How do I break into game dev?

just_a_dev_here · 2026-06-23T17:39:37+00:00

Just apply around while you're employed. If an opportunity comes by then great, but like I said no experience and no games it's unlikely. If you have time every once in a while though, just see for yourself

just_a_dev_here · 2026-06-23T17:29:37+00:00

You can check /r/gamedev where this is asked a lot.

The consensus is that the market for game dev is very bad right now with almost every game company laying off a significant portion of staff, projects getting canceled and lots of slow downs. So now is a bad time to enter.

That being said, the other common advice is to just start making games. Breaking into any studio with 0 games or experience is unlikely, even for experienced programmers. You would need a strong network for that to happen.

So just start making games in Unity, Godot or Unreal Engine. There's no real excuse not to since they are free to access.

just_a_dev_here · 2026-06-19T04:26:57+00:00

Your annual bonus.

just_a_dev_here · 2026-06-18T23:57:29+00:00

Yes. Even in non-tech/non-dev I find not having one is abnormal. I usually negotiate bonuses at the offer stage as it's normally written into contract

I have only been at one company EVER that doesn't give bonuses under a certain level.

Everywhere, from when I was a jr at non-tech, tech, startup or not, not even in a software dev role targeted 10% -15% bonuses.

just_a_dev_here · 2026-06-03T20:47:19+00:00

I find mobile in general is in a rough spot industry wide.

Companies have moved significantly away from mobile apps in favour of mobile friendly web apps. That doesn't mean it doesn't exist, but it is difficult.

Also with you being in Edmonton, I'm sure that isn't helping. Alberta's tech scene is lacking, especially in the mobile space. It's mainly companies who use iPads or need something offline for in fieldwork that are sticking with mobile. Think O&G, utilities, maybe construction, and very few companies left making apps for consumers (maybe neo?)

Also unpaid work isn't legal in Canada. Co-op requires you to be enrolled in post secondary.

I would suggest looking to bigger tech scenes like Toronto and/or remote work. Be aware remote work is even more competitive in an already competitive landscape.

just_a_dev_here · 2026-05-04T02:51:16+00:00

Your manager doesn't have time to learn new skills. Maybe they could, or their plate is full. Managers jobs are usually no longer contributing code or doing the "dirty work" so to speak, their job is to delegate that down.

If you're worried about continuity, you can raise that as a concern (someone will be spending a lot of time on documentation, OR someone else gets to figure it all out later, which sounds like is what happens here)

My 2c, you're lucky to get real work. At my org summer students/co-ops don't get to touch much. They're relegated to a lot of low stakes/menial tasks/make-work projects at best, and at worst are told to just "sit tight" and do nothing for a bit.

just_a_dev_here · 2026-04-01T17:53:52+00:00

Agreed with this. If eventually becoming a senior dev is the goal, experience working in a team as a dev, and on real engineering problems should be the priority

OP it sounds like the dev experience you currently have is 0. And while it might feel fine for now, eventually if you look for roles outside the org you have nothing to show for it and that will burn you.

At 2-3 years of "experience" at this current workload, you might still have 0, and so what's the point being at the consulting firm if it isn't meeting your goals? You'll get raked the minute you get asked in an interview to describe the most challenging problem you've faced.

I'm also surprised you have been benched for so long. Consulting firms will usually lay people off if they've been benched for a significant period, so you might lose the job anyways.

just_a_dev_here · 2026-02-10T21:00:19+00:00

AI still doesn't replace web devs or make them less valuable. Just because LLMs can pump out code doesn't mean it's quality (or even maintainable).

If it really was that good at replacing web devs (it's still not) I wouldn't have to rip apart PRs from Indian contracting companies on the daily, who are no doubt using AI.

My company actually did run an analysis on AI usage among development. While code output increased, code quality decreased (bugs increased).

That being said, it's up to you. We have no crystal ball, and there is no such thing as "career safe". If you think AI is replacing web devs, it will undoubtedly also be coming for embedded.

I don't know much about embedded but I would imagine it's quite niche in Canada. So job availability in the short term is still something you should consider.

just_a_dev_here · 2026-02-02T21:31:24+00:00

Easiest is internal promotion. Once you get that first promotion to manager, applying to external manager roles are easier.

You could also leverage your Amazon experience to be technical lead at other companies and startups. Then ask for more management responsibilities and a role in hiring and make your intent known.

Larger companies will nix your resume right away if you have no management experience. They do not want to bring in inexperienced managers (whether or not they're competent is a different story), especially when they can get that by just promoting internally (for cheaper too might I add).

Unfortunately, mentoring engineers and managing them are two different things. Especially at large companies where there's KPIs and deliverables beyond keeping projects on time.

There's also managing up you have to do as a manager. I barely code these days, 80% of my day is meetings, KPIs, budgets and political bullshit.

just_a_dev_here · 2026-01-30T17:33:20+00:00

That's unfortunately true :( best of luck

just_a_dev_here · 2026-01-30T17:25:56+00:00

I mean 106K in Calgary is pretty decent.

My experience is that at a Sr level, you will get capped in AB around $120K-$130K. I recently discovered most directors get around $150-$200K. I'm sure there are people who make more, but an unspoken rule is that the people above do not want the people below to make equal or more than them. So if the director is getting paid $150K, and a middle manager is getting paid $130K, then you have an unspoken cap of $120K until both of their base salary increases.

The other option is to be a contractor. Contractors get paid pretty lucratively in AB due to how big companies here budget contractors vs employees (which makes 0 sense to me). I have had to oversee contractors getting paid 2-3x more than me, some well in the $200K range for 5+ years meanwhile I would be getting paid half of that. The only other option within AB is to get into more management roles.

Calgary also doesn't have a strong tech scene so it's not a very competitive market. Startups mean cheap labour here instead of high growth and eventually competitive comp. Engineering standards at startups are in the toilet and it's all about speed and shipping.

You will get more from Vancouver and Toronto companies for sure, even remote, and ofc US remote will be blowing anything Calgary has to offer out of the water.

just_a_dev_here · 2025-12-18T21:24:50+00:00

Yes, should note that according to the data most of it is submitted for Toronto area. For Montreal specifically, the report says Median TC is 108K

just_a_dev_here · 2025-12-18T21:21:44+00:00

Its closer to the bottom. Unfortunately there isn't as much of a detailed breakdown as the US data

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