After following the broken trail created by the links my friend Binks provided, I was able to pursue some leads about writing in the video game industry. It isn’t a very glamourous profession, and very few sites actually provided relevant information pertaining to the career choice, but I was able to track down a few tidbits of information.
On Capcom’s website, on their Frequently Asked Questions page, I discovered what they required from applicants who wished to join the workforce at Capcom USA. They require a degree of some kind in the following categories:
Computer Programming Creative Writing Mythology Computer Graphics/Animation Script Writing Digital Imaging
A few of these categories were of interest to me anyway (namely creative writing and script writing), so I decided to pursue what options were provided to me by Canadian Universities.
And let me say, there wasn’t many. My eyes drifted constantly towards VFS (Vancouver Film School) which offered many programs related to video game development, including a course called “Writing for Film, Television, and Interactive Media”.
My heart jumped at the thought. Unfortunately, when it comes to applying to universities and whatnot, I am a bit of a dunce. VFS has a continuous school year, and a start date for the program is in August, followed by another in January of 2006.
I’m assuming the admission deadline for the August program has long since passed (anyone with better knowledge of the application process than me is free to refute me on this). So, with the idea of writing for the video game industry planted firmly in my mind, I went back to an earlier article submitted to me by Binks.
It mentioned something about making a segue into the business by writing for a video game centric magazine before writing for the actual games. So, with this in mind, I fired off an inquisitive e-mail to Nintendo Power, and I hope for a response some time tomorrow.
My final task in my quest was to contact Capcom. Their FAQs page said:
“The Research and Development Departments, which is in charge of reviewing all Outside Game Submissions, is not accepting consumer game ideas.”
Hastily, I e-mailed them asking what this brief statement encompassed. Whether it was all encompassing of any potential ideas, or whether there were acceptions. I inquired about whether this policy was permanent or temporary. One thing I forgot to ask about was the prospect of freelance writing, a mistake I may regret.
Nevertheless, I am now awaiting two responses that I hope will bring good news. Until then, I think I will resume work on “The Man in the Mirror” while I work out the kinks of Resident Evil 5. I am overflowing with so many ideas that I can’t even focus on my discrete math homework…
Shit…look at the time.