Here's how you can level up your career in game design.

My biggest challenge was admitting I couldn't do everything myself. You may wear many hats, but that may not still be enough. Imagine you're the artist, the programmer, the level designer, the manager, the animator, the sound engineer etc. I can smell a burnout already. Please try and delegate tasks that you are not capable of handling, outsource if need be. It's a living person that makes a game.😅

Game design will often require you to wear many hats. If you aren't comfortable being uncomfortable and challenging yourself to learn new skills, then the game will suffer. And if you can't do it alone, don't be afraid to reach out to others to help bridge the gaps in your ability.

Foster a strong sense of art and animation, crucial for crafting visually striking and immersive game environments that engage players. Enhance your storytelling capabilities to create compelling narratives that enrich gameplay and resonate emotionally with your audience. Maintain a balance between technical proficiency and creativity by regularly practicing game design fundamentals and taking part in online courses or workshops to keep up with industry trends.

Specialize in emerging areas like procedural content generation or artificial intelligence in game design. Mastering these advanced techniques not only differentiates you in a crowded job market but also positions you as a sought-after expert capable of innovating gameplay experiences. Explore niche genres or platforms such as mobile AR gaming or VR simulations, where your skills can make a significant impact. By honing your expertise in cutting-edge technologies and specialized domains, you elevate your career trajectory, becoming a pivotal contributor to the future evolution of game design.

The first team project always winds up the same way. Everyone has an idea of their own, but none of them fit together, so one of you throws out the idea that everyone just makes their own "small" thing and then you all will just stitch it together at the very end. Thus everyone tries to make a full game all by themselves (or program this doesn't just apply to game development), and you all fail spectacularly. "Doing your own thing" sounds like a horrible idea for a team, and it is. But avoiding conflict, and going back to your comfort zone, will sound very appealing to people used to working alone. Don't let your team fool yourselves into working on your own.

Dive in headfirst with networking by attending a developer-focused event or attending your local IGA chapter meeting. It's important when you're first starting off to make face-to-face connections. Be eager, intrigued, and come with an attitude of "How can I help?" "How can I contribute?" and "How can I get involved?" Then, do those things: contribute to the game dev community by writing articles, sharing your post-mortem (what worked/what didn't work on your last project), helping out another dev with a problem you've previously solved. You'll make a lot more meaningful connections this way and launch your career in doing so.

When it comes to networking, it is always your turn. I often find myself in a position where I'm waiting for the other person to respond, and they never do. You can waste months waiting for a response from someone who never will, and is even less organized than you. Now while it is always your turn, that doesn't mean you can keep spamming the same move (i.e. emails) over and over again. (I got fired for sending some 4 or so frantic emails to my boss in under 24 hours.) Try to get multiple communication lines from your peers. If somebody hasn't gotten back to you try calling or texting, and if it's been weeks, move on to someone else. Networking is something you have to do, it never happens by itself.

Building genuine relationships is crucial. Actively listen to others, offer assistance on projects, and seek feedback on your own work. Nurturing your network is equally important. Stay in touch with contacts through social media, professional platforms like LinkedIn, and by attending regular meet-ups or participating in online forums.

Consider participating in online communities and forums dedicated to niche aspects of game design, such as interactive storytelling or indie game development. These digital spaces offer a global reach and allow for continuous engagement beyond traditional networking events. Actively contribute to discussions, share insights, and collaborate on projects remotely to expand your network with like-minded professionals worldwide. This proactive approach not only broadens your industry connections but also fosters a diverse range of perspectives and expertise, enriching your career growth in game design.

Humans are born with an innate capacity for forming social connections. As much as we may want to do everything on our own, meeting like-minded or even polar-opposite personalities can aid in enriching all parties involved. Put yourself in areas where the chance of networking is high, and if someone is chatting about something you may or may not know. Don't be afraid to jump in ( respectfully of course ) and assimilate yourself into the discussion.

Start by creating small games or contributing to open-source projects to showcase your skills. Engage in game jams to work with peers, iterate quickly, and gain insights into various aspects of game development. Look for internships at game studios to learn from professionals and acquire practical skills highly sought after in the industry.

Focus on niche areas like interactive narrative design for educational games or procedural generation techniques for mobile RPGs. These specialized skills not only differentiate you in a competitive job market but also align with growing trends in game design that prioritize innovative storytelling and dynamic gameplay experiences. Explore opportunities to collaborate with indie developers or contribute to experimental game projects, where you can showcase your unique expertise and passion for pushing creative boundaries. By gaining hands-on experience in these specialized domains, you not only enhance your portfolio but also position yourself as a forward-thinking game designer poised for impactful contributions to the industry.

Gaining real-world experience is always a hot debate. This being said, building something that interests you for the fun of it is just as valid a way to learn. If you have a game you like, why not create a mod for it? If you have a game idea, why not create the smallest MVP for it you can first? If a game you like is too expensive or no longer available, why not create your own ( non-commercial ) clone? These are just a few ways to get started.

Game Jams. They're quick, they offer potential networking opportunities, and while I can't exactly call them easy, they're still beneficial even if you don't finish a game. But most of all they are easy to join. The hardest part is just finding them, but after that anyone can hop in.

Enhance your game design career by mastering storytelling techniques, including narrative structure, character development, and world-building. Learn from traditional frameworks like the hero's journey and modern approaches like nonlinear storytelling. Experiment with different narrative styles to engage players and create immersive experiences. Use rich lore and backstory to deepen player engagement and emotional connection. Look at successful examples like "The Last of Us" series to inspire your own storytelling and elevate your game designs.

Explore narrative design techniques that cater to niche genres like interactive fiction or narrative-driven puzzle games. These specialized areas require a deep understanding of player agency and branching narratives, where player choices significantly impact the storyline. Additionally, consider integrating cultural or historical narratives into your game worlds, offering players unique perspectives and fostering deeper engagement. By mastering these nuanced storytelling approaches, you not only elevate the narrative quality of your games but also cultivate a reputation for creating immersive and culturally resonant gaming experiences that stand out in the industry.

Beautiful graphics, fun gameplay and a mesmerising soundtrack are only parts of what makes a great game. Games are art, because oftentimes you are trying to convey something to the user via a fun digital format. So a game can always fall short if the story isn't quite there. Key ideas to keep in mind; the story you write should always be grounded in a believable reality, there should be a message/meaning and the user must feel a reason to keep playing and not just skip the dialogue.

Engage actively in professional forums, online communities, and social platforms where discussions on new technologies, trends, and best practices take place. Try out new game engines, tools, and techniques through hands-on projects and tutorials to improve your skills and keep up with the latest innovations. Demonstrate your flexibility and expertise by incorporating new technologies such as VR/AR, AI-driven gameplay mechanics, or blockchain integration into your portfolio.

As much as we like to jump head-first into creating our "industry-changing" games that everyone will love. More and more is it important that prior research is done to see if the game and its direction will be worth the effort. Gaining real feedback from your potential user in the future is crucial, along with competitive research to know what everyone else is up to. Think about it, at one point everyone was playing games like Fruit Ninja or Angry Birds on their mobile phones, and now it's Genshin Impact. Fail to plan then plan to fail.

This is becoming more and more prevalent with the introduction of the agile workflow. Constantly iterating and reviewing your work even after release is key to ensuring the game reaches its full potential. You may see something during playtesting that doesn't fit well gameplay-wise, or a user may find a game-breaking bug that needs to be fixed or the game's UI may feel clunky frustrating users to stop playing. These are the things you will only find out if you take the time to review your work. Then it is all a matter of managing time accordingly to iron out the issues before proceeding once again.