Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
1
How to Break In and Stay In
Beth A. Dillon
Breaking in to the game industry isn't easy. It's an entertainment industry and has
the same problems as movies and television and novels. Everyone wants to be a star.
Inevitably, there are far more applicants than there are positions to fill, and when it
comes to writing for video games, the imbalance is even more extreme. While every
developer knows they need several programmers and at least one designer, they're still
not entirely convinced they need a dedicated writer. Some companies have caught
the vision and employ entire writing staffs. Others are beginning to see the benefits
of hiring freelance writers. It's a situation in flux and it could explode one of these
days, but don't hold your breath.
This isn't to say there's no room for new blood. It's entirely possible to break
through and get those game-writing jobs. In fact, for someone with the know-how,
it's just a matter of making the right contacts and being patient until the right op-
portunity comes along. The know-how isn't just about writing, though. Some ex-
cellent writers from other media have floundered in the video game space. Writing
for games requires additional skills beyond generating good narrative and dialog.
There are technical aspects that can't be ignored. This topic and our first topic,
Game Writing: Narrative Skills for Video Games
, provide a look at exactly what those
skills are.
Once you have the tools in hand, getting a job in the industry is mostly a matter
of social networks, availability, and luck. But there are a few things you can do to
stack your hand. I've broken them down into five elements: education, experience,
portfolio, networking, and applying.
1.1 Education
Having an education doesn't necessarily mean getting a degree in creative writing
or game design. Your writing skills and ability to work within a team in a quirky
company culture will speak louder than any diploma. Focus your college education
