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Paid to Play: An Insider's Guide to Video Game Careers
*Unique - Currently there are NO OTHER video game career guides with over 100 interviews from current, working game professionals. They are fully candid and give readers an unvarnished look inside the industry. The biggest secret? It's actually work.
*Written by Insiders - The authors are a professional, registered Career Counselor and two game writers who have worked on over 1000 game reviews, 70 strategy guides, and scripted storylines for over five different video games.
*Total Coverage - The authors will be interviewing over 100 professionals, all of them in different jobs within the video game industry. This will give readers a complete overview of what jobs there are in the industry and which ones may be suited to their talents. Rather than a vague list or a focus on programming and development, Paid to Play will blanket the various fields that are utilized in the world of video games.
*Written by Insiders - The authors are a professional, registered Career Counselor and two game writers who have worked on over 1000 game reviews, 70 strategy guides, and scripted storylines for over five different video games.
*Total Coverage - The authors will be interviewing over 100 professionals, all of them in different jobs within the video game industry. This will give readers a complete overview of what jobs there are in the industry and which ones may be suited to their talents. Rather than a vague list or a focus on programming and development, Paid to Play will blanket the various fields that are utilized in the world of video games.
- GenresNonfiction
272 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 2006
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49 people want to read
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October 8, 2015Un po' datato (inevitabilmente), ma utile a farsi un quadro del workflow e dei vari ruoli del settore se si è un po' niubbi. Chiaramente la parte che mi interessava di più (sceneggiatore) è la meno sviluppata, ma la lettura mi ha permesso comunque di mettere qualcosa di buono nello zainetto.
November 28, 2012
Paid to Play, as made famous by gaming web comic "Penny Arcade" is a self-help book about landing your "dream job" in the video game industry. However, though this book touts itself to be a guide to game careers, it's really more of a reality check. Paid to Play is worth a read for those "toying" with the idea of working in the video game industry. The hard-knock style of revealing the reality of the working world in the gaming industry will turn away all but the most serious prospective employees.
Don't get me wrong, this book is a valuable tool, but it reveals the good, bad and ugly in each gaming career. Paid to Play was compiled from a mass email questionnaire sent to hundreds of employees at every level of the corporate ladder, and in almost every niche of the industry. I thought Paid to Play would be a series of Q & A style interviews, but it was actually parsed together from quoted responses. This was actually a more efficient style of relaying the information, and less tedious to read but it also left me wondering what was left on "the cutting room floor" from the responses.
The book covered a wide range of video game careers. In fact, there were far more career options covered in this guide than I had actually considered. As an example, I had approached this guide with an interest in the writing-based jobs. Here it served its function well, while at the same time introducing me to other good fits like strategy guide writing, and multimedia. It was well-worth a read just for this reason alone. Prospective employees may find they are suited to other careers than they were originally aware of, and casual gamers will gain an appreciation and deeper understanding of the industry's inner workings.
Cover to cover, Paid to Play was a little tedious to read. It breaks each career into a set examination format. Opening with a job description, the reader is granted a short blurb about each of the interviewed professionals (many of which the average gamer will recognize). From there it breaks down the perks and hazards of each career. If you're still reading after the good, bad and ugly, suggestions follow including how to land the job and recommended education or strategies for building your resume or portfolio. In some cases, such as art design or programming, the information was slightly out-of-date but through no fault of the authors. It's just how the tech industry functions. The book lends itself slightly better to jumping around to whichever careers interest you, but a complete reading will still reap benefits in the long run. As career guides go, this was a light and easy read, made palatable by short sectioning, classic "Penny Arcade" art and a good sense of humor, especially in the chapter footnotes.
Where this book really shined, in my opinion, was in the "tools" this book provides. Rather than jumping headfirst into an examination of gaming careers, the book opens with a skills tests and a personality examination. This encouraged the reader to self-assess their strengths and weaknesses and get some career ideas, to better envision themselves in their chosen careers. The closing chapters had a great section on resume building (complete with templates), as well as a decent list of resources and contacts for networking and job hunting. The information on "how to get your first job", however, will be common sense to most, and was humorously targeted to the unwashed, parent's basement dwelling gamer geek.
Of special mention were the sections on women in gaming and game careers. Here the game crossed from career guide into a sociology non-fiction. This section was packed with encouragement and advice for any girl gamer hopeful, and still had plenty of insight into the question of why such a male-dominated industry developed in the first place and what can be done about it.
Also of note were the sections on entry level positions. This book revealed some hard truths about the fabled "Video Game Tester" role, and the often idolized "Gamestop" or similar chain retail job. In fact, almost no career in this book was nearly as glamorous as we like to think. Being "paid to play" is a myth, a pipe dream, and if found, a job that will barely pay your rent.
Paid to Play will weed out many of the fence sitters on gaming careers, but those applicants who are serious may find this book encouraging, and find tools to help them break in or become qualified. This career guide was a great learning experience about the industry and the multitude of careers, from the six-figure publishing and developing roles, to the lowly testing and retail jobs. I encourage my fellow gamers to try this book and expand the mind. Set some career goals and dreams, while considering other angles in this book and if nothing more, learn a little more about the industry we patronize.
Don't get me wrong, this book is a valuable tool, but it reveals the good, bad and ugly in each gaming career. Paid to Play was compiled from a mass email questionnaire sent to hundreds of employees at every level of the corporate ladder, and in almost every niche of the industry. I thought Paid to Play would be a series of Q & A style interviews, but it was actually parsed together from quoted responses. This was actually a more efficient style of relaying the information, and less tedious to read but it also left me wondering what was left on "the cutting room floor" from the responses.
The book covered a wide range of video game careers. In fact, there were far more career options covered in this guide than I had actually considered. As an example, I had approached this guide with an interest in the writing-based jobs. Here it served its function well, while at the same time introducing me to other good fits like strategy guide writing, and multimedia. It was well-worth a read just for this reason alone. Prospective employees may find they are suited to other careers than they were originally aware of, and casual gamers will gain an appreciation and deeper understanding of the industry's inner workings.
Cover to cover, Paid to Play was a little tedious to read. It breaks each career into a set examination format. Opening with a job description, the reader is granted a short blurb about each of the interviewed professionals (many of which the average gamer will recognize). From there it breaks down the perks and hazards of each career. If you're still reading after the good, bad and ugly, suggestions follow including how to land the job and recommended education or strategies for building your resume or portfolio. In some cases, such as art design or programming, the information was slightly out-of-date but through no fault of the authors. It's just how the tech industry functions. The book lends itself slightly better to jumping around to whichever careers interest you, but a complete reading will still reap benefits in the long run. As career guides go, this was a light and easy read, made palatable by short sectioning, classic "Penny Arcade" art and a good sense of humor, especially in the chapter footnotes.
Where this book really shined, in my opinion, was in the "tools" this book provides. Rather than jumping headfirst into an examination of gaming careers, the book opens with a skills tests and a personality examination. This encouraged the reader to self-assess their strengths and weaknesses and get some career ideas, to better envision themselves in their chosen careers. The closing chapters had a great section on resume building (complete with templates), as well as a decent list of resources and contacts for networking and job hunting. The information on "how to get your first job", however, will be common sense to most, and was humorously targeted to the unwashed, parent's basement dwelling gamer geek.
Of special mention were the sections on women in gaming and game careers. Here the game crossed from career guide into a sociology non-fiction. This section was packed with encouragement and advice for any girl gamer hopeful, and still had plenty of insight into the question of why such a male-dominated industry developed in the first place and what can be done about it.
Also of note were the sections on entry level positions. This book revealed some hard truths about the fabled "Video Game Tester" role, and the often idolized "Gamestop" or similar chain retail job. In fact, almost no career in this book was nearly as glamorous as we like to think. Being "paid to play" is a myth, a pipe dream, and if found, a job that will barely pay your rent.
Paid to Play will weed out many of the fence sitters on gaming careers, but those applicants who are serious may find this book encouraging, and find tools to help them break in or become qualified. This career guide was a great learning experience about the industry and the multitude of careers, from the six-figure publishing and developing roles, to the lowly testing and retail jobs. I encourage my fellow gamers to try this book and expand the mind. Set some career goals and dreams, while considering other angles in this book and if nothing more, learn a little more about the industry we patronize.
July 24, 2023
Lavora, gioca, ripeti: l'arte di fare carriera nei videogiochi
Cari amici e fan delle console, avete mai sognato di ricevere uno stipendio per distruggere alieni, costruire imperi e salvare principesse digitali? Beh, tenetevi forte, perché "Pagati per giocare. Come far carriera nel mondo dei videogiochi e continuare a divertirsi" di David Hodgson e Bryan Stratton è arrivato per trasformare il vostro sogno pixelato in realtà.
Iniziamo con una confessione: se mi avessero detto da piccolo che un giorno avrei potuto guadagnare soldi giocando ai videogiochi, avrei riso in faccia alla persona che me lo diceva. Ma, amici miei, i tempi sono cambiati. I videogiochi non sono più solo una fonte di intrattenimento, ma un'industria miliardaria che offre un'infinità di opportunità di carriera.
Il libro è una guida pratica, ricca di consigli e interviste, che vi porterà a esplorare i misteri dell'industria dei videogiochi. Come una mappa del tesoro digitale, vi guida attraverso il processo di trasformazione del vostro amore per i videogiochi in una professione redditizia.
Ho apprezzato particolarmente le interviste a professionisti del settore che condividono le loro esperienze, sfide e lezioni apprese lungo il cammino. Queste testimonianze preziose danno una prospettiva realistica e onesta su cosa significhi lavorare nell'industria dei videogiochi.
Devo ammettere che Hodgson e Stratton hanno fatto un ottimo lavoro nel rendere il libro sia informativo che divertente. Leggerlo è come giocare a un gioco avvincente: non riesci a smettere finché non lo hai finito. E alla fine, ti senti come se avessi appena completato un livello difficile, equipaggiato con le competenze e le conoscenze per affrontare la prossima sfida.
Detto questo, vorrei avvertire che "Pagati per giocare" non è una formula magica per un successo garantito nell'industria dei videogiochi. È un settore competitivo, e sarà richiesta una notevole dose di impegno, passione e determinazione. Ma, come dicono, chi non risica, non rosica, vero?
In sintesi, il mio punteggio per "Pagati per giocare. Come far carriera nel mondo dei videogiochi e continuare a divertirsi" è un solido 4 su 5. È un must-read per chiunque abbia mai sognato di trasformare la sua passione per i videogiochi in una carriera. E anche se non siete sicuri di voler farlo, leggetelo comunque. È un'avventura divertente e illuminante nel mondo dei videogiochi che vale la pena di esplorare. Pronti, partenza, via!
Cari amici e fan delle console, avete mai sognato di ricevere uno stipendio per distruggere alieni, costruire imperi e salvare principesse digitali? Beh, tenetevi forte, perché "Pagati per giocare. Come far carriera nel mondo dei videogiochi e continuare a divertirsi" di David Hodgson e Bryan Stratton è arrivato per trasformare il vostro sogno pixelato in realtà.
Iniziamo con una confessione: se mi avessero detto da piccolo che un giorno avrei potuto guadagnare soldi giocando ai videogiochi, avrei riso in faccia alla persona che me lo diceva. Ma, amici miei, i tempi sono cambiati. I videogiochi non sono più solo una fonte di intrattenimento, ma un'industria miliardaria che offre un'infinità di opportunità di carriera.
Il libro è una guida pratica, ricca di consigli e interviste, che vi porterà a esplorare i misteri dell'industria dei videogiochi. Come una mappa del tesoro digitale, vi guida attraverso il processo di trasformazione del vostro amore per i videogiochi in una professione redditizia.
Ho apprezzato particolarmente le interviste a professionisti del settore che condividono le loro esperienze, sfide e lezioni apprese lungo il cammino. Queste testimonianze preziose danno una prospettiva realistica e onesta su cosa significhi lavorare nell'industria dei videogiochi.
Devo ammettere che Hodgson e Stratton hanno fatto un ottimo lavoro nel rendere il libro sia informativo che divertente. Leggerlo è come giocare a un gioco avvincente: non riesci a smettere finché non lo hai finito. E alla fine, ti senti come se avessi appena completato un livello difficile, equipaggiato con le competenze e le conoscenze per affrontare la prossima sfida.
Detto questo, vorrei avvertire che "Pagati per giocare" non è una formula magica per un successo garantito nell'industria dei videogiochi. È un settore competitivo, e sarà richiesta una notevole dose di impegno, passione e determinazione. Ma, come dicono, chi non risica, non rosica, vero?
In sintesi, il mio punteggio per "Pagati per giocare. Come far carriera nel mondo dei videogiochi e continuare a divertirsi" è un solido 4 su 5. È un must-read per chiunque abbia mai sognato di trasformare la sua passione per i videogiochi in una carriera. E anche se non siete sicuri di voler farlo, leggetelo comunque. È un'avventura divertente e illuminante nel mondo dei videogiochi che vale la pena di esplorare. Pronti, partenza, via!
June 3, 2016
This book was all about careers in the video game industry. It stated what kind of wages and hours to expect in many different video game based careers. Some of the careers you could expect to read about in this book would be graphic artist/ designer, professional gamer, and game tester. Some of the information included were the hours, the wages, what to expect in a day, the pros and cons of the job, etc. All of the sections had a couple of interviews from people in those careers.
Overall I thought that the book was pretty boring. It was boring because the same information was repeated over every section, but fitted for that career. It was kind of interesting, however, to read about what they do in their careers. I liked all of the references to other things hidden here and there as well, so it made it a bit more interesting to read.
Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to read if you are reading it for leisure. But, if you are interested in the video game industry and/ or are looking for a job with video games, then I would highly recommend this book to you.
Overall I thought that the book was pretty boring. It was boring because the same information was repeated over every section, but fitted for that career. It was kind of interesting, however, to read about what they do in their careers. I liked all of the references to other things hidden here and there as well, so it made it a bit more interesting to read.
Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to read if you are reading it for leisure. But, if you are interested in the video game industry and/ or are looking for a job with video games, then I would highly recommend this book to you.
July 16, 2013
A funny read that's rooted in solid reporting, Paid to Play touches on the full gamut of game-related careers available to aspiring gamers. While it has some great info and covers a lot of different careers, I find each section is somewhat limited in its scope, and the areas that particularly interest me - writing and journalism - left me wanting more. A great pick for anyone who's curious about game career options, but it doesn't quite dig deep enough into each subject.
December 25, 2012
Simply put, if you are serious about perusing a career in any form of Game Development, you MUST read this book. It is an indispensable starting point, and gives a great first full picture look at what jobs are out there. Although dated, the information holds up very well. I look forward to seeing an updated version of this book hit the market soon.
April 16, 2025
Paid to Play: An Insider's Guide to Video Game Careers was highly informative for its time, but it feels noticeably outdated now. While it does cover a lot of fundamental aspects, certain sections are hard to recommend given how much the industry has evolved.
If you're curious, it’s worth a read—but I’d strongly suggest seeking a more up-to-date book on breaking into the video game industry.
If you're curious, it’s worth a read—but I’d strongly suggest seeking a more up-to-date book on breaking into the video game industry.
January 29, 2009
I have the newest version of this, but I couldn't find it on the list. Anyway, they are very informative, and I am on my way to a college that they suggested for game Art. And I have learned a lot of information. Anyone wanting to get into video game design and such this is a great resource.
May 29, 2014
To sum it up - go to college, get degree, go back to college, get another degree, perhaps go back to college for yet another degree.
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