Careers in Video GamesAmanda LangeTechnical EvangelistMicrosoft

This is a test for me, not you:Raise your hand when you’refamiliar with the game I show.

How Are Games Made?

Video Games are Made ByBig TeamsAbout 350 people worked on Halo 4The team for Grand Theft Auto V was in excess of 1,000 developers

Small TeamsAntichamber and Hate Plus (both shown) were developed almost solely by individuals (Alexander Bruce and Christine Love, respectively)

Anywhere in the Middle

Video Games TakeTons of Money and Time to CreateIt took 5 years to create Bioshock Infinite and a rumored budget of $200 million+It took about 3 years to make the recent South Park game

Not Much Money or Time to CreateFlappy Bird was created in 2 days The Global Game Jam is a 48-hour game-making marathon that has lead to some small success for games like Surgeon Simulator and has made thousands of new games over the years

Anything in the Middle

Video Games AreA Complicated IndustryWhich employs millions of people worldwide and makes billions of dollars

Sometimes Without Clear Easy AnswersBut let me try to answer your questions anyway….

Industry Jobs

Publishers and DevelopersPublishersHandle business and operations

DevelopersMake the game

Some Companies/Indies/Individuals Do BothA publisher can also use more than one developer and a developer can use more than one publisher

Example:Halo 4My Company is…?

PublisherHalo 4 was Published by Microsoft Studios

It was Developed by 343 Industries

Previous Halo titles were developed by Bungie

Development JobsProgrammingDeveloping code to create the game

Art3D Models, Textures, or maybe Pixels

SoundMusic and Sound effects

DesignSystems, Interactions, Story, or Levels

Publishing JobsProducerBudgeting, Scheduling, Managing

Public RelationsAdvertising, talking to reporters, being onstage

Business HR, Recruiting, More Managing

Other JobsTeacherTeaching game design and development

JournalistWriting the news about games

Community ManagementCommunicating between developers and players

Hardware DevelopmentEngineering consoles, controllers

Lots of Other Stuff

A Rule ofThumb

The Bigger the companyyou work forThe more specific your jobtitle will be

Another Rule

If You Want to beCreative Lead…Start Small

Resources

Development Microsofthttp://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com – Learn Thingshttp://www.dreamspark.com – Get Software

Game Softwarehttp://www.yoyogames.com – GameMakerhttp://www.scirra.com – Construct 2http://www.unity3d.com - Unityhttp://www.udk.com - Unreal

Job BoardsGamaSutra Networkhttp://www.gamasutra.comhttp://jobs.gamasutra.comhttp://www.gamecareerguide.com

Studio SpecificWho made your favorite game? Look them up!

PlacesConferenceshttp://www.gdconf.com – Game Developers Conferencehttp://www.ecgconf.com – East Coast Game Conferencehttp://www.indiecade.com – IndieCade (West/East)

In Philadelphiahttp://www.phillygameforge.com – Philly Game Forgehttp://www.phlcollective.com – PHL Collectivehttp://www.toomanygames.com – Too Many Games

© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.