"It is a unique industry that can successfully combine business and creativity," says author Marc Mencher. "And games is just such an industry. As in film, this industry attracts smart, creative people because it allows for both artistic expression and the distinct possibility for a comfortable livelihood."
Although the game industry is one of the fastest growing industries today, by many counts already surpassing the film industry, there has been a dearth of available material to help explain how the industry works and what it takes to have a successful career. Mencher, who has worked in games for a decade and is now an industry recruiter, says he saw a clear and present need, decided it was time to fill it "and, happily, New Riders agreed."
Offering specific advice on how to research effectively, meet the right industry people, access the unadvertised job market, sell yourself, create the perfect demo, beat the competition, handle interviews, and negotiate a salary package, "Get in the Game" covers all the bases. It also reveals how to tailor your job search, answer tough interview questions, transition into the game industry from other careers, and how to hone essential resume writing and networking skills.
"Every day I receive emails from people who want to work in this industry," says Mencher, "but many have no idea how to even get their foot in the door.
In an informative but easy-to-understand way, this book tells them exactly what they need to do and how they need to go about creating a successful game industry career. Whether you're new to the industry, looking to transition your skills into it, or even if you're a grizzled industry veteran in need of a little career make-over, this book will teach you how to get in the game, and stay in it."
About Marc Mencher
Marc Mencher worked for game companies such as Spectrum Holobyte, Microprose and 3DO, before joining GameRecruiter.com, a game industry-recruiting firm. Marc served as President of the International Game Developers Network, then as an advising board member for the following year. He has spoken and held roundtables at several Game Developers Conferences and is a regular speaker at International Game Developers Association (IGDA) events around the
country. In addition to representing the game industry's hottest talent, Marc also volunteers his time as a career coach for graduates from Full Sail Real World Education, helping them land their first game industry jobs. His articles have been featured in GIGnews.com, Gamasutra, and GameWEEK.