How do you get a job writing in the game industry?

I'm an English major. I want to be a writer who lives off his own writing someday, but I'll probably wind up teaching.

I've always wanted to write for a game magazine though, even if it would only be temporary.

Sadly, my qualifications are thin at best.
-2 years of college on the English Major program.
-Limited work for high school and college newspapers.
-Few contributing articles to independent college magazine.
-Seriously worked on/edited high school and college literary mags.
-I play a lot of games. A lot. And I'm opinionated.

That's about it. I don't really write reviews of games in my free time, even though that's probably what I should be doing if I want to become a real employee prospect.

Helpful comments?

Edit: Tangent - I also want to own a bookstore someday. If anyone with experience opening a franchise or business could mail me some pointers pertaining to that, I would be very grateful.

To the best of my knowledge you just need to have experience or the proper credentials, probably just like getting any other journalist job.

To get a job in writing, you start writing. A lot. Same as any job.

Make contacts (the people on here won't hurt, MVS, ECM, Che Chou, countless others).

Get experience. Write for any site that will take you and get better at what you do.

That is my advice from a generic "how do I get a job doing X" perspective, the accomplished writers on this board will have better, more specific advice.

PS: Sites like IGN have ads for interns ALL THE TIME. Get in on one. Even Gamefan had interns. That's how I got my current gig.

So shall I devote time this weekend to playing the new games and writing reviews about them.

I do write a lot, but it's all creative writing, or philosophical. That ain't where the big money is, barring a miracle. And I know game magazines ain't where the big money is either, but I'd like to get the crap out of this actuarial company, and seeing as gaming is my #1 hobby next to writing and reading...

You should try to be different than other people.

Everyone is a critic remember. Whether they have the credentials to write it on the internet or not. Everyone is opinionated.

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Originally Posted by pixelassassin

You should try to be different than other people.

Everyone is a critic remember. Whether they have the credentials to write it on the internet or not. Everyone is opinionated.

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I think they call that "finding your [unique] voice" or something. I'm not a writer.

Also, after you write things, post them up here. If you can take the heat, the people on this board know quality as far as reviews go. Just be ready for brutal honesty.

What is your current gig, Master?

PM sent.

Contacts are really the most important thing here, since most video game journalists aren't the world's best writers or anything. Having a body of work readily available is pretty key, too.

I have a real-life, i.e. know him in the flesh friend who used to review games for money. He was very vague on the specifics though, and seemed very unwilling to introduce me to people or give me advice. Used to get games in the mail and do the reviews, and I saw him quoted in a few adverts. Now he produces hip-hop beats for his living. Anyone know DoctorGiGs?

• Start writing stuff you can use as sample work to show potential employers.
• Get involved with an internship (about half of IGN editorial staff is former interns).
• Start with freelance work--builds contacts.
• Learn to love every game that exists, unless it's from an unknown publisher (in which case it's okay to hate it).
• Start sucking at playing games.

Some things to start with.

Timing and luck, I say.

Sleep with Matt.

Couldn't hurt... or could it??

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Originally Posted by Cowutopia

Helpful comments?

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Don't write articles the way you write posts. I'm serious.

Barring the great advice already given in the thread, like get contacts, get a gig on a site that will take you, etc., is that you should try to write with as much personal style as possible. You could also go the route of many and do stuff for GameFAQs, which will allow your work to be critiqued easily, and get it exposed to a ton of people, potentially. It's hard to make yourself stand out amid the thousands of GameFAQs reviewers, so it could be a good way of making your work stand out from the pack.

If I have to lick anything of or about MVS's person, I don't think I want to do this job after all.

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Originally Posted by Opaque

Don't write articles the way you write posts. I'm serious.

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Specifically, do you mean I'm too long-winded?

People who do the hiring for game mags/sites have penises, and they need to be sucked on occasion. Think about it.

Since it goes without saying your writing needs to be able to impress someone: get a gig on a fansite, and pump out material with regularity. An awful lot of editors will be more impressed with an ability to meet a regular strict deadline than someone who churns out a gem three times a year.

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Originally Posted by StriderKyo

An awful lot of editors will be more impressed with an ability to meet a regular strict deadline

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Bam. That is the ticket to being a succesful writer for hire. This goes beyond writing about games. If you are excellent at keeping a deadline then their will always be a job for you out there.

Start writing for a fansite is a great idea, but try and hold yourself to some strict deadlines instead of randomly spewing out things. It might be hard to keep writing things if you only fund them by yourself, but it is worth it. Write things beyond reviews. Editorials, previews, try and get some interviews...basically write as much as you can with as much variety as possible.

This goes for anybody who plans to write for a living. Sadly, I'm an English major and cant keep to a deadline for shit.

:) Nice to see a fellow English major. What the hell are we going to do after school, man?

It could always be worse, you could be Philosophy majors.

Nice, I thought I was the only one in the field on this board. :)

Or psych majors.

Sweet, I'm actually a double major...english/psych.

...and I've taken 3 philosophy courses.

I started off as comp sci, but I changed it to English.

So here's a third =/

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Originally Posted by MVS

Timing and luck, I say.

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knowing the right people helps, too.

I was an English major. Everything is going to be A-OK.

From everyone who I've talked to its really, who you know, and the luck of the draw.

Obviously you must be a competent writer and such, but it seems to be those two things.

Jesus christ, exactly how many Enlgish Nazis does the board have now @_@

I'm a Communications major. Want to go to Unemployment as a group?

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Originally Posted by Cowutopia

Specifically, do you mean I'm too long-winded?

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Something along those lines acutally, yes.

I'm kinda suprised you knew what I was refering to specifically.

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Originally Posted by Master

Or psych majors.

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That wasn't meant to imply I was a psych major, just that every retail manager and his girlfriend have psych degrees.

Man, almost every girl I knew in college had one.

Your major doesn't really matter. Your interviewing skills and GPA are much more important.

My GPA was shit. I have always had a C- GPA.

My interview skills, however, are batting 1.000

I'm that guy.

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Originally Posted by Opaque

Something along those lines acutally, yes.

I'm kinda suprised you knew what I was refering to specifically.

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I get that a lot, so yeah, I know. Gotta work on that.

Edit: This doesn't mean you'll be spared my rants in TNL posts though. I'll only be putting that much consideration into actual, professional quality work.

Sorry. Gonna have to deal. I'm a jewish italian. I like to talk.

Writing ability helps, but it's all in who you know.

Step 1, Cow, Don't take any advice from opauqe.

That's all you really need to remember.

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Originally Posted by Cowutopia

I'm a jewish italian. I like to talk.

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Man, your hands must never stop moving when you talk.

Yes! Haha the more spirited the conversation, the more hazardous I become.

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Originally Posted by Raz0r

I'm a Communications major. Want to go to Unemployment as a group?

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Yeah.

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

People who do the hiring for game mags/sites have penises, and they need to be sucked on occasion. Think about it.

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And those are the women editors, too.

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Originally Posted by youandwhosearmy

From everyone who I've talked to its really, who you know, and the luck of the draw.

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Networking skills is key to success in any feild you'll ever go in to.

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Originally Posted by g0zen

It could always be worse, you could be Philosophy majors.

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Hey! ;)

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Originally Posted by Mman

If you are excellent at keeping a deadline then their will always be a job for you out there.

Sadly, I'm an English major.

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I agree. That is sad. You use the wrong form of "there" and end a sentence with a preposition in the same post you tell us you are an English major.

Get a fucking life man. It is an entirely informal message board, not some thesis I am publishing. My point was made and that is adequate for my purpose. I hate fucking tools who point out grammar errors in informal situation like conversation or THE INTERNET.

Edit: On this note I have been working on a linguistics paper dealing with language and technology. Language is developed entirely by speech which is in engrained in humans and is largely what makes us unique among the world's animals. We have spent the last couple thousand years developing writing systems to try and make perminent our speech, but much of it is imperfect. Now that so many people, especially Americans, converse so often on the interent I am interested in what effect this is having on our language and speech patterns. Quite interesting stuff.

Ive spent so much time doing math the past 4 years that Ive even changed the way I write certain letters because of the necessity of doing so in math class (writing a z with a line through it to differentiate from a 2, writing u with the serif on the side to differentiate from a v, and I write my f's a little longer almost like an integral sign).

Whats my point? Its ingrained in me. Saying "their" instead of "there" is acceptable maybe for a 15 year old, but not for someone who is a fucking English major at university.

In any situation.

Ever hear of human error? Good lord, you act as if people are infallible.

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

Ive spent so much time doing math the past 4 years that Ive even changed the way I write certain letters because of the necessity of doing so in math class (writing a z with a line through it to differentiate from a 2, writing u with the serif on the side to differentiate from a v, and I write my f's a little longer almost like an integral sign).

Whats my point? Its ingrained in me. Saying "their" instead of "there" is acceptable maybe for a 15 year old, but not for someone who is a fucking English major at university.

In any situation.

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That made virtually no sense at all.

"I write my letters funny because of the maths XD"
"You dumb 15 year old kid, so you not be English Major T_T "

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

Whats my point? Its ingrained in me. Saying "their" instead of "there" is acceptable maybe for a 15 year old, but not for someone who is a fucking English major at university.

In any situation.

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I didnt actually confuse the "theres". It was a simple editing mistake of cutting and pasting. The sentence was supposed to read

"If you are excellent at keeping their deadline then there will always be a job for you out there."

As far as ending it on a preposition, fuck that. If you want to argue that I can argue that there really is not a preposition and "out there" is actually a compound noun in the sense I was using it.

Oh I dont even know what a preposition is, I dont care about that.

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Originally Posted by Jeremy

Ever hear of human error? Good lord, you act as if people are infallible.

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Well, see...

Spelling errors, typos, those are perfectly acceptable for anyone, especially if you're typing quickly.

Mistaking "their" and "they're", which are amazingly different, especially to someone that has to read like 20 fucking books a semester... that's different.

Not shitting on Mman or anything, just saying.

Damn English Nazis.

Wow, this went from 0 - Raging Bitch in 3.2 seconds.

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Originally Posted by Mzo

Well, see...

Spelling errors, typos, those are perfectly acceptable for anyone, especially if you're typing quickly.

Mistaking "their" and "they're", which are amazingly different, especially to someone that has to read like 20 fucking books a semester... that's different.

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I'm French, there's my excuse. :sweat:

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Originally Posted by Yoshi

I agree. That is sad. You use the wrong form of "there" and end a sentence with a preposition in the same post you tell us you are an English major.

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Actually, he ended the sentence with an adverb of place which is totally legitimate. ;)

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Originally Posted by The_Meach

Hey! ;)

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What branch of philosophy are you/did you specialize in?

Back in the day: Continental Philosophy (specifically, Kantian ethics).

Now: political philosophy.

I'm a Poli Sci/Philosophy major. :cry:

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Originally Posted by Melf

Actually, he ended the sentence with an adverb of place which is totally legitimate. ;)

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Shhhh... I think I quoted the wrong sentence, because I noticed the same thing after re-reading what I posted the next day. Damn you for noticing.

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Originally Posted by Raz0r

I'm a Communications major. Want to go to Unemployment as a group?

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I was a Communications major for a year and started this year as an English major.

have fun working at home depot.

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Originally Posted by Master

I think they call that "finding your [unique] voice" or something. I'm not a writer.

Also, after you write things, post them up here. If you can take the heat, the people on this board know quality as far as reviews go. Just be ready for brutal honesty.

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Hey I have a unique voice, ask anyone who met me.

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Originally Posted by Almaci

Hey I have a unique voice, ask anyone who met me.

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Its like silk.

Goals: To write a review of Paper Mario 2 by this weekend. To write reviews of MK: D and Katamari Damacy during the following week. Post them all in Reader Reviews. Then I'll start inquiring about internships/ non-paying positions at some websites. Please feel free to either comment or mail/pm me feedback on these reviews!

I have a good friend with an older brother who works at Gamedaily.com,

but if you know of anyone who needs review contributions or help writing for a site besides Gamefaqs, please pm me with contact info. Or just general information. I will also inquire at the sites already mentioned in this thread.

I'll continue reviewing what I can afford to play for reader reviews until I get some type of gig.

Thank you very much for all your responses! Maybe in the future I will be out from behind this desk and in behind one that has a Zelda poster hanging up on the wall. :link:

Keep in mind that the vast majority of gaming journalists aren't real journalists. With a few exceptions (Almaci, Che) most of them wouldn't be able to be interns at any sort of real publication, so it isn't something that's terribly hard to get into. It's a fanboy industry with little credibility, so don't break your own balls trying too hard to break into it. Write, kiss a lot of ass, and make a lot of connections. Don't make it your end all goal if you want to be a journalist though.

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Originally Posted by Cowutopia

Goals: To write a review of Paper Mario 2 by this weekend. To write reviews of MK: D and Katamari Damacy during the following week. Post them all in Reader Reviews. Then I'll start inquiring about internships/ non-paying positions at some websites. Please feel free to either comment or mail/pm me feedback on these reviews!

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Remember that you don't just get to review the good games, and it's much harder to write on something mediocre and bland. When you're done with those reviews you mentioned find something more mundane and see how it goes.

:) I've got a copy of Mystic Heroes lying around that my brother bought that I haven't even touched. From the looks of it though it should be a good test subject.

And no, it's not my ultimate goal, but it's something writing-related on a resume, and it would get me out of my actuarial job for now. Or at least supplement my income.

In fact the thing I will get most out of this experience, hopefully, is just learning how to go pursue a type of job at all. I've been kinda handed my jobs so far.

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Originally Posted by Kano on the Phone

Keep in mind that the vast majority of gaming journalists aren't real journalists.

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That's a problem with that sub-industry.

A video game editor is a critic, not a reporter.

Speak for yourself loser.

I do reporting, interviews and indepth analysis.

No reviews or previews, videogame journalism is more and broader then the silly little bubble you lived in at Gamefan.

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Originally Posted by Almaci

Speak for yourself loser.

I do reporting, interviews and indepth analysis.

No reviews or previews, videogame journalism is more and broader then the silly little bubble you lived in at Gamefan.

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But you are by far the minority. Most gaming journalists are fanboys with the most basic ability to write.

PM Sent

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Originally Posted by Kano on the Phone

Its like silk.

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Silk being fed through a paper shredder. But Almaci is cool.

All this talk about reporter vs. non-reporter...there's absolutely a distinction. Websites who cover events and go to conferences and interview game designers and get actual news from companies, those are reporters. Reviewing is critiquing. Huge line drawn there. One job takes a lot more time and effort. Well, critiquing takes a buttload of time too. It's definitely different though.

In response to the thread title:

Suck. A lot.

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Originally Posted by Kano on the Phone

But you are by far the minority. Most gaming journalists are fanboys with the most basic ability to write.

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True true