Want to be in the game industry and not sure how

[interactivemedium]

I took programming in high school, and was terrible at it. I'm not really a good artist either. I consider myself in the know when it comes to the game industry and games in general. I'm thinking maybe I should go down the marketing/PR path because I'm a decent writer and know the business, but I don't really like the whole business thing. How does one become a producer? I'm attending Marist College in the fall and they offer a Game Studies concentration in Communications. How would that help me land a job? Is there any other ways to get a job in the industry if you aren't really good at programming or graphic design? I just started a blog on the game industry. Is that a good idea to build some sort of resume?

[Garrett]

To become a producer, you're going to have to love everything you hate:

http://www.animationarena.com/video-game-salary.html

If you know nothing about programming, audio, or art and animation, then, really the best way to get your foot in the door is to become a game tester for a little while.

You say you are a good writer and are looking into marketing/PR? Write for a newspaper, magazine. Freelance, do it for free, even. Then put it on your resume. Look at what they are looking for:

Developing and maintaining strong working relationships with media
Updating key search words with press clipping companies and ensuring the media coverage system is working correctly.
Overseeing the scanning and storage of press clippings.
Raising purchase orders as required for the PR team.
Arranging delivery of stock (games, consoles, TV’s and other materials) in timely fashion.
Handling all general press inquiries and requests on behalf of the PR team if they are not present, and fielding to other staff if appropriate.

Your Background

Be a graduate or have relevant professional experience.
Be self motivated.
Be able to work on their own initiative.
Be well organized with good time management and organizational skills.
Have strong and enthusiastic communication skills.
Have an interest in gaming.

[Thomas John Lloyd Kastner]

I don't have a job in the game industry yet but I hope to by this time next year. Everything I'll say in this post was told to me by others with a vast amount of experience in the industry. So essentially I'm just sharing the gist of what I've picked up so far.

You don't need to be a programmer or artist to be in the game industry. There are other roads. You mentioned going into Marketing/PR and Garrett mentioned becoming a producer. Both are fine choices. There is another, very important, position and that is Game Designer.

You don't necessarily need to be an extremely talented artist and you don't need to be an extremely talented programmer but you do need to know how to create fun. You need to understand the fundamentals of game design and how to create systems that can be manipulated in creative and interesting ways. I am currently attending a college in the Georgia(SCAD) that has an excellent art/game design program and I have to say I'm enjoying it greatly.
This particular college has a strong lean towards the art side but if you are willing to at least learn how to create game art you can take an alternative route and spend your time creating games and learning about how to be a game designer.

Here are some things I'd recommend doing.

1.) Learn what makes games good, what makes games bad and what makes games fun. You can read books on this but the best thing to do is to just play games. Don't get stuck to one genre either. Play any game you can get your hands on, this includes non-digital games such as board games, card games and pen and pencil games. Once you have a good understanding on what makes a game fun start making games.

2.) Make Games! Since you don't have a team of programmers or a team of artists the obvious choice is to just buy some supplies from your local store and get to work making board games and card games. This sounded very weird to me when I was first introduced to this concept because I wanted to make video games. However, you come to understand that games are games and both digital and non-digital games are fun. Buy some index cards, pens, pencils, poster board, color pencils, dice, counters(I use colored glass pebbles) and whatever else you can find that is of use. Create some functional games and test them with friends.

3.) Do some reading. Here are some books that you might find useful. I've read a a lot of them, others are just books I've heard others strongly recommend. One of these will help you get started.

Video Game Marketing and PR - Scott Steinberg
http://www.amazon.com/Videogame-Marketing-PR-Vol-Playing/dp/0595433715/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214523386&sr=8-1

Theory of Fun for Game Design - Raph Koster
http://www.amazon.com/Theory-Game-Design-Raph-Koster/dp/1932111972/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214523467&sr=8-1

Rules of Play: Game Design Fundamentals - Katie Salen and Eric Zimmerman
http://www.amazon.com/Rules-Play-Game-Design-Fundamentals/dp/0262240459/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214523467&sr=8-2

High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games - Rusel DeMaria and Johnny L Wilson
http://www.amazon.com/High-Score-Illustrated-History-Electronic/dp/0072231726/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214523573&sr=1-1

Game Design: The Art and Business of Creating Games - Bob Bates
http://www.amazon.com/Game-Design-Business-Creating-Development/dp/0761531653/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214523658&sr=1-20

Learn C++ by Making Games - Francois Dominic Laramee
http://www.amazon.com/Learn-Making-Games-Charles-Programming/dp/1584504552/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214523716&sr=1-1

ActionScript 3.0 Game Programming University - Greg Rosenzweig
http://www.amazon.com/ActionScript-3-0-Game-Programming-University/dp/0789737027/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214523863&sr=1-1

Game Artist's Guide to Maya - Michael McKinley
http://www.amazon.com/Game-Artists-Guide-Maya/dp/0782143768/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214523809&sr=1-1

4.) Stay motivated. You have to stay motivated in order to succeed in anything. You have to realize there are thousands of other people that are probably going to be shooting for the same job you want. You have to make yourself stand out and you have to develop the skills required for the job you want to eventually hold.

5.) Network. From what I've been told it isn't completely about what you know. Who you know plays an important role as well. Go to gaming conventions and events and meet people, you never know who you might meet. Just don't make a fool out of yourself. Game Developers Conference seems to be the place where opportunities can be lost and found. Don't just try to meet famous and well-known designers. Meet people that are new and on your newbie level as well. You'll make friends, meet really cool people and eventually someone might have an opportunity to share with you. Make business cards so you can get them from others.

6.) Take any opportunity you can find. Any experience is good experience. Some of the bigger companies want you to have experience before you really have a chance at scoring an interview. I know quite a few simply wouldn't talk to me until I've worked on at least two triple A titles. Look for new companies and companies that are about to go under to get a bit of experience to add to your resume.

7.) Get advice from someone wiser than I am. As I said before, I don't have a job. I'm simply a student that has one more year left with his education. Do a web search for blogs of game designers, game design professors or anyone really. Read what they have to say and ask them questions. Ask your professors questions as well. It is important to question things frequently in order to find the what you believe the best path or best option.

8.) Know your game designers. If you don't know who the 'top dogs' are in the industry you probably should start researching right now. Don't limit yourself to just the key players either, get to know everyone you can.

9.) MOST IMPORTANTLY YOU HAVE TO PLAY GAMES! Don't ever forget to play games(Even if you are swamped with work). You can't design games unless you're a gamer. End of story, you don't have an excuse not to play games.

10.) Don't be afraid to be a geek. It is alright, I promise. I'm a geek and I'm proud of it.