The production value and budgets of video games have now reached the level of Hollywood blockbusters. The highly anticipated game, Grand Theft Auto 6, is reportedly costing billions of dollars to produce. Furthermore, the number of gamers is continuously growing.
To meet the demands of this industry, big global gaming companies like Take Two Interactive and EA have established large talent hubs in India. For instance, Zynga, the maker of popular games such as Farmville and owned by Take Two, has around 600 employees in their Bengaluru office. Kishore Kichili, the country head of India and SVP at Zynga, states that Zynga India represents the overall company, with almost every team having a presence in India.
Considering the increase in gamers in India, Kichili believes that future games should be created specifically for the Indian audience. However, for this to be possible, more Indians need to pursue careers in gaming.
Kichili suggests that individuals interested in gaming should first identify their strengths and specialize in a particular area of game development. He explains that game development requires diverse skills such as design, art, sound, production, product management, and programming. Additionally, problem-solving, analytical abilities, creativity, and a passion for gaming are essential.
For those aspiring to be game programmers, proficiency in programming languages is crucial. On the other hand, game artists should have expertise in 3D modeling and animation softwares. Product managers should possess skills in game building to identify opportunities and perform competitive analysis. They are also responsible for the game’s direction, which is guided by insights derived from in-depth analytics.
While individuals with artistic talent and technical skills are highly sought after, Kichili highlights the importance of the right mindset when hiring new talent, rather than just gaming experience. The ability to find solutions to problems is of utmost importance.
Kichili also emphasizes that game development requires constant experimentation. At Zynga, teams often work on multiple projects simultaneously, although only a few of them will eventually become fully developed games.