Welcome from the host

Are you looking for your first job in the games industry? This course is for anyone interested in pursuing a career in games development and getting ready to take their first steps towards getting a job as a games developer.

Developer Chella Ramanan will be your host for this course, guiding you through the key steps to getting your dream job in games. Chella has just got her first job in a big games studio after working as a games journalist and indie developer. As Chella proves, there are many routes into a career in games development; so whether you’re new to the sector or are looking to switch to working in a new area of the industry, this course will help you prepare you to start a career in games development.

We’ve also brought together some of the best and most experienced developers to get their advice on getting into the games industry such as co-founder of Harbee Studios Claire Boissiere. Claire has interviewed hundreds of developers and was Production Manager on the seminal Augmented Reality games EyePet Move and the BAFTA-nominated Wonderbook: Book of Spells and its sequel Book of Potions.

Earlier you heard from some new and senior developers talking about what attracted them to the games industry, but what brings you here? You might have a background in art, computer science or project management but no specific training in games development; or perhaps you’ve invested time into learning games development skills at Academy or University level. In this course we’ll share techniques, tools and tips about how to communicate your skills through the job application process.

This course isn’t designed to teach you the basic skills of games programming, art, design or production, but will equip you with the knowledge to successfully navigate job applications and interviews. We’ll give you some techniques and advice, and share stories of people like you who recently started their games careers.

But first, a little information about us…

The BGI is a new charity for videogames that’s backed by many British games companies, universities and arts organisations. Our aim is to educate the public about the art, science, history and technology of games. One of our flagship programmes is the National Videogame Museum in Sheffield, which celebrates videogames and the people who make them. You can read a little more about the National Videogame Museum on its website.

We developed this course because the games sector needs a lot more talented and diverse people to get the chance to make games professionally. Throughout the course we’ll guide you through the process of starting a career in games, sharing what recruiters and studios look for. We’ll share the journeys that new developers have recently taken both before and after they started their careers, and support you to reflect on where you are now and where you want to be.

Welcome to ‘How to start your career in games development’.

Why not introduce yourself below?