ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses various ways to prepare yourself to enter and succeed in the game industry. It details three basic strategies: getting a job at a publisher or developer, pitching original ideas, and publishing your ideas independently. Preparation for getting a job includes educating yourself at an academic program, playing and analyzing games, designing your own games and prototypes, knowing the industry, networking, joining organizations, attending conferences, internet and email etiquette, interning, and entry-level jobs. The pitch process and pitch materials are also detailed, including the game demo, trailer, pitch deck, concept document, key art, technical design overview, and competitive analysis. Finally, the challenges of independent production are discussed.
