| Level of studies: | master’s degree |
| Recommended high school specialisation: | Scientific or Economic |
| Employability : | Very good |
| Beginner’s salary: | € 2,900 |
| Salary after experience: | € 5,000 |
| Mobility: | Very good |
| ROME code: | M1705 |
| FAP code: | M2Z90 |
Responsabilities
The success of the game’s launch and lifecycle depends, among other things, on a brand manager. It is quite a strategic position for a publisher; a brand manager must carry out a series of actions before releasing a title. They must :
- Define the marketing and communication strategy for a launch (communication campaign, positioning, marketing mix, etc.)
- Participate in the development of the brand
- Define the visual identity of a brand
- Coordinate communication campaigns
- Analyse the market, trends and target
- Budget and oversee spending
What are their skills?
They have multiple skills. A brand manager of a video game must carry out their responsibilities by applying and mastering skills learned in their education and through their experiences in the field. They know:
- Marketing techniques
- Communication techniques
- The development and launch of a product
- The video game industry
- New trends and new needs
The qualities of a brand manager
Being responsible for a publisher’s brand strategy requires being able to meet the expectations of defined objectives. Beyond fundamental skills, a brand manager must demonstrate certain qualities, such as:
- Work ethic
- Organisation
- Knowing how to work in a team
- Creativity
- Analysis
- Diplomacy
- Leadership
Which high school diploma must they take?
It will be necessary to choose between two options from high school: a general high school diploma specialising in economic and social sciences or a science of management technical high school diploma (management and administration). Then, you’ll need to go to a school specialising in video game careers to leave with a master’s degree.
At G. Business, we allow everyone to become a brand manager if they want. Our school located in Lyon and Paris is focused exclusively on video game and esports careers. During their studies, the student is immersed in gaming with meetings, professional speakers, masterclasses and especially concrete production achievements.
We offer a bachelor’s degree in video games and esport management and an MBA in Marketing, Communication and Digital Transformation of Video Games.
Strategy, mobile and digital marketing, economic models, project management methodology, communication, cross-channel strategy and many other things are on the program within our five years of education.
Internships
As with all of our courses, we want students to quickly immerse themselves in the professional world by completing internships from the end of the first year of the bachelor’s degree. Therefore, internship periods extend from two months in the first two years to three months in the final year of the diploma. Then, six months in the first year of MBA to a final year mixing internship and fixed-term contracts.
Thanks to our partner companies, we regularly publish internship offers. In addition, many sites offer them throughout the year, such as Jooble, AFJV or Indeed.
Salary
As with all of our courses, we want students to quickly immerse themselves in the professional world by completing internships from the end of the first year of the bachelor’s degree. Therefore, internship periods extend from two months in the first two years to three months in the final year of the diploma. Then, six months in the first year of MBA to a final year mixing internship and fixed-term contracts.
Thanks to our partner companies, we regularly publish internship offers. In addition, many sites offer them throughout the year, such as Jooble, AFJV or Indeed.
Which companies can you work in?
The brand manager can work within a video game publisher such as EA Games, Warner Bros, Ubisoft, Riot Games. It can also be practised as a freelance or in an agency working for a publisher for a launch campaign or within a consulting firm.
« I was able to work on games such as: Unknown soldiers: Memory of the Great War (Ubisoft Montpellier); Life is Strange, Life is Strange: Before The Storm, Life is Strange 2, Life is Strange: True Colors (Square Enix, Dontnod Entertainment, Deck Nine Games) or even Metaphora: The Moonycat Quest (Moonycat Entertainment, Super.com) », explains Roxane Domalain.
Career developments
By carrying out several marketing campaigns for the launch of a game, a brand manager acquires experience. They will be able to take up a position with more responsibilities such as a marketing director from then on. They can also work in different universes such as cinema, advertising or digital. Another possible gateway: becoming a sales or communications director.
Advantages
- Versatility
- Participate in the launch of a video game
- Possibility of becoming a freelance
- Evolution towards other sectors
The disadvantages
- Low employability
- Heavy responsibilities
Is it possible to be a freelance brand manager?
It is not impossible to become one. Some, after moving from business to business, have chosen to work that way. You cannot become a freelance brand manager straight after school. References will be necessary, as will a perfect mastery of marketing and communication strategies. Rigour, organisation and motivation are essential.
Famous brand managers
It isn’t easy to find them, and often they are profiles that remain quite discreet, or they have a different role such as a marketing manager. We can cite, for example, Chris Bruzzo at EA Games or Doug Scott at Twitch.
In summary
Brand manager in video
How can you become a brand manager?
Managing the launch of a product, following it throughout its operation while developing brand awareness is a specific responsibility that rests on the brand manager’s shoulders. This is why becoming a brand manager requires high-level training in a video game environment. Our G. Business school gives you this opportunity with our bachelor’s degree and MBA degrees.