Depending on which aspect of the game industry one wishes to work in and the types of games being developed, there are many different types of game industry jobs. Video games for consoles, computers, and mobile devices, as well as tabletop games like board games, role-playing games, and collectible card games, are all examples of different types of games. Within each of these industries, there are many different game industry jobs, such as development, testing, and writing critical reviews.
Jobs in the video game industry cover a wide range of tasks. In terms of development budgets and financial return, video games, for example, are a massive industry with game releases that rival major Hollywood blockbusters. There are numerous jobs in the video game industry that are involved in the development and release of a game.
Artists who create concept art for a game world as well as the actual art assets used in the game fall into this category. Leading one or more teams to create an overall concept for a game and then executing a number of different design decisions to create the final product is typical of game development and design. Of course, computer programming is required to create the playable game, and countless hours are spent testing the game to ensure it works properly.
However, such positions are only a part of the game development process; there are also numerous game industry jobs related to game publishing. Directors are frequently involved in overseeing the work of various teams developing a game, producers finance games and ensure they are completed on time, and a marketing department is in charge of the game’s advertising and release. There are also a lot of job opportunities in the game industry for those who want to write game reviews and guides, and gaming journalism is especially popular on the Internet.
Other job opportunities in the game industry can be found in the tabletop game industry. This includes both older and newer board games, as well as the design and production of classic board games like chess. Many game industry jobs are involved in the creation of tabletop role-playing games, including the development of rules systems and settings, artwork that goes along with the games, and testers who ensure the games make sense to players who haven’t developed them. Collectible card games are another important segment of the game industry, and they frequently necessitate a large amount of artistic resources, as well as development and testing.
There is also the retail aspect of games, and buying and selling games accounts for a large number of game industry jobs. Managers and store associates are employed a number of retail businesses that specialize in selling games, usually either video games or tabletop games. There are also a number of non-specialty stores that sell a variety of games, often in conjunction with other electronics or toys.