Writing for the Gaming Industry

If you love video games and you love to write, why not consider writing for the gaming industry? It's a competitive, fast-paced industry in which you can make lots of money and achieve maximum exposure. The interesting thing about the gaming industry is that it is a highly specialized form of writing wherein most of the writers are not only experts on video games, but are die-hard fans as well.

In order to write for the gaming industry, you will first need to learn as much as you can about video games, consoles, ratings and storylines. The best way to do this, of course, is to play video games of different genres to learn how they progress. most writers break into the gaming industry by writing about games rather than for gaming developers, which will allow you to assess the benefits and drawbacks to each game. Landing a freelance writing gig with a magazine or online publisher will give you this opportunity.

If you've decided that you want to be a video game reviewer, start searching for publications on the Internet or purchase a copy of Writer's Market. You'll find that video game reviewers are in high demand and you can usually earn at least a shot. You can also write video game reviews on spec and submit them to publications for consideration.

A video game review should be at least 500 words and should include the following information:

• Name of the game
  
• System Requirements
  
• Publisher & Developer
  
• Age Rating
  
• Overview
  
• Positives
  
• Negatives
  
• Graphics Review
  
• Originality
  
• Replay Value
  
• Review Score
  

Once you have a general understanding of the gaming industry, you can pursue writing opportunities within it rather than for it. Writing for the gaming industry can mean coming up with storyboards or writing game guides. Many game developers hire freelancers for this very job while others require in-house positions. If you are interested in this form of writing, you can check out some of the opportunities listed in the resource section.

Above all, however, you must be creative and imaginative to write for the gaming industry. You should research some of the most popular games and identify what makes them unique. You should also be able to write a sample script, as most gaming developers require one with your resume.

You will probably be faced with the conundrum of whether to write for large game publishers or small ones. The problem with large game publishers is that they typically looked for experienced writers to join their teams, but small publishers usually don't pay freelance writers up front. If you want to write for a small publisher, you will have to count on royalties from game sales to pad your wallet.

If you decide to give the gaming industry a shot, however, you might not be disappointed. As you learn the craft and develop your skills, you'll be presented with more lucrative and high-profile opportunities.