Lucky Holmes is back at it again with some tips, this time it’s about how to make your game developer portfolio stand out. The point is to make it easier for you to land a job. Let’s break it down!
Does Your Portfolio Really Matter?
If you’re really serious about getting into the game industry, your portfolio is basically your most valuable ID card. In creative industries like game development, people won’t just look at your degree or work history, they’ll pay more attention to the actual results you can show.
In his reels, Lucky shared how to make a portfolio that doesn’t get lost among thousands of other game developers. He said there are three simple things you can do, but the impact will be huge when it comes to showing your real skills.
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1. Only Pick Your Best Work
According to Lucky, a lot of people often make the mistake of literally putting everything they’ve ever worked on into their portfolio. They tend to put even the unfinished or unpolished projects.
But doing that will only make your portfolio look messy. He suggests you to focus only on a few of your very best works, the ones that are highly polished and truly impressive. It’s better to have three solid projects that will amaze people than ten half baked ones.
2. Explain Your Role and Contribution
A portfolio isn’t just about saying, “Here are all the games I made, look at it.” It’s also about telling the story behind them. Lucky emphasized how important it is for game developers to write down your role and contributions for each project.
Were you the one handling coding, level design, or the artwork? Small details like that make it easier for others, especially employers to understand your actual skill set. So don’t just show the final product, add clear context to further prove that you really have expertise in a specific area.
Also read! 3 Ways to Make Your Game Artist Portfolio Look More Impressive
3. Include Proof of Released Games
This third point is something many people forget. If possible, include at least one or two games that have actually been released to the public. Whether it’s a small indie on itch.io, something on the Play Store, or even a prototype that the public can access, put it in there.
Why you ask? Because it truly shows that you can take a game all the way through to completion and actually launch it to the public. That’s a huge plus! It proves you’re not merely a person with ideas, but a person who can finish the job and actually cross the finish line.
And that’s exactly what game studios are looking for, game developers with the mentality to complete what they started.
It’s About Your Story
If you think about it, Lucky Holmes’ tips make us realize that a portfolio isn’t just a showcase gallery, it’s more like a personal storytelling. Through it, people can see your journey, how you’ve grown, and what you can bring to the industry.
Also read! From Office to Game Industry: A Journey That Started with a Game Jam
So don’t just throw your portfolio together randomly. Think of it like you’re making a game about yourself, where every project inside is an important level showing your progress and your growth.
Build Your Portfolio!
Lucky’s tips are actually rather simple, but powerful. Pick your best work, explain your role, and show proof of released games.
That way, your portfolio won’t just be a random collection of projects. But it’ll truly represent your identity as a developer. The game industry is indeed competitive, but if you can make people remember you with a strong portfolio, your opportunities will grow so much bigger.
If you’re working on your portfolio right now, try Lucky Holmes’ approach. Sometimes, even something as simple as carefully choosing your best work is enough to set you apart from the crowd. Who knows, that portfolio might just become your first real ticket into the game industry you’ve always dreamed of.
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