other and tackle bigger projects.
production for potential recruiters.
APPLY FOR PRODUCTION ROLES
PARTICIPATE IN GAME JAMS Some production roles (e.g., runner, production
A team challenge to produce a game in 24–72 assistant) don’t require experience and can help
hours, with participants taking on various roles. get your foot in the door of a studio.
Gain experience, collaborate, and work towards a
deadline. Use the final product in your reel. GET A DEGREE
Although more expensive and time-intensive,
ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITIES computer science degrees are still well-regarded
Building connections is vital to getting your name and useful for breaking into the industry.
and skills recognized, and a chance to interact with
industry pros who can offer advice or even jobs.

BUILD A STRONG PORTFOLIO

This helps recruiters see if you’re a good fit with
Student Work: Jake Baker

their company. Put your best work up-front and

show each project’s process from initial concept to
execution.

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 WHERE TO FIND INTERNSHIPS
2K SEGA
2k.com/en-US/jobs recruit.sega.jp/en/internship

ACTIVISION SUPERCELL
careers.activision.com/students supercell.com/en/careers

BANDAI NAMCO THE FARM 51

bandainamcoent.com/careers thefarm51.com/eng/careers

BLIZZARD WARGAMING
careers.blizzard.com/global/en/internships wargaming.com/en/careers
EA
ea.com/careers/interns-and-university-graduates

EPIC GAMES
epicgames.com/site/en-US/earlycareers
OTHER RESOURCES
FAST TRAVEL GAMES
• ArtStation Jobs: artstation.com/jobs
careers.fasttravelgames.com/#jobs
• European Games Developer Federation:
IO INTERACTIVE egdf.eu/join-the-european-games-industry
ioi.dk/careers
• Game Developer: gamedeveloper.com
MICROSOFT • Creative Heads: creativeheads.net
careers.microsoft.com/us/en/gamingjobs
• Game Jobs: gamejobs.eu
ORBITAL KNIGHT • Game Job Hunter: gamejobhunter.com
orbitalknight.com/careers
• Game Dev Jobs: gamedevjobs.com
RIOT GAMES
• TIGA: tiga.org/jobs
riotgames.com/en/university-programs

ROBLOX
careers.roblox.com

ROCKSTAR GAMES
rockstargames.com/careers
ADDITIONAL TIPS
RESPAWN ENTERTAINMENT • Enquire directly with smaller studios.
respawn.com/internships • Research the studio(s) behind your favorite
ROVIO games to find possible opportunities.
rovio.com/interns

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 FREE SOFTWARE & RESOURCES
SOFTWARE

Unreal Engine: real-time game engine Twine: open-source tool for telling interactive,
nonlinear stories that can be extended with
Unity: another real-time game engine
variables, conditional logic, images, CSS, and
Blender: 3D modeling and animation software to JavaScript
create your own game assets
Stencyl: video game development tool that
TurboSquid: buy ready-made 3D assets allows users to create 2D video games for
Unreal Engine Marketplace: build 3D worlds computers, mobile devices, and the web
using free downloadable assets GameMaker: 2D game engine
GIMP: 2D image editing tool for tasks like photo Audacity: digital audio editor and recording
retouching, image composition, and image application software
authoring
Nuclino: documentation, worldbuilding, and
Inkscape: open-source tool to help create vector planning tool
graphics and jot down ideas visually
GitHub: discover, share, and contribute to
MidJourney: handy AI imagery too useful during software
the brainstorming phase of a project
PhysicsJS: modular, extendable, and easy-to-
ChatGPT: can aid in streamlining some game use physics engine for javascript
design processes by generating code and even
designing game assets

OTHER RESOURCES

Explore Unreal Engine’s free courses Learn to design video games with
gamedesigning.org
Explore Game Development Career Pathways
Watch tutorials on the Game Maker’s Toolkit
Join the Epic Games Dev Community
YouTube channel
Student Work: Noor Vullinghs

Visit ArtStation’s Unreal Engine channel

Follow Level Designer Tommy Noberg on
Check out Game Jam Tips and Tricks from Epic Twitter
Games’ developers
Reference Splash Damage’s game design
Read helpful articles on 80 Level document when creating your own

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 QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE
ENROLLING IN A GAME DEV COURSE
Below are a few things to consider when choosing a game development school or course.

WHO TEACHES THE COURSES? WHAT PARTNERSHIPS

Look for institutions whose teachers have actual DOES THE SCHOOL HAVE?
industry experience. It means you’ll be learning Does the school have any partnerships you could
from people who have put their knowledge into leverage down the track? As mentioned before,
practice and can offer unique industry insights. partnerships help ensure schools provide quality
courses vetted by reputable external companies.
HOW DO STUDENTS INTERACT
WITH THEIR TEACHER(S)? WHERE IS THE SCHOOL LOCATED?
Check what interaction you’ll have with the person You want to avoid a difficult commute or moving
teaching you—is it just via pre-recorded videos, house to attend classes. Online courses are a great
or do you get to interact with them in real-time? alternative because they allow you to study from
Being able to ask your teacher questions and get anywhere and save on travel expenses.
personalized feedback on your work is crucial.
WHICH STUDIOS DOES THE SCHOOL
WHO CREATED THE CURRICULUMS? HAVE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH?
Ideally, you want to attend a school where course Good schools will always work closely with leading
curriculums are created in-house by experts with studios. This means they will often have guest
both industry and teaching experience. speakers, events, and recruiters helping ensure the
school stays relevant and on track.
WHAT IS THE STUDENT SUCCESS RATE?
High student success rates often mean that you’ll WHAT ELSE DOES THE SCHOOL OFFER?
be learning skills that will help you land a job in Do you just receive coursework, and that’s all?
the industry after graduating. It may also indicate Consider the additional selling points that make
that the training center offers additional services the school unique. Do they offer career advice
like career counseling and training to help you get and counseling? Are there free expert-led talks
ahead. and events on offer? Do they organize fun
extracurricular activities and student challenges?
WHAT SOFTWARE WILL BE TAUGHT Is there a strong sense of community to make
AND IS IT INCLUDED IN THE COST? your learning experience more enjoyable and
Having software included in the course fees means collaborative?
less overheard costs for you. Additional tip: check
if the school is an academic partner or authorized
training center for the software you’ll be using—
this ensures you’re getting a quality education
vetted by reputable companies.

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 GLOSSARY
For a more extensive list of terms check out Game Developer’s Critical Glossary.

AAA (TRIPLE-A): a mid-sized or major game CINEMATIC (ALSO CUTSCENE): Non-interactive

publisher with more robust budgets than other scenes in a game primarily used for storytelling,
tiers of studios to produce (usually) higher-selling, instructing on gameplay, or promoting the game.
retail AAA games (e.g., Electronic Arts, Nintendo,
Ubisoft). CODE (ALSO SOURCE CODE, SCRIPT):
Computer instructions written in a programming
AGENT: In-game character or object that uses AI to language (C++, Java, Python, etc.) by
interact with other objects in its environment. programmers or through machine learning (AI), to
power a game and help it to function.
ALPHA: Version of a game with all major features
and most assets, commonly shared internally to CULLING: Detecting, isolating, and removing any
test for quality and bugs. unnecessary data.

ASSET (ALSO 3D MODEL): Digital 3D model used EVENT: Game action executed through player
in a game such as props, characters, set dressing, input (e.g., pressing a controller or keyboard
environments, etc. button or to make a character move).

BALANCE: Process of tuning a game’s mechanics GAME ENGINE (ALSO REAL-TIME ENGINE):
to ensure its difficulty level is not too hard but not Digital tools and features that allow game
too easy so it remains fun for people to play. developers to build games and create and display
real-time interactive content (e.g., Unreal Engine,
BETA: Version of a game containing all major Unity).
features and assets with no major bugs. It should
be more complete than alpha, and on its way to GDD (GAME DESIGN DOCUMENT): Document
code release. created by game developers to define and justify
their game, often used to pitch to publishers. It
BUG (ALSO DEBUG): Any development issue that should include the story, gameplay, characters,
makes a game tedious, unstable, or unplayable in level design, and other integral game information.
its current state. The solution is to find and remove
them (debug). INDIE (SHORT FOR INDEPENDENT): Game or
studio usually formed by individuals or smaller
Student Work: Oliver Rotter

BUILD (ALSO RELEASE): Game development term parties with less or no financial backing and
for the “version” of a game. technical support from a larger game publisher.

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 MECHANICS: Essential functions, rules, and RTS (REAL-TIME STRATEGY) GAME: Game genre
outcomes of gameplay that make a game where participants play simultaneously (rather
rewarding, fun, and interactive. than taking turns) towards common goals.

NPC (NON-PLAYER CHARACTER): In-game SERVER: Specialized computer, or network of

characters that can’t be controlled by players. Also computers, where remote players connect via the
called AI characters. internet to play games with other players across
the world.
OPTIMIZATION: The process of making
improvements on a game (e.g., frame rate, size, TDD (TECHNICAL DESIGN DOCUMENT): Written
memory usage, battery usage, etc.) to help its document created by game programmers, detailing
overall performance, so it loads and runs more a game’s technical plan; e.g., how the code and
efficiently. architecture will be constructed, how servers will
be configured, etc.
PHYSICS: Applying real-life laws of physics in
games to make movement and environmental TILE: Image that is used to create other, bigger
behaviors more realistic. images (such as a platform) in a 2D game.

PIXEL: The smallest building-block of a screen UI/GUI (USER INTERFACE / GRAPHICAL USER
image, made of light and colors. INTERFACE): Menus, inventories, and other non-
game interactive systems on-screen.
PROTOTYPE: A small, limited, early version of a
game (or part of) often used for testing. UX (USER EXPERIENCE): The design and
implementation of how players interact with a
REAL-TIME RENDERING: The process of game’s interface and features.
converting a scene into display pixels at real-time
rates such as 24, 30, 60, and 90 frames per second VECTOR GRAPHIC: Type of graphic image that
for immediate playback. uses 2D points to connect lines and curves,
allowing it to be scaled and customized.
RENDER: The process of digitally generating
an image or video based on 2D, 3D, and lighting VERTICAL SLICE: Proof-of-concept portion of a
information. Traditional offline rendering can take game, typically given to investors or publishers for
minutes or even hours to finish. potential funding and partnerships.

RPG (ROLE-PLAYING GAME): Game genre WORLD BUILDING: Form of visual storytelling
where players take on fictional character roles, to develop a coherent virtual world, created in a
developing them by interacting with other players game engine or 3D software. Elements to consider
or NPCs and making decisions that affect a game’s include history, geography, and ecology.
outcome.

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 GAME DEVELOPMENT COURSES
TO ADVANCE YOUR CAREER
Strengthen your career opportunities with personalized career training and mentorship from industry experts
at CG Spectrum. Build practical job skills with a specialized curriculum, meet your mentor for a live weekly
Q&A session, get feedback on your work, access extra career services, and grow with a community of like-
minded peers. Click on a course pathway below to learn more.

GAME DESIGN

GAME PROGRAMMING

INTRODUCTION TO
GAME PROGRAMMING
GAME PROGRAMMING
(9 months)
(3 months)

Term 1 Term 1 Term 2 Term 3

REAL-TIME 3D & VIRTUAL PRODUCTION

FOUNDATIONS OF REAL-TIME 3D REAL-TIME 3D

& VIRTUAL PRODUCTION & VIRTUAL PRODUCTION
(3 months) (9 months)

Term 1 Term 1 Term 2 Term 3

ISTQB® CERTIFICATION COURSES

SOFTWARE TESTING ADVANCED

TEST MANAGER
FOUNDATIONS SOFTWARE TESTING
(2 weeks)
(2 weeks) (2 weeks)

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YOUR At the heart of most games and player
experiences are the characters, worlds,

FUTURE maps and levels which players interact with

and in. These are the magical places that
IN GAMES capture our imagination.

AWAITS! — Troy Dunniway, CG Spectrum

Game Design mentor

Student Work: Aurore Coutelier

Established in 2011, CG Spectrum is a global top-ranked training provider for the
film and game industry offering specialized programs in animation, digital
painting, game development, 3D modeling, VFX, virtual production, and 3D
visualization. CG Spectrum inspires and trains creators through a unique online
learning model and personalized mentorship from industry professionals.

Learn more about the curriculum, fees, and how to get started at
cgspectrum.com/game-development

170 2K+ 90 80%

film and game alumni countries advanced course job
industry mentors success rate