Game Innovation Programme

SUTD Game Lab is looking for applicants for their Game Innovation Programme, which is essentially an internship where you'll participate in the complete game development process. Over the course of about 3 months, you'll work in a team to develop a game from inception and design to implementation and testing. The cool thing about this programme is the input by game industry professionals, who will be visiting your team on-site to offer constructive criticism and advice.

If you're thinking of possibly starting a career in the games industry, I firmly believe that the Game Innovation Programme is an excellent first step. It has several things going for it:

• You'll get to work in a full game development team, including programmers, designers and artists. This allows you to experience working in a team environment, which is one of those things that prospective employers are looking out for.
• Something else that is paramount when looking for a job in the game industry is your portfolio. At the end of this programme, if all goes well you will have a complete, full-featured game. Not only that, this will be a better game than if you made one on your own because you'll have other team members to help you out, not to mention industry professionals giving their input.
• Speaking of industry professionals, if you impress them during the programme, there is a pretty good chance that they will offer you a job. After all, they are always on the lookout for talent for their companies, which is one of the reasons why they're helping out in the programme in the first place.
• You get paid. Not much, but better than an unpaid internship, right?

It's not all wine and roses though:

• First, you have to get selected, and these positions are open to pretty much everybody, including university undergraduates and graduates, so it's pretty competitive. The applications require you to do some homework, and you'll have to go through a proficiency test, and you'll still have to go through an interview if you're shortlisted, and you might still get cut. If you don't feel that it's worth all this trouble, then this programme is not for you.
• Be prepared to work hard. You'll be expected to produce something tangible pretty much every week, and if you're running behind you should take up the slack on your own accord, even if it means overtime.
• In previous years, the Game Lab was called Gambit and there was a collaboration with MIT. Unfortunately, this collaboration wasn't renewed, so although what you do and learn in the programme is similar to what was done before, there isn't a free trip to Boston included. Anyway, if a plane ticket to the US is one of the primary motivations for applying to this position, you're probably not what they're looking for.

In summary, I highly recommend trying out for this Game Innovation Programme if you are interested in pursuing games development as a career. It'll be tough, but ultimately well worth it. Check out their Facebook page, and get your application materials here. Closing date is noon, 22 February 2013.

And no, I am in no way affiliated with the SUTD Game Lab. :)