Getting into the Industry Pt.1

With the video game industry booming, it is expectant to see so many people wanting to make it in. Most people think they have to know someone or have a degree in Video Game Development/Graphics to get in. There are actually several different ways that you can make a claim within this industry and not have to develop anything at all. From writing, photography, reviews, previews and more, you can easily hone your talents into a great video gaming career.

When people think of professional gamers, they automatically assume that you play games for a living. That is not actually true; there are quite a few ways to break into the industry without ever touching a video game. Yes that is a bonus if you play and have a passion for games, but you don’t actually have to play pro to be pro. Being able to attend events and write about them is a very big way you can make your name known to the gaming industry. This is a good way to start before you even finish a degree in development if that is what you choose to go for.

Writing is a talent that is actually quite natural to a lot of people. Whether or not you’re great at playing video games doesn’t stunt you in this part of the industry. If you plan on attending an event you can apply for a press pass and get in rather easy. Some people don’t know this part or don’t think they would be able to get approved for one. You can visit the events website and apply for one easily enough and if you do get one you can get special perks at all these events.

One of the perks for PAX (Penny Arcade Expo) is that you get in two hours before any general public is let into the building. You also get to set up appointments to interview all of the developers and publishers that are attending PAX. They have lots of rooms in the back of the event main hall that will give you a little privacy when talking to your interviewee. The main part is to get your questions situated and make sure you do research on the people you plan on interviewing before you even attend the event. People love it when you are prepared for any interview and that you’re knowledgeable on everything they have done or working on. Keep the conversations light and friendly. You will be surprised that any type of gamer is not as “Professional” as you might believe.

The next step of interviewing is writing the interview out. You can always bring a handy digital recorder so you’re not scribbling away furiously as the person is talking. This also makes the interviewee more comfortable and not hesitant in what they are saying. You can then listen to it later and transcribe the interview on paper. From there you have a few options on how you want to present your interview. You can go for the classic Q and A, or more of an editorial type. I suggest starting with the Q and A style until you’re more comfortable writing interviews in an editorial fashion. This is only one of many ways you can get into the industry.