The gaming industry is currently one of the fastest-growing industries. According to Business Wire, the industry hit the $152.1 billion mark and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 12% in the following years. With this growth, the demand for video gaming professionals also increases. And it becomes a challenge for businesses to hire a game developer as there’s a lot of competition.
The key to creating a great video game is not the idea. That’s one part of it, but what makes it take off is the execution. And this is why hiring game developers becomes a challenging task for most.
This guide covers everything you need to know about hiring game developers, from the costs to how to do so.
Game Developers Skills
One of the most important aspects of hiring game developers is evaluating their skills.
I always recommend hiring managers to divide skills into two categories:
1) Must-have
2) Nice to have
The must-have skills are the core skills candidates need to perform their tasks successfully. These range from creativity and personality traits to technical skills that involve coding. The nice to have skills are those that you value but are not fundamental for the role.
In general, these are the technical skills to look for in coders skilled in game development (Keep in mind that these might vary depending on the role you’re looking for):
- Understanding of 2D and 3D animation software
- Familiarity with the game production pipeline process
- Critical and analytical thinking skills
- Proficiency in two game engines
- Expertise in C++ or Java
- Familiarity with VR
3 Steps for Hiring a Game Developer
1. Look Out for Passionate Developers
In other words, make sure they love games. You might think this is unnecessary, but imagine if you had a game developer who yawns at your game’s idea and is always making excuses to skip the “storytelling” bit. You don’t want someone disinterested in the product itself.
Even though the game developer in question loves the process of creating a game, if they don’t like the final product, they may exert less effort and enthusiasm, which could affect the outcome.
You don’t need to look for cheerleaders who will jump in joy at your “Skyrim” idea. But you’re better off hiring game developers who have some passion and excitement for what they’re creating than hiring someone who cringes while testing the game when it’s all done.
Pro tip: If the game developer claims to like certain games, ask for their favorite characters in those games to make sure they’re not bluffing!
2. Their Portfolio Matters More than Their CV
There are many ways to evaluate game developers. These can vary depending on what type of professional you want, but I’ve learned through my years in recruitment that a CV is not the best indicator of a candidate’s talent. You need real proof of their work, especially if you’re going to be making a significant investment.
So, what’s the best way to see the skills of a game developer? Their portfolio.
Does the game developer have enough experience in what you want to create? Has he ever made a similar game before? All of these things will stand out in a portfolio. You need to check the versatility and the specific expertise of the game developer. Not all are good at developing every type of game.
Pro tip: Make sure you test the games in the portfolio to get first-hand experience of the developer’s work.
3. Hire a Remote Game Developer
Hiring a remote game developer opens a wide range of possibilities. Why? Because besides having thousands of more options, offering remote jobs is almost one of the best ways to attract top game developers.
The best professionals choose remote work because of the work-life balance it comes with. Moreover, it saves employees time and money, and it also saves you a lot of time and money. It is a complete win-win situation!
Also, who wants to stick to finding a game developer locally when the perfect fit is sitting 3000 miles away, maybe? Why cage the possibilities?
You’re creating a game, and that will cost a lot anyway. Don’t let proximity and local talent become a hindrance to your success. In today’s world, you have a choice: Go global and hire the best game developer for yourself.
Pro Tip: Remote hiring isn’t child’s play. If you want to hire the best game developer, go for an expert remote recruitment agency like DistantJob. In less than two weeks, we can help you find a fluent-in-English and time-zone-friendly developer. Want to know how? Contact us!
The Right Interview Questions to Hire Remote Game Developers
When you reach the interview stage, be very careful. Here’s when you get to know the game developer really well. Don’t miss the chance by asking irrelevant questions. Here are some of the questions that can help you make the right decision.
1. Name Some Of The Android Tools Required To Develop Games
The answer should contain some of these terms:
- Eclipse: Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
- Android SDK
- Hudson – Automatic build tool
- ADT – Android’s Eclipse Plugin
2. How Do You Keep Yourself Up To Date With The Latest Game Development Technologies?
How the candidate answers this will tell a lot about their enthusiasm to learn and evolve. You don’t want game developers that are stuck with theories from the stone age. Pay attention to the platforms or sources they mention here and check how relevant they are.
3. How Will You Stay Connected With Your Team And Manage Real Time Crisis When You’re Working Remotely?
The answer to this will help you understand the candidate’s mindset. How communicative are they? What do they do to solve problems? Can they adapt to a remote team environment? They should be able to tell you a feasible and actionable solution.
These are just some of the questions that will help you understand the game developer’s expertise, personal attributes, and mindset. All kinds of questions are very important, especially if you’re going to hire a remote game developer.
4. What is the Basic Structure for Game Development?
The basic structure for developing a game has 3 main components:
- The game interface
- The implementation of the interface
- The game source code
5. What are Some of the HTML5 Framework Game Engines?
Some of the HTML5 engines include: Construct 2, Turbulence, CAAT, and Phaser.
6. What is a Game Loop?
The game loop is a central component in game development. It is useful for making necessary updates and tracking the changes made in the game.
7. What are the Main Differences Between Blender Game Engine (BGE) and Unity3D?
In the first place, Blender is based on python and Logic bricks. While Unity script is based in JavaScript and C#. Additionally, in terms of cost, Blender is open source, and in Unity3D there are different versions, Unity Pro is a paid version.
Things to Keep in Mind Before Starting the Hiring Process
What kind of game are you developing? Do you have a budget in mind? What’s your monetization strategy?
These are some of the questions you need to ask yourself when considering building a game. But as a starting point, in the pre-production phase is when you define the type of game you want to develop. Here is where your idea starts to become a reality.
Start by figuring out what type of game you want to build:
- Is it a simple shooter gamer or a MOBA with a PvP arena?
- Would it be a multiplayer game that involves heavy graphics? Or a simple single-player game that can be played offline?
- Will users play it on mobile platforms, or is it exclusively for gaming consoles?
Once you’ve figured out the specifics, it’s easier to understand what technologies your game will be developed in.
Video Game Pre-production Questionnaire
1. Game budget: How much money will you invest in developing the game?
2. Gaming platform: In what platform/s will your game be available? Console? Mobile? VR?
3. Narrative: What are your game mechanics? What’s the plot? Do you have one or more characters?
4. Monetization: How will you earn money through the game?
Game Technologies to Look for
For most game development projects, you need to hire game developers with a strong knowledge of some game engines.
Unity and Unreal are two such engines that most games are built on. Add to this some important programming languages like C++, JavaScript, C#, Python, DevOps, and Linux to ensure that the game developer you’re hiring is an expert who can deliver what you exactly want. Strong knowledge of game graphics is also critical.
In today’s day and age, most game developers have good knowledge of Extended Reality (XR), which is a term that encompasses:
- Augmented Reality (AR)
- Virtual Reality (VR)
- Mixed Reality (MR)
It’s always a huge plus if the game developer is also well-versed with XR.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Game Developer?
Game development is currently one of the most lucrative fields. However, the salary of a game developer will depend on the level of experience they have and their location.
In the U.S, the average salary of a game developer ranges from $101,644 per year (ZipRecruiter) to $117,564 per year (Indeed).
But, if you’re looking to hire remotely, you’ll find the salaries much more attractive. A game developer in Eastern Europe earns approximately $80,000 per year. Similarly, in Asian countries, the average salary of game developers ranges from $70,000 to $85,000 per year.
Now You Know
Hiring a new team player for your dev team requires a high level of expertise and commitment to deliver. As a business, your project is an important part of your growth, and to make your next game a success, you need to hire the right game developers.
Remote work environments can change your game for the better, literally and that’s why DistantJob is here to help you find the best game developer talent at affordable rates.
If you’d like to create your dream game development team, get in touch with us. We are eager to see some better games in our app stores and consoles!
