Paid to Play Describes Gaming Careers

Posted on December 1, 2006

Computerworld.com reports that David Hodgson, author of Paid to Play: An Insider's Guide to Video Game Careers, says game industry jobs are not all fun and games citing lowish pay, long hours and monotony. That information is unlikely to stop those who want to enter the gaming industry. Hodgson's book offers plenty of tips as well including some ways to get a foot inside the gaming industry.

Programmers, for example, require a specific set of skills and may benefit from a college education, with video-game-specific college programs cropping up faster than innocent victims in Grand Theft Auto.
"It's a calling you have to have. They are much more interested in the enthusiasm first, but the credentials are important," he said.
If you don't have the money or the desire to go to college, a home-brewed game, a witty blog, clever and spot-on game reviews or a successful track record in game testing are all ways to get a foot in the door.
Many people make their start in testing, but the work can be grinding. It's low-paid -- around the same as donning a headset and working the window at a fast-food establishment. It can also be mind-numbing -- it is not unusual to play the same game or even the same level for months until it's bug-free.

Playing the same game over and over for months? Now that would be monotonous.