#33 - Alexander Brazie: How to Get Promoted Fast in the Games Industry

Want to break into the gaming industry or level up your career fast?

In this episode of The Gaming Playbook, Harry Phokou sits down with Alexander Brazie (World of Warcraft, League of Legends, Ori and the Will of the Wisps) to discuss how to actually get a job in games and get promoted quickly.

From the power of playtesting and portfolios to insider hiring mindsets and the truth about nepotism, Alexander unpacks 20+ years of experience.

Whether you're a student, self-taught dev, or working in QA looking to transition into design, this episode is your roadmap.

Connect with Alexander:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-brazie/
Discord: https://gamedesignskills.com/funsmith-club/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xelnath/
X: https://x.com/xelnath?mx=2

Connect with Harry:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/
YouTube: ⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@hphokou
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokou

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Chapters:
00:00 Intro & Alexander’s legendary background (WoW, Riot, Moon Studios)
01:45 How Alexander got his first job in games at 13
06:08 What successful game design students do differently
09:39 How to network and build real industry relationships
13:16 What gets people hired (and what doesn't)
17:57 The “barrel” employee concept and how to become one
21:07 Why learning to implement your ideas gets you hired faster
28:46 How to get noticed as an implementer (and land high-impact projects)
35:26 Do game designers need to code to get hired?
40:16 How to showcase your work as a content designer
43:21 How to show you're thinking ahead like a lead designer
45:20 Make your system design work visible to employers
49:09 Narrative design tips for students breaking into games
52:35 Dumb vs. smart ways to ask for a promotion
56:40 AAA job interview tips & frameworks
1:00:56 Why a game design degree doesn’t make you senior
1:05:30 Transitioning to roles outside of games
1:07:39 Why documenting your work will change your career
1:12:15 Final wrap-up & advice from me

#GameDesignCareer #BreakingIntoGames #GamingJobs2025 #PortfolioTips #HowToGetPromoted