Comments on: Video Game Internships: Capitalizing on a Golden Opportunity

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 09:24:32 +0000

Hey Brice!
My name’s Michelle and I really want a future in the gaming industry, hopefully production or game design. I’m a full time student at a 4 year college in southern California, and am applying for as many internships for the big corporations (in LA area) that I can. However, I feel this has been unsuccessful and perhaps my applications/resumes are getting bypassed.. I want a better way to get in or some sort of connection, do you have any suggestions as to how I could stand out/apply in a different more hands-on way? (Walking a resume into the actual company or something?)

Thanks for your help and wish me luck!
Michelle

By: Brice

Brice — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 02:49:11 +0000

Hi Maurice! There are a couple of game studios near Chicago I know. One useful site is gamedevmap.com. You can try it out to find some studios you may be interested in and contact them.

As for a degree from ITT, it might be difficult to compete with students from larger universities, but not impossible. Smaller studios may be more open to the idea of hiring someone with your background. But much of it is your skills – so if you want to do animation and modeling, commit yourself to being the best there is at those, no matter what your background.

Best of luck!

By: Maurice

Maurice — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 23:33:26 +0000

Hey Brice, I am currently a student at ITT Technical Inctitute. I am about to get my associates in Visual Commmunications and will be going for my bacherlors in Digital Entertainment and Game Design. I am going to focus on character animation and modeling. I was looking at internships and am really interested in trying to apply for one. The only thing is I live in Mo so I would have to move which is no problem for me. I just dont want to move far away and then not be picked for a job. How does the school I go to compare to say a Bachelors in science from some university? And should I possibly just get my associates from here and then go to a university for a degree?

By: Brice

Brice — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 05:24:02 +0000

Hi Arantza, thanks for stopping by The Game Prodigy!

One of the main things that most companies (in the US anyway) look for is game development experience. Having your own project that you worked on with other students and actually finished is a great thing to add to your resume. Doing a project, like the ones many readers here do, would be my recommendation.

Best of luck!

By: acarrasco

acarrasco — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 11:29:12 +0000

hello,

I’ve got a master’s degree by a university in Barcelona and now I’m doig a post-degree in designing videogames, for one year and a half (mostly the artistic branch).
I’ve got no experience yet and I’m looking for some internship somewhere. Is it possible to get an internship for people with this kind of cv (strong academical background but no professional experience yet)? during this year and a half i intend to develop a project and work for free on some internships here in spain, but my intention is to move to the USA.
Do I have some chance? what do they require apart from the university degree to get in?
thank you and regards,

arantza

By: Lightning

Lightning — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:18:05 +0000

I see. I do not mind starting as a Games Tester, as I
have been playing Videogames for over a decade, & would
prefer starting there as I need a chance at getting
more experience to even get into this field anyway.
Since I love Videogames, I will not have much trouble
working as hard as possible to get to the position I
want.
I will try, & complete the second Semester, then
decide whether I want to advance to the third Semester.
Thanks Brice for the advice!

By: Brice

Brice — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 07:10:06 +0000

Hi Lightning, thanks for your question. Unfortunately, most companies are going to require that game developers they hire have a college degree from a major university, especially for Artists, Engineers, or Designers, the three major disciplines. If you are dead set on being a game designer, I would strongly consider pursuing a four year college.

However, if that’s not possible, then there is always the possibility of getting into the industry as a development tester, working hard and eventually moving up to a producer level. Jobs like that are usually available to people who live nearby game development companies, such as in the same city. Essentially you just want to try to get a job in the building doing something, and then you can work hard and go from there.

Best of luck!

By: Lightning

Lightning — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:08:48 +0000

This is swell, and all, but what I want to know is how
can I actually get a chance as an Intern working with
a Video Game Company, without having to necessarily go
to University? I am just finishing some Coursework, but
I am looking to take a good period out to get all of
the necessary experience I want to become a Video Game
Designer. I have already completed a HNC ICT, & HND
ICT Course in College, and am starting to realise that
University is just not for me.
Is there a way to gain this experience after completing
two years of an ICT Course at College?