5 Gaming Industry Careers for Non-Programmers
Image of woman gaming courtesy of Pexels
Want to work in gaming, but don’t have a programming background? Wondering what other ways there are to get into the industry? In this article, a gameHER shares five gaming industry careers for non-programmers!
By Rhys Jackie
It's clear that gaming is a thriving industry today. Games have been a consistently popular leisure activity for both men and women, with Statista reporting that women accounted for 45% of gamers in the US in 2021.
Gaming appeals to all demographics, and the numbers show it. Growing from $155 billion in revenue in 2020, analysts predict the industry will generate more than $260 billion by 2025.
The demands on the industry are sure to translate to more work opportunities for women beyond programming. So, with that in mind, here's a few career choices you can look at!
Writers
Scriptwriters are absolutely crucial for developing a compelling game. In the 20th century, the video game consistently evolved as a storytelling medium. The gaming experience has been enriched via world-building, plot lines, complicated character development, and creative set design, and scriptwriters play a vital role in these elements.
Starting with Nintendo’s Donkey Kong in 1981, we now have expansive universes in Skyrim with its non-linear gameplay. Story-based games have some of the highest user ratings on Steam, and as story becomes even more important in games, the demand for diverse perspectives among game writers is sure to grow.
Translators and Interpreters
Following on from the boom of storytelling in games is the need for translators, who convert a game’s story, characters, and dialogue from one language to another, as well as interpreters, who perform slightly more complex and challenging tasks like live translation in gaming events.
These are crucial steps in order to appeal to larger markets to ensure games have global appeal. While the seemingly masculine world of gaming can look intimidating, Russian-English interpreter Kseniia Topolniak only has good things to say about her experience. She claims that the work has been nothing but professional and rewarding, and that she has yet to encounter any outright prejudice (or special treatment) based on her gender.
Game Designers
Artists are in charge of creating and conceptualizing the visual elements required to put a game together. Game designing is a dream for many young people nowadays, and the job market is predicted to grow by 9.3% between 2016 and 2026 according to CareerExplorer.
While coding in game design is certainly a valuable skill, there are still many ways to have success even without it. Designers can work on a team with game programmers who can code, or use high-quality game engines like Unreal, Unity, and GameMaker that code for you.
Social Media Strategists
It can be difficult to cut through a crowded market, and effective marketing is often the best way to do it. Social media strategists are crucial in gaming as they continuously analyze relevant social media data to capitalize on trends in order to run promotional campaigns. This showed in 2019 when rankings and ongoing competitions would trend online, especially with gaming having grown into a branch of live entertainment.
Many women have accomplished marketing careers in the gaming industry, such as Kristina Carson who is the product marketing manager at Disney Consumer Products, Inc., or Tricia Gray who was the director of marketing for Cryptic Studios and is currently the CEO and cofounder of Our Machinery. With the right effort and network, one day it might even be your own name attached to a successful campaign!
Technical Support Specialists
In line with the need for clear communication, technical support specialists deliver the quality customer service that has become in demand in the industry. Since the beginning of the pandemic, average weekly tickets for customer support requests are up more than 25% for gaming companies, compared to roughly 20% for other industries globally.
Only highly trained support specialists know how to keep players motivated and engaged in the game. However, there is no one-size-fits-all strategy for a diverse community. Researching your target market in order to implement the most optimized solution is the key.
With 35% of the world’s population being gamers according to Finbold in 2020, the window of opportunity is open, and with thorough preparation, anyone can find a rewarding career in the gaming industry.
About the author:
Rhys Jackie stumbled upon Warcraft III at the age of 12 and has been in love with games ever since. Currently, Rhys animates on the side while advocating for more women and femme representation in the gaming industry.
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