How Modding for Your Favorite Computer Game Could Land You a Job in the Game Industry

Many people trying to break into the game industry seem to think they need a relevant degree or internship, and while these things are certainly helpful, the true goal of employers is to find candidates with experience creating games. But how do you get that experience without already having a job in the game industry? It's the standard Catch 22 of many industry job postings, but there is a very real, very relevant solution: computer game modding.

Before purchasing any software or doing any research, you need to take a realistic look at your goals. What do you really hope to achieve from modding? If as this article suggests you would like to get a job in the game industry with your talents, then you need to be aware of the commitment that lies ahead of you. Working on a computer game mod is not unlike working on an actual game's development. It requires discipline, organization, a strong work ethic, and a love of the craft. If you're modding for yourself or for a hobby then sure, you can do it every now and again and be perfectly content. But if you want to turn heads with your mod, you need to approach it like you would approach a real job in the industry.

The Community Effect

Most toolkit publishers host communities for modders. This can be anything from a simple forum to an entire site dedicated to modder interaction. If your chosen toolkit doesn't host a community, chances are a third-party source does. Browse Google for the most active community and bookmark it, because this is the plain and simple truth:

Joining a modding community is the best way to get your work seen by employers.

Though you may not see them ever post or make any peep to show that they're there, game developers the world over browse modding communities, especially those set up for their own games. Just as a baseball scout is going to sit in on high school, college, and minor league games to see the players in action, a game developer is going to visit modding communities to see the work being done and the potential of its members. And this is not just speculation. Modders really have been given jobs in the game industry. Perhaps the biggest success story comes from the Half-Life modding community, from which Valve recruited extensively for future projects after the success of Counter-Strike.

Even if you're not an experienced modder, you can still contribute to a modding community. Good mods require many different skillsets, and if you are particularly talented in art, design, programming, audio, or any other game development category, you should make it known. Release small mods that highlight your strengths. Write tutorials about exporting models from Maya or synching voice acting with animation. Answer the questions of those newer to the community. Eventually you will gain credibility, and if the members take notice of you, chances are any potential employers will take notice of you as well.

A Team Effort

While it is true that you can create a successful mod on your own, it takes a great deal of time and effort, and chances are you are not talented at every single aspect of game development. Most of us have one, maybe two areas under our expertise, and everything else is average at best. For this reason, you should consider joining a mod team and bringing your expertise to an environment where you can be sure it will be appreciated. If you are an artist, you could create your own mod with rudimentary programming knowledge and basic design skills, but if you team up with a programmer and a designer, your mod will be that much more professional.

But the well-rounded quality you will get from joining a team is not the main reason you should do so. Remember, you're trying to get a job in the game industry, and like most entertainment industries and creative venues, it functions in a solid team structure. So many people applying for jobs in the industry lack the necessary traits to play well with others and feel that they work best alone, and while some positions are more individual than others, most game developers frown on this kind of attitude. They want a person who is cooperative and can bring their expertise to a team environment.

Joining a modding team gives you the benefit of that experience, which is a very valuable asset to employers, and something you really can't be taught in school or present in a portfolio or demo reel. Additionally, a team of modders is far more likely to succeed and be noticed than an individual modder, just because of the extra motivation from team-mates and the delegation of tasks.

A Valuable Tool

There's no way I can promise you will get a job just by working on a mod team and being active in a modding community, or that you will even be noticed by an industry professional. But the benefit of modding is that it gives you real experience to present to an employer, and this experience says more than any degree, portfolio, or demo reel ever could. It tells the developer that you know how to manage a project, and the steps needed to take it from concept to completion. It tells them that you're willing to work hard and contribute in a team environment. And most importantly, it tells them that you are passionate about game design and can apply that passion to unique and creative solutions.

So how can modding help you get a job in the game industry even if you're not directly approached by an industry professional? Let's say you are applying for a job as a 3D modeler at a well-known game design studio. The game industry is such a highly competitive field that there could be hundreds of applicants all vying for the same position. In order to apply for this job you had to submit a resume, a portfolio, and a demo reel, which means every single applicant has submitted the same. And the cold, hard truth is that in the art world, there's always going to be someone better than you.

But, you have an ace up your sleeve. Two years ago you worked as a character modeler on a fairly successful Half Life 2 mod, and you've included your best models from that project in your portfolio and demo reel, as well as a link to the full download of the mod. You took care to note that you worked on a team, and listed your responsibilities in the production cycle.

Because of this, you have proven that you have experience that many of your competitors lack. You can apply for the position in confidence knowing you have a better understanding of what it means to work on a game. And experience is by far the most valuable asset you can bring to the table.

When it comes to getting a job in the game industry, you need every advantage you can find. Computer game modding experience is a great addition to any applicant's arsenal, and most importantly, it keeps you doing what you love, and that is worth the investment in and of itself.