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Business of Games and Entrepreneurship

As well as a form of art and entertainment, games are about business. Whether you want to work at a game studio, start your own business or make games as a hobby, recognizing the dynamic landscape of the videogame industry is critical to finding your place. This course will introduce you to game production, project management, teamwork skills, and how to position your game ideas and yourself in the broader marketplace. By the end of the course, you will be able to develop an impactful portfolio of game work to get noticed and/or develop an effective business plan to bring your game to market.

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Develops game production, project management, teamwork skills, and how to position game ideas and yourself in the broader marketplace

Taught by Casey O'Donnell, who are recognized for their work in the videogame industry

Explores the dynamic landscape of the videogame industry

Teaches skills, knowledge, and tools that are highly relevant to industry

Helps learners develop an impactful portfolio of game work to get noticed and/or develop an effective business plan to bring their game to market

Requires learners to come in with extensive background knowledge first

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Reviews summary

Business of games and entrepreneurship

The course titled 'Business of Games and Entrepreneurship' offers a thorough introduction to the video game industry, covering game production, project management, and business strategy with nearly perfect reviews across the board. Although some students have expressed concerns about vague advice and disjointed assignments, the vast majority of reviews highly recommend this course to anyone looking to establish a business in the gaming industry.

Initially skeptical, but ultimately positive.

"I was a bit skeptical initially, but all in all learnt a lot from this course."

Teaches teamwork skills crucial for game development.

"This course will introduce you to ... teamwork skills, ..."

Provides an overview of the game industry landscape.

"As well as a form of art and entertainment, games are about business."

"Recognizing the dynamic landscape of the videogame industry is critical to finding your place."

Covers project management in games.

"This course will introduce you to game production, project management, ..."

Covers business strategy for game development.

"This course will introduce you to ... how to position your game ideas and yourself in the broader marketplace."

Concerns about assignments being disjointed from course content.

"Often the assignments are somewhat disjointed from the content discussed."

Some concerns about vague advice.

"A lot of the advice that is given is very vague such as "Communicate clearly""

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Business of Games and Entrepreneurship with these activities:

Review core game design principles

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Review core game design principles to build a foundation for understanding the course material.

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Read articles or blog posts about core game design principles.
Watch videos or tutorials on game design principles.
Discuss game design principles with friends, colleagues, or online forums.

Create a game prototype

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Create a game prototype to apply the principles learned in the course and gain hands-on experience.

Browse courses on Game Prototyping

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Brainstorm game ideas.
Develop a game concept document.
Create game assets (e.g., graphics, sound effects).
Implement game mechanics.
Test and iterate on the prototype.

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Career center

Learners who complete Business of Games and Entrepreneurship will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Game Designer

Game Designers create the overall vision for a game and are responsible for its gameplay, story, and characters. This course provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to become successful Game Designers. Students will learn about game design theory, prototyping, and playtesting, and they will have the opportunity to design their own games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer

Game Developer

Game Developers design, develop, and test video games. They may work on a variety of projects, from small indie games to large-scale AAA titles. This course provides a strong foundation for a career in game development, as it covers the entire game development process, from concept to completion. Students will learn about game design, production, programming, and art, and they will have the opportunity to work on their own game projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Developer

Game Producer

Game Producers are responsible for managing the development and production of video games. They work with the game development team to ensure that the game is completed on time and within budget. This course provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to become successful Game Producers. Students will learn about project management, budgeting, and marketing, and they will have the opportunity to work on their own game projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Producer

Game Programmer

Game Programmers are responsible for writing the code that makes video games work. They work with the game design team to implement the game's mechanics and physics. This course provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to become successful Game Programmers. Students will learn about programming fundamentals, game engine development, and artificial intelligence.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Programmer

Game Artist

Game Artists create the visual assets for video games, including characters, environments, and objects. This course provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to become successful Game Artists. Students will learn about 3D modeling, texturing, and animation, and they will have the opportunity to work on their own game projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Artist

Game Writer

Game Writers create the story and dialogue for video games. They work with the game design team to develop the game's characters and plot. This course provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to become successful Game Writers. Students will learn about storytelling, dialogue writing, and world building.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Writer

Game Tester

Game Testers play video games to find bugs and errors. They work with the game development team to ensure that the game is released in a polished and bug-free state. This course provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to become successful Game Testers. Students will learn about game testing techniques, bug reporting, and quality assurance.

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Game Entrepreneur

Game Entrepreneurs start and run their own video game companies. They are responsible for all aspects of the business, from developing the game to marketing and selling it. This course provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to become successful Game Entrepreneurs. Students will learn about business planning, marketing, and finance.

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Game Marketing Manager

Game Marketing Managers are responsible for marketing and promoting video games. They work with the game development team to create marketing campaigns and materials. This course provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to become successful Game Marketing Managers. Students will learn about marketing, advertising, and public relations.

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Game Journalist

Game Journalists write about video games for magazines, newspapers, and websites. They cover the latest news, reviews, and interviews. This course provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to become successful Game Journalists. Students will learn about journalism, writing, and editing.

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Game Community Manager

Game Community Managers build and manage communities of gamers around video games. They work with the game development team to create and maintain online forums, social media accounts, and other community resources. This course provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to become successful Game Community Managers. Students will learn about community management, social media, and customer service.

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Game Localization Manager

Game Localization Managers are responsible for localizing video games for different languages and cultures. They work with the game development team to translate the game's text, audio, and graphics. This course provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to become successful Game Localization Managers. Students will learn about localization, translation, and cultural adaptation.

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Game Data Analyst

Game Data Analysts collect and analyze data about video games. They use this data to improve the game's design, development, and marketing. This course provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to become successful Game Data Analysts. Students will learn about data analysis, data mining, and statistics.

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Game UX Designer

Game UX Designers are responsible for designing the user experience for video games. They work with the game development team to create user interfaces, menus, and other game elements that are easy to use and enjoyable. This course provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to become successful Game UX Designers. Students will learn about user experience design, human-computer interaction, and graphic design.

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Game Accessibility Specialist

Game Accessibility Specialists work to make video games accessible to people with disabilities. They work with the game development team to create features and modifications that allow people with disabilities to play and enjoy video games. This course provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to become successful Game Accessibility Specialists. Students will learn about accessibility, disability, and assistive technology.

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Reading list

We've selected ten books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Business of Games and Entrepreneurship.

The Art of Game Design

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Explores the theoretical foundations of game design, providing a framework for understanding and analyzing the different aspects of game design.

Business of Games and Entrepreneurship

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Reviews summary

Business of games and entrepreneurship

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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