Working in the gaming industry from an outsider’s perspective can seem like this unachievable goal, especially if it’s for a studio as prestigious as Naughty Dog. In a new video, the famed developers are looking to shatter some of the misconceptions around getting a job in the industry and specifically at ND. Their key takeaway is be smart – like really, really smart. Like Apple, Naughty Dog doesn’t just rely on degrees and acolytes. Instead what they’re looking for are talented people who may not have any grandiose achievements under their belt yet, but have good answers to questions and a passion for the arts because to them, even zeros and ones are a beautiful thing.

If I have one qualm with the video, it’s that I wish Naughty Dog also gave screen time to the women who work at the studio. A common misconception of the gaming and tech industry is that it’s mostly a ‘bros’ club which though might be true to a degree, is rapidly changing. Many of the wonderful people that I know in the gaming industry are highly talented and extremely smart women that fill the ranks of Santa Monica Studios and Guerrilla Games. The video above, which does a good job at shattering some of the commonly held beliefs of what it takes to be a programmer, also unfortunately falls into a common theme – that women aren’t a part of this industry from a creative and technical standpoint, which couldn’t be further from the truth.

Perhaps this was a omission on their end or the simple fact that as it stands, Naughty Dog doesn’t have any female programmers at their studio. If it’s the former, I hope it’s something they address in a followup video that also showcases the talented women who work there – if the latter, I hope that Naughty Dog does a better job the next time around they’re hiring by casting a wider net on potential applicants or doing a better job with their hiring outreach.

Update:

I did find this from Naughty Dog.