5 Game Jobs - No Experience Necessary

If we're in a recession, the video game industry didn't get the memo. What was once considered kid's stuff is now a lucrative force of mass entertainment, and where there's money, there's a wealth of employment opportunities for a generation raised by Mario.

But as with any job hunt, finding a gig in the games business can be an exercise in frustration. Sexy jobs sporting impressive suffixes like "director" or "producer" require extensive experience along with a degree or two in a related field. The chances of making a living as a pro gamer are, sadly, infinitesimal. Even a simple desk job at a game publisher brings out semi-pro temp types with resumes denser than The Brothers Karamazov.

There are, however, several ways into the games biz that don't require prior experience. Set the difficulty to 'Easy' and check out five game gigs that that even the least experienced gamer has a legitimate shot at landing.

1. Game Tester

Every game developer needs dedicated people willing to do what it takes to make sure their complicated digital product isn't broken. So if the thought of playing video games all day long is your thing, consider a short-term career as a game tester.

Check your ego at the door, however, because if you're looking for glory, you won't find it here. In short, you'll be tasked to play a partially-working version of an unreleased game: a virtual treasure trove of unpolished graphics and bizarre bugs. Expect to play one level over and over again in an effort to root out every last persnickety glitch. The pay is mediocre (roughly $10-$12/hour), the hours are grueling, and the perks are limited to loads of soft drinks and snacks or, if you're lucky, some sort of promotional poster to show off to your buddies.

Now for the good news -- testing is a fantastic way to lodge your foot in the door of a major company, and at the entry level, the requirements are relatively slim. Some companies will request that you have prior industry experience, but many simply want to know you have the wherewithal to spend eight hours walking back and forth down a castle hallway.

Qualifications: Deep, abiding love for video games; Nearly autistic capacity for repetitive behavior.

Upside: You'll master an unreleased game literally months before anyone else.

Downside: You'll never want to play it again.

2. Freelance Writer

Do you lie awake at night obsessing over whether or not Bonkerjerks truly deserved the 7.3 doled out by your ex-favorite video game magazine? Think you could do better? Then prove it by pursuing a career as a freelance game writer.

First, a few caveats. Games journalism is a little like high school -- it's not who you know, but who you don't know that matters. And in your case, you don't know anyone. Since you're not juiced in already, expect to have most of your brilliant stories turned down. As for the making money part, well, that could be a ways off, too.

Lucky for you, the explosion of gaming blogs, forums, fan sites, homemade video dumps and self-publishing tools have made the art of expression easier than ever. If you build it, people actually might come. A great writer is a great writer; few blogs or sites give a hoot if you studied journalism in college or co-edited the classifieds section of your local rag. In your spare time, build a basic site, practice writing, send out links of your work, and when any sort of writing position becomes available, jump on it.

Qualifications: Passion for writing; Confident about your opinions

Upside: Tons of free games; Potentially working from home.

Downside: Feast or famine, but usually famine. You'll be spending as much time chasing down work as you will actually working.

3. Retail Salesperson

There are more conventional ways to get into the game industry, of course, and it doesn't get much more conventional than sporting a name tag and ringing up games at the register. It might not be as exciting as penning a well-read column or testing an exciting new product, but if you live, breathe and sleep games, why not at least get paid to talk about it?

And talk you will. Retail employees are the last line of consumer defense against bad games, doling out advice to prospective buyers just prior to purchase. Best of all, entry-level retail positions rarely require more than strong language skills, a few working limbs, and a willingness to follow the (at times obtuse) rules.

Qualifications: Ability to work with others; A steady pulse

Upside: You're literally surrounded by video games all day.

Downside: Not much of a stepping-stone; You have to smile when you sell someone a terrible game.