10 Tips for a Game Industry Interview
I'm writing this for my former team, which has found themselves looking for new work in the Game Design field through no fault of their own. At the time of writing, it's 2023, and we've seen a massive increase in industry layoffs. Unfortunately, being laid off in the games industry is not uncommon. I'm writing this from the perspective of a game designer. However, all the steps here would benefit someone from most specialties.
Many studios will lay off their staff after a major game release to save on costs. Other times companies will be looking to downsize their teams or offshore some of the work. If this has happened to you, I wish you the best.
Whether you're looking for your first-time job in the industry or looking to re-enter, I hope these tips will help you on your way. I've interviewed hundreds of candidates over my career and compiled a list of some easy key wins that can keep you with an edge.
Play the Game You're Interviewing For
This is the easiest step, but I'm always amazed that candidates fail to do it. You are expected to make decisions as a Game Designer that affect the game's experience. It is best to have a basic grasp of how it works. I'm not talking about spending 100 Hours diving in or completing a game to 100%. Still, you should be able to speak to the game's core premise, the basic mechanics and understand what a user would be looking for when they pick up the title.
If your game is not available to play, like it's unreleased or in development, this is, of course, impossible. If there are trailers, previews, or reviews, take the time to read into these. If you don't know the game you're interviewing for, dive into the company's backlog of titles to understand their scale or style. More on this later.
2. Analyse Game Mechanics and Flow
This is where the fun begins. It's time to actually play the game. Start by navigating through any front-end menus, and get a sense of the various modes and features available. If there is a Tutorial or First Time User Experience, be sure to play through it, that will do a lot of the exploration work for you.
When you're in gameplay, look at all the actions available for you to perform. Understand the application of these abilities and their effect on the game environment outside your control.
If you're playing Sonic the Hedgehog, you want to understand your input options and what effects those have on the player. How does that input change when your character is put into particular circumstances, like moving down a hill affecting your momentum? Or jumping and colliding with an enemy. Think like a designer here. Get down to the base fundamentals first, then work your way up.
3. Record Your Observations
Break down mechanics, flow, and features into a notebook while playing. I'll go into more detail about this in a future post on how I do this, but for now, focus on writing everything step-by-step. What is the flow for you to move through the game (also known as the player's journey)? What are the core mechanics? What are some of the nuances of those mechanics?
For example, I was playing Kirby and the Forgotten Land. I'd want to map out the flow of moving from the level selection screens into gameplay, what Kirby's mechanics are, and what is the metagame loop (find townspeople, rescue them, rebuild town). Go into detail about any of these elements relevant to your interview.
4. Form an Opinion on the Game
What do you think of it after you've done the homework of playing the game and taking notes? Is it fun? Does it feel like it has quality? Does it feel rushed? All of this tells you about the culture of the studio that you're applying for. Is it full of bugs? That could inform you about the amount of work waiting for you or indicate long hours.
Is it fun? I recall doing some prep on a game that a recruiter contacted me to work on. They wanted to set up an interview. I looked into their game and was shocked at how unfun it was and the number of bugs. Fortunately, I'm at a point in my career where I felt comfortable declining the interview because I knew that even if I could improve the game's quality, I wouldn't feel inspired to work on it.
Your opinion shouldn't be completely unshakeable. The point is to establish your views and accept new information contradicting your idea.
5. Read Reviews, Community Posts, and News
After you've logged your thoughts about their particular game, go onto reviews and community sites and see what the wider audience says. And - I want to be clear - separate these views from your opinion. Reviews and User feedback are valid points of feedback in the positive in negative, but the lens is as a player. Identify some of the systems or decisions the game team made to lead to some of these decisions.
6. Be Honest About Your Game Experience
Don't lie in your interview, I shouldn't have to say that, but clearly, through my interviewer experience, I do. Too often, I'll ask if someone played our game (who didn't), and immediately upon a follow-up question, it's obvious they didn't. If I catch someone lying to me, I can't think of a single instance where I'd want to hire them. I can't speak to other interviewers, but if someone lies in the interview, they'll lie later, which casts a shadow over the rest of the interview.
If you only played a few hours of the game (or less), be honest about that because you won't be able to field any follow-up questions that are bound to happen. Someone admitting to playing for a few hours is fine. I can understand that as an interview, and I'm glad you did at least some preparations to learn before coming in.
7. Experiment with User Generated Content
For example, suppose you were applying for a job at Bethesda. In that case, you should definitely have played around in their creation kits to get a sense of the kinds of decisions their designers make and the restrictions that can cause them. This can prove you're serious about the role.
8. Be Current in Your Games Industry Knowledge
This is not only a significant opportunity to connect personally with one of your interviewers, but it can also relate to the kinds of Games you are familiar with. Suppose you're like me and log thousands of hours in the latest Total War grand strategy game. In that case, you are fond of systems, and it's an opportunity to express.
If you haven't had time to play lately, that's also relatable. Life gets busy, and even those who love games and work in the industry must take a break. This can be an opportunity to highlight a recent or upcoming game you've been seeking and find exciting and something to ask the interviewers if they are also familiar with.
9. Make Your Interview a Conversation
The best interviews don't feel like interviews. They feel like conversations. This is because when you're conversing with someone, it doesn't feel forced. It feels natural. Having a smooth back and forth with your interview reduces those awkward pauses. This depends a lot on your personality and that of your interviewer. However, try focusing on showing yourself as a person rather than a box of answers the interviewer needs to extract. Share about yourself
10. Draft a list of questions to ask
Save some questions for the end. Your interviewer should give the last few minutes to ask any last-minute questions before wrapping up. Have a question ready for this because it can provide a strong finisher for the interview. It
Just be sure you refrain from reasking a question already discussed during the interview. And it needs to feel natural. It should match the tone of the discussion. It could simply be, "Where do we go from here? When will I hear back from you?" or something friendly and more relatable.
Conclusion
No matter what happens, getting an interview is a step in the right direction as you gain experience, practice, and new connections. You will only get some jobs you interview for. Still, every time is an opportunity to practice, grow your skills, and meet new exciting people. I know it's tough in the job market, but keep trying and don't give up.
All the best,
Dave
