IT AND TECHNOLOGY | AREAS OF WORK
GAMES DEVELOPMENT Work with people from a variety of disciplines who share the same passion.
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here is no denying the growth the gaming industry has been experiencing the past few decades, and the impact it has had on the current generation. Singapore is not exempted from this development, and the government has been very supportive of this relatively young sector within the country. Thanks to the country’s solid IT infrastructure, ease of communication and transportation, as well as ready talent pool, many international players – such as Ubisoft, Gumi Asia and Tecmo Koei – have made the small country their regional base.
Career overview Game production is a very complex process that requires expertise from a variety of disciplines – including project management, music composition, programming, as well as art and animation – which can be further broken down into more specialised roles. IT and computing graduates will be able to find many employment opportunities here, but the sector is a competitive one and will require a lot of preparation. Despite the generally contending nature of the field, however, an increasing number of game companies either independent or focusing on mobiles and tablets have presented new entry-level positions for graduates. Graduate-level newcomers usually start out as junior programmers, working in a team with a mentor, and expected to pick up key skills essential to the industry. Following that, recruits can become an
authority in their chosen area of specialty, or even lead a team of their own. Alternatively, hopefuls can also take on a lead production role if overseeing the whole process is preferred instead of focusing on only one scope of the cycle.
Trends and developments While it is considered one of the most profitable sectors in the world, the games industry is also very hard to predict. Games and gaming will never stop evolving, and the challenge is to stay ahead of the curve and keep consumers happy. Recent trends include augmented reality and battle royale, and Fortnite showed the possibilities of cross-platform play. Virtual reality and mobile gaming are other rising parts of the landscape, and expected to continue gaining momentum.
Pros and cons Exciting industry Working in games development can be a tremendously exhilarating experience as there will be constant exposure to new inventions and innovations. And with programmers all over the world being extremely willing to experiment with different ways to improve gamers’ experiences, there is the opportunity to be part of a field that is constantly trying to push the envelope in terms of technological capabilities and user interfaces.
Long hours Unfortunately, the field is also known for its protracted periods of brutally long working hours – termed as “crunch” in the industry – that becomes especially pronounced as shipping deadlines for games approach. While there is greater dialogue now about having a better work-life balance, graduates should still be prepared to put in long hours if they wish to start a career here. Skills required in games development
• Strong interest in technology • Solid understanding of trends and technology innovations • Interpersonal skills • Presentation and documentation skills • Analytical skills • Good business sense
STEM Career Guide 2021
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