Gaming Industry has evolved over the past three decades and is becoming a mainstream sport. Behind this recreational activity is a number of game designers and developers who digitally construct an immersive gaming experience.

This article provides information about “How to become a Game Developer in India?”. The article also covers game developer salary in India, responsibilities, courses, qualifications, skills, salary, pros and cons, etc. 

What is Game Development?

The process of developing video games for different platforms is Game Development. It involves coding to bring creative visualisation to gaming screens.

Game Development involves employing programming skills to focus on making the experience more immersive, interactive, and easy narration.

Designing a game is an art. Game development brings these creative ideas alive on digital screens. It requires programming and includes a wide range of creative aspects like graphic designing, audio and visual integrations, interactive features, etc. 

Who is a Game Developer?

A Game Developer is a professional involved in the development of video games from concept to application. They work in collaboration with game designers, graphic designers, animators, programmers, engineers, etc to provide a seamless and immersive experience to users.

They transform the visuals of a game into code. They write code, debug, test, and deploy to enhance the game’s functionality, features, and experience. 

Skills Required to Become a Game Developer

There are certain skills to be a successful game developer. They are

• Strong and clear communication skills
• Creativity and passion
• Understanding of gaming trends and principles
• Be a team player
• Proficiency in programming languages
• Strong and analytical mindset 

Roles and Responsibilities of a Game Developer

Game Developers have a unique set of responsibilities which they are required to carry out in their work profile. The responsibilities of a game developer are

• The key role of a game developer is to transform visual and creative ideas into digital code. 
• Develop prototype and functionality of games.
• Interact and collaborate with different team members to bring the game to life.
• Test game features and release them for public access. 
• Evaluate existing codes for optimization and improvements.
• Monitor game stability across platforms and make necessary changes if required.
• Handle and stablize audio-visual elements in the game. 
• Maintain industry standards in development and privacy concerns.
• Scale infrastructure to handle growing traffic and user base. 
• Document technical specializations for easy reference by other team members. 
• Maintain game quality and provide regular updates to fix issues. 

Eligibility to Become a Game Developer

There are certain qualifications that a game development aspirant must have. They are

• Must have completed 10+2 preferably in the Science stream with computer science as the main subject. 
• Enroll in a bachelor’s program in Gaming or Animation or graphic Design of Software Engineering.
• Depending upon the course, entrance exams must be taken and cleared to secure admission.
• Certification in Game Development 

How to Become a Game Developer in India? A Step-by-Step Guide

Here is a step-by-step guide to becoming a Game Developer in India:

• After completing 10th, take up Science stream for 12ths preferably with Computer Science as a main subject.
• Enrol for a Bachelor’s program in Multimedia, Animation, Graphic Designing, or Engineering.
• Some courses may also need to clear entrance exams.
• Understand the gaming ecosystem 
• Become proficient in programming languages
• Get certified in gaming and multimedia courses
• Look for opportunities in game development companies and apply.  

Game Development Courses

Here is a list of some game developer courses:

Bachelor’s Program

• B.Sc. in Gaming
• BSc Animation & Gaming
• B.Sc. in Graphics, Animation & Gaming
• B.Sc. in Animation Game Design and Development
• Bachelor in Media Animation and Design 
• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Game Design
• BA in Animation and Computer Graphics
• BA (Hons) Computer Games Design
• BTech in Computer Science and Game Development
• BE/B.Tech Information Technology

Master’s Program

• MSc in Gaming
• MSc in Multimedia and Animation
• Master in Computer Graphics and Virtual Reality
• MSc in Game Design and Development
• Integrated M.Sc. in Multimedia and Animation with Game Art and Design

Career Scope for Game Development

These are some of the well-known designations in the game development industry: 

• Game Developer
• Game Designer
• Game Programmer
• Game Marketer
• QA Game Tester
• Game Artist
• Creative Game Director
• Game Audio Engineer
• Animator
• Game System Designer

Top Game Development Companies in India

Some of the top game development companies in India are:

• Hyperlink Infosystem
• Zensar Technologies
• Infosys
• Orangesoft
• Unanimous Studios
• Nazara Technologies
• White Widget
• Nilee Games and Future Technologies
• Scand
• HData Systems
• Tech Mahindra

Salary of a Game Developer in India 

The average salary for Game Developer in India is 4.5 LPA. Depending upon the coding and creative experience, the salary can range upto 18 LPA. The entry-level salary for a game developer starts from 3.6 LPA and it greatly depends on the employing organisation. 

Pros and Cons

Pros of Becoming a Game Developer:

• Growing industry, high demand for skilled professionals
• Creative job profile
• Highly competitive salary
• Flexible work hours and the option to work remotely

Cons of Becoming a Game Developer:

• High Competition 
• Stressful job profile
• High accountability 

Summary

• A game developer is an important member of a team that develops a game. They are responsible to transform creative ideas into lines of code. 
• Game Development is a high-demand career. However, there is a similar amount of competition for talent in the industry. Gaming is a growing industry with immense potential and opportunities. 

FAQs

Should I Become a Game Developer?

Game Development is a high-demand job profile. However, there is a lot of competition in the gaming industry. Evaluate your options before taking up the path. 

Which is the Top Game Development Company?

Nintendo, a Japan-based game developer is the largest game development company in the World. 

How much does a Game Developer Earn at the Entry Level?

The entry-level salary of a game developer in India is 3.6 LPA. It may also be higher depending upon the employing organization. 

Is Game Development in Demand?

Dame Developer is a highly demanded career choice in India owing to the growth of the gaming industry. 

What is the Difference Between a Game Developer and a Game Designer?

A Game Designer provides a creative visualization of a game. A Game Developer converts these visuals into code. 

Can I Become a Game Developer after BCA?

A Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) program is a good starting point to start a career in Game Development. 

Is Game Development a Hard Job?

Game Development is hard. Game Development requires developers to be consistently creative and upskilled to the latest techniques and technologies. 

Are Game Developers for Android and iOS Different?

Although a person a develop a game both in Android and iOS, they are different. Android and iOS games are developed using different programming languages. 

What is the Best Game Development Software?

Unity is recognized as the best software development software. 

Which Laptop is Best for a Game Developer?

There are many laptop models specifically designed for gaming and development purposes. An ideal game developer laptop must have prolonged battery life, high resolution, larger RAM and Storage, and a good GPU. 

How Should a Game Developer’s Resume Look?

A Game developer’s resume must include different evaluation parameters. Most prominent are the programming languages, experience, certification, and most importantly the projects worked on. Read our detailed article above on how to become a game developer in India.