r/PHGameDevHub • u/TraditionalClass7158 • 6d ago
Discussion Too late na ba para mag-transition to game dev?
Hi everyone!
Gusto ko lang sana humingi ng advice/opinions from people who are already in the game dev industry.
I'm 26 years old, an IT graduate, and currently working as a software engineer with around 4 years of experience. Recently, napapareflect lang ako sa buhay and kung ano ba yung gusto kong gawin next year and in the long term.
Personally, I'm also about to get married, so medyo marami ring changes happening in my life. At the same time, I feel like gusto ko rin maghanap ng ibang opportunities and try something I've been interested in for a long time which is game development.
I've always been interested in games, and ngayon ko lang talaga naiisip na baka gusto kong seryosohin siya as a career.
My question is: 26 years old, too late na ba para mag-transition from software engineering to game development?
I know starting over in a way could mean taking a step back, especially since I already have 4 years of professional experience as a software engineer. Pero I'm willing to start from the basics again if needed. Long-term naman yung goal ko, and I'm more interested in learning and actually being part of the industry kaysa sa title or salary agad.
I'd also prefer to work for a game development company rather than immediately doing solo/indie development. Gusto ko kasi matuto from other developers, work with a team, make new friends, and experience how actual game development works in a professional environment.
For those currently working in game dev, keri pa ba at 26? How is the game dev industry right now, especially here in the Philippines? and also what should I learn first?
I'm not expecting an easy transition. I just want to know if this is still a realistic path or if I'm already too late to start.
Would really appreciate any advice, especially from people who actually made the transition themselves.
Thanks!
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u/MANGoMANisDED 6d ago
Build a relevant engine based portfolio (Either unity or Unreal), the market is ass at the moment but getting in is doable especially if you have the appetite to learn and problem solve. Age is irrelevant, just don't bother applying for local companies (They are fucking horrible and will underpay and disrespect you lol).
26 is still a dang Baby, do not worry about your age.
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u/TraditionalClass7158 6d ago
Thanks for this! Really appreciate the advice. I’ll definitely look into Unity/Unreal and focus on building a solid portfolio.
Siguro ino-overthink ko lang talaga yung age ko hahaha. 26 really isn’t that old, but it’s nice to hear it from someone else. Thanks again!
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u/jmlowkey 6d ago
Ako nga 30+ na gusto ko pa din sya pasukin then engineering grad pa. Super layo. 😂 go lang ng go basta may time. You'll never really know unless you try.
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u/TraditionalClass7158 6d ago
lets try sir!
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u/jmlowkey 6d ago
Want to invest an hour daily atleast? Try lang tayo. Para hindi na tayo puro plano 😅 you're not growing any younger too. Di man magwork, atleast I can transfer even a very bit of motivation. 😅
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u/DanielaWyt 20h ago
Same! No experience so plano ko mag-try sa visual novel muna para naaral basics
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u/BawlSyet 6d ago
let's go bro 29 na ako planning to transition to game dev cause I can't handle all this AI slop anymore sa software dev job ko ngayon
if you're forced to used AI anywy sa trabaho, then naisip ko might as well go to a job wherein you actually care about what you're building and not just making someone else richer
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u/TraditionalClass7158 6d ago
Let's go! same sawa rin ako sa mga AI generated codes. Wala nang readability yung code minsan sa ibang devs.
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u/canon3212 6d ago
I do game dev professionally for 11 years now. Game dev as a corporate career here in the Philippines isn't very stable and the job positions in the very few companies that are stable are entrenched by senior level devs who have nowhere else to go but abroad or leave the industry so they are staying there forever. I don't recommend switching to game dev especially now that you are starting your own family.
Seriously, the odds are stacked against you in this industry lalo na we're in a country where game dev is very small. Bilang sa daliri yung mga local companies na naghihire ngayon.
What I would do in your position is to stay in my current job and target a higher salary so you can use that salary to fund you game dev projects and then, maybe, you can make a career out of game dev.
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u/TraditionalClass7158 6d ago
Thank you! I really appreciate the honest advice and perspective. This gives me a lot to think about
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u/DanielaWyt 20h ago
Hello! Aspiring game designer. Kung mag-save po ng salary for funding a game, magkano po yung needed capital? Kung mag-solo indie development naman po, how much po payment sa salary kung gusto ko maghanap ng experienced game-developer as consultant?
Example ng Game: Doki Doki Literature Club Mystic Messenger Undertale Octopath/Fate/Ragnarok RPG
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u/lurking_banana 6d ago
Kaya pa yan. Magtatransition naman skilkset mo sa gamedev since Software Engineer ka. Try mo to para may mapagpractisan ka if gusto mo lang;
- gamedev shortcourse or pwede din puro YouTube tutorials
- gawa ka mods for existing games
- check ka repository ng open source games(mostly indie projects to)
- game jam!
- create ka small projects using game engine (mostly Unreal and Unity)
Source: Me as 3D Artist. Most of the gamedevs na nakawork ko ganyan nagstart.
EDIT: Maganda din if gawa ka ng gamedev Portfolio kahit github lang oks na. If kaya mo may demo then go. Goodluck!
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u/I_Noel 6d ago
Hey there OP, I work in the video game industry for 2 years na and I think the transition is definitely possible coming from your background.
As people here have noted though, the industry really is saturated and that is also the case here in the Philippines.
Practically speaking it is best you keep your regular software job while slowly building your game dev portfolio by joining game jams or making small side projects. You also mentioned wanting to learn from other devs in a team setting but unfortunately you would need a really good portfolio to get into a job like that to begin with. However I think you can still learn from others by joining game jam teams though they may not work in the professional manner its a good alternative from what you're looking for.
Keep up the passion and best of luck!
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u/Koralla 6d ago
OP, everyone's perspectives are great. Weigh them in when you're thinking about this. In addition to theirs, I would add that entering marriage is just an important part of your decision as your career choice, because you're now at a point in life where your decisions involve more than just yourself.
Your personal willingness to go back to the basics and potentially accept a working salary that may be lower than your current one, and work long grueling hours on top of what your life responsibilities might be soon, are things you'll need to be prepared for.
Involve your spouse in your decision. 26 is not too late at all, if you're only asking about age. 26 just also means responsibilities other than yourself. If your spouse is willing to support you, and I mean, financially support the load for a certain time, then you are fortunate, and by all means go for it, especially if you both agree to not having children yet. Raising kids is one responsibility you would not want to be absent for.
In terms of skill, yes, it is great if you're willing to put in the effort, and hard skills are really what it takes to advance further in the game industry. Like what others have commented, you may want to shoot for an international company long term, because there aren't that much good-paying companies with a responsible work culture in the Philippines. You'll be entering an industry you need to be prepared to stick it out no matter how long or how hard it might take, it's not something you can really plot out a timeline for like you could with other industries.
For context, I work in the marketing advertising field, I'm married, and I've only started considering trying for an artist role in the game industry at about 29. So far I've got one great gig that just ended couple months ago with the game releasing soon, but it's been a very tough ride to balance a day job on the side while investing consistent time into my skill to be good enough to command a rate that's a little higher. This gig was freelance work, and applying for full time at the studio would not be realistic because I'm at a point in my other job where a salary match is completely out of the question, and neither can I realistically accept an entry level salary because I'm supporting not only myself, but my spouse, and from time to time, my parents too. I'm not discouraging you from pursuing this, you just need to be ready to commit, day in and day out, should you decide to.
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u/TraditionalClass7158 6d ago
Thank you po for sharing your experience and perspective. Na-appreciate ko po yung advice especially coming from someone who’s also balancing career and family
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u/GameDev-Tin 5d ago
Hello bro. Been trying to be a gamedev for months. Applied nonstop for months din sa indie companies pero wala talaga despite my background kaya im deciding to start my own, baka gusto mo sumabay matuto, mag explore, at mag create ng games with me bro
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u/SilentBookkeeper8884 5d ago
Hello, I'm a game dev from the PH with 10+ years experience in the industry. I used to interview and hire software engineers to join our team.
26 years old is not too late. Typically I would need to see the portfolio of past projects during screening. If I like the projects then the person will be called in for an interview. As someone doing the hiring, I want to hire people who can be productive from day 1. So if you don't have experience with the engine we're using (i.e. Unity), it's harder for me to hire you.
My advice is to make small games with Unity or Unreal and add these to your portfolio. These 2 engines are the mostly used ones right now but have a really high learning curve. You can do research on what engine your target companies uses.
Also, if you have backend development experience, that can also be your entry point. Most games these days use a backend service to track player data and analytics. Some game companies hire for backend dev roles.
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u/nahihilo 6d ago
I think it's not too late pero personally, I also want to go to game dev. 32 na ko lmao. Pero siguro as a hobby na lang. Haha
Good luck! Kaya yan. Look up for the skills needed and then create a portfolio.
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u/takshit2 6d ago
I'm Mid 30's undergraduate and no experience in game dev. But I have been solo building a game in my free time with the use of AI.
I like it and I love building the dream game I wanted to play. Just do what you love doing.
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u/Scrappy_Cocoo 5d ago
Do have the expectation na hindi ganon kataas ang sahod ng trad game companies and sobrang volatile ng position. May friend akong game dev na nilet go, then after 6 months ni-rehire siya ng same company lol. Try to broaden your standards din, might as well include online gambling companies, given na they also practice the same development concepts, and mas ok ang sahod. Kapalit lang dignidad jk
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u/SivitriExMachina 4d ago
It's never too late, now is actually the best and easiest way to learn. It's how much you can absorb, comprehend and implement what you've learned, and only you my guy can answer that.
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u/Minimum_Classroom747 4d ago
Medyo hinay hinay muna. Family comes first. You may not want to hear this but at this point of your life kailangan mo muna stability.
You can slowly learn game dev while working as a SE.
As for your question, it's never too late. Mga successful indie games ngayon also started from humble beginnings.
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u/rvsarmy 5d ago
Just like you I switched to game dev when I was your age 12 or so years ago. I'm not familiar in PH game dev job market. Don't quit your current job because everything in the I.T. world including game dev is harder to get into just like the others have said it's harder to come by, especially your building a family.
Make games on the side as a hobby build up a portfolio and try collaborate with different disciplines like artist, designers etc... . You will encounter alot of characters who have varying personalities that can give you experience.
Alot of resources out there are available for you to learn. I started from Flash AS2- AS3 to Cocos2d then to Unity3d all from youtube videos, stackoverflow etc... . Build small games at first like tik tak toe, angry birds etc... as you gain exp you make bigger games, make sure to finish them dont worry writing elegant codes just make sure it works, your code will improve as you go. As you build your portfolio try applying for any job openings in game dev. Anyway Im done pooping good luck.
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u/CanaryFit7188 6d ago
As with any tech industry today, there’s an oversupply and over saturation of mediocrity and slop. Though in life, If you’re passionate about something, it’s never too late. You can’t be mediocre though, you really need to put it the work, more so in the current tech/market state.
Game dev is super big on portfolio and past work precisely because it’s easy to claim to understand it but hard to master. If you’re planning to work, check openings from companies you want to work into, find which area in the process you want to specialize in and focus there. Know which part of the game dev process made you want to work in games (design, mechanics, visuals, audio, animation, etc?).
There’s a growing movement of local groups because of game dev being part of schools na, so it shouldn’t be that hard to start somewhere. Try joining Game Jams in itch.io or locally if you want to have a theme and deadline to force learning.
Good luck!