Educational Book Review: Video Game Careers

GameCareerGuide.com, Gamasutra’s sister site for students and other aspriring game developers, has just reviewed the book Video Game Careers. A new edition of the book by David S.J. Hodgson, Bryan, Stratton, and Alice Rush, was released this year. Video Game Careers ($19.95) is meant to be a one-stop overview of different careers in the video game industry. According to the review, the book’s strong points are in the breadth of game-related jobs it covers, as well as a strong explanation of what happens in QA departments. All the major disciplines have dedicated sections -- design, art, programming, quality assurance, audio, business (production is counted as a facet of business here) -- and the authors cast their net a little wider to include journalism, public relations, strategy guide writing, and even working in a retail game store. The authors provide information on the overall general job description, typical duties performed, average salaries according to an anonymous survey conducted by the authors, and skills needed to pursue the work. Some hidden gems in the book include sample resumes and cover letters and a mini-glossary that explains nine legal terms, such as non-disclosure agreement and interview release. You can access the complete book review on GameCareerGuide.com.