Got your sights on making video games as a living but not sure where to start? Here's what you can do

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 — Imagine turning your love for games into a creative career, where you bring your own virtual worlds, characters, and stories to life.

Sounds exciting, but how do you kickstart your career in game development fresh out of school? Where do you even begin?

Malay Mail spoke to a game developer, who has shared some insider tips on how you can embark on your journey into the world of game development.

According to Hafiz Azman, 33, the co-lead at 7th Beat Games who has developed games such as Rhythm Doctor and A Dance of Fire and Ice — don’t wait until you finish school.

Explore a few popular game engines, try one, and follow the tutorials they provide.

Game-making tools like Game Maker, Godot, and Unity are available for free and are perfect for beginners, he said.

“I started making games when I was 9 years old, discovering Game Maker and following their tutorials,” said Hafiz.

For those intimidated by the thought of coding, fret not.

Tools like Scratch and Game Maker provide visual coding options-think of it as piecing together a puzzle, using drag-and-drop logic blocks to create games.

It’s an intuitive way to get into game development without diving straight into complex coding.

Hafiz Azman, co-lead at 7th Beat Games, who has developed games such as ‘Rhythm Doctor’ and ‘A Dance of Fire and Ice’ says don’t wait until you finish school. — Photo courtesy of Hafiz Azman

Building your portfolio

For aspiring developers, building a portfolio is crucial in order to show potential employers what you are capable of

“Work on a lot of games and join Game Jams, which are events where participants create a video game from scratch in a short period,” Hafiz advises.

“These events challenge you to complete a game in just a few days.”

Your portfolio should reflect the type of games you want to make, he asserted.

If you’re passionate about a specific genre, he suggested creating prototypes in that style.

“For example, our studio specialises in rhythm games, so experience in that genre would make you stand out when applying for a job here,” said Hafiz.

Developing as side-hustle

Love games, but already chose a career path? Or you’re not ready yet for a drastic change?

Yes, don’t worry, you can still develop games as a hobby — many in the industry have done this.

Hafiz encourages beginners to learn at their own pace, as this approach allows you to gain experience without overwhelming yourself.

You can also take on freelance work — there are often opportunities for smaller tasks, such as creating music or art for games.

To get started, immerse yourself in the game development community by engaging in forums, social media groups, or local meetups where developers gather such as in gamedev.net.

By networking and showcasing your skills, you can offer your services and find opportunities as they arise.

Game-making tools like Game Maker, available for free and are perfect for beginners. — Steam pic

Finding support

Navigating the financial landscape of game development can be challenging, but there’s a silver lining.

Hafiz highlights the role of the Malaysia digital economy corporation (MDEC), which offers grants specifically for small game teams.

“That’s how we got our start,” he shared.

Another avenue for financial backing is finding a game publisher in LinkedIn, or other social media platforms.

However, he advised that publishers typically take a percentage of your revenue once the game is released.

For those seeking support in other ways, joining game development communities on platforms like Discord can be invaluable.

These communities are excellent for networking and getting answers to your pressing questions.

Success stories of successful game developers

Need more motivation? Check out these remarkable Malaysian game developers who have significantly impacted the local scene and beyond.

P’ng Yi Wei, 38

• Founder and game director at Kurechii, discovered his passion for game development in primary school.
• Since starting Kurechii in 2009, he has led the studio to win the Best Game Award at IGF China in 2014 for King’s League: Odyssey.
• Kurechii has also developed games like Tiny Guardians, Postknight, and Prism.

Wan Hazmer, 36

• Co-founder of Metronomik, began his game development career working on Final Fantasy XV.
• His experience led him to co-found Metronomik in 2017 with his cousin, Daim Dziauddin.
• Their debut title, No Straight Roads, won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2018 SEA Games Award and Best Audio at the 2019 Taipei Game Show’s Indie Game Award. This marked a significant milestone for the Malaysian game development scene.

So, ready to turn your passion for gaming into a career?