Any Info on Pitching Video Game Ideas?

[TV Zombie]

Hello Benbo,

We've all seen the help provided on pitching your comic book, short story or novel. But what about pitching an idea/concept for a video game? Is this just crazy talk? Do you have to be a full-blown game developer to pitch a video game? Do you have to be in the industry?

I assumed the basics and looked at two major game developers who would be perfect for my idea but neither of their web sites have any "submission" type guidelines.

I Googled the topic and found this site with all sorts of great information: http://www.sloperama.com/advice.html

So my question to any game-industry boarders... is this even possible or is this a pipe dream? Should I just forget about my video game idea and go back to writing stories?

Thanks.

[Ryudo]

Hello Benbo,

We've all seen the help provided on pitching your comic book, short story or novel. But what about pitching an idea/concept for a video game? Is this just crazy talk? Do you have to be a full-blown game developer to pitch a video game? Do you have to be in the industry?

I assumed the basics and looked at two major game developers who would be perfect for my idea but neither of their web sites have any "submission" type guidelines.

I Googled the topic and found this site with all sorts of great information: http://www.sloperama.com/advice.html

So my question to any game-industry boarders... is this even possible or is this a pipe dream? Should I just forget about my video game idea and go back to writing stories?

Thanks.

For something small like DLC, it's not outside the realm of possibility.

However, you may want to send an email to the webmaster of a developer's website or to the community leader of a developer's forum to get more information.

[DAVE]

I think step one is have an extensive background in video game programming and development.
Step two is have a high position at one of the two major video game developers.
Step three is probably something along the lines of attend their new video game pitch meetings.
I can't imagine that they take many outside pitches for games, is what I'm saying. You could try try sending a letter to Nintendo Power though. I think I once saw someone do that about pitching a new game when I was like 9.

[Cth]

With the budgets involved, unless it's a genius idea, I can't see them soliciting outside untested ideas.

Your best bet is to work up a small demo with available tools (there's LOTS of really easy to use tools to work up proof of concept stuff)

From there either make a name for yourself and get your foot in the door, or keepd developing it and hope it gets picked up by a larger developer.

Videogames generally are multimillion dollar deals with multiple year development.

You can see why it's not something they'd be too receptive to outside untested ideas.

EDIT:
It likely varies among companies as well. One suggestion we were told was to develop a real world version of the game, like a board game. But realistically, it's as likely as landing a job in comics.. if you want to be in the industry, the way to do it is to make something and keep at it and maybe one day you could get lucky.

[Cth]

For something small like DLC, it's not outside the realm of possibility.

However, you may want to send an email to the webmaster of a developer's website or to the community leader of a developer's forum to get more information.

This is true, too.

There's a playtester or two on the board, who have mentioned ideas as part of feedback during playtesting that have gone on to become DLC.