Freelance video game reviewing?

WriterFantasyNights · Jan 25, 2016

Hi there,

This may not be the correct forums, but mods please do post this in the right section.

I'm looking to enter in the video games review market as of such in the UK.

I need to know what are the pitfalls, and what are the successes, and how much money can I gain from this? I do prefer working self-employed myself.

I need proper advice on this as I'm not sure I may be able to enjoy the process.

Where can I start getting some experince?

I've dug a couple of websites, but I'm not sure whether I can get paid or not, and so far it doesn't look good :3

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/feature-25-tips-for-the-young-games-journalist/089486
http://gamejournalismjobs.com/?job=enthusiastic-gaming-journalists-and-editors-wanted

https://www.journalism.co.uk/news/how-to-become-a-games-journalist/s2/a574067
http://gamejournalismjobs.com/?job=gamegrin-seeking-games-review-article-staff

http://gamejournalismjobs.com/?job=want-to-write-about-games-gamertime-needs-you#
http://www.thepalaceofwisdom.co.uk/blog/category/game/

http://gamejournalismjobs.com/?job=looking-for-writers-to-write-news-reviews-previews-and-editorials

http://gamespew.com/write-for-us/

http://gamejournalismjobs.com/?job=were-looking-for-a-writer-and-gameplay-video-producer

http://gamerpros.co/category/reviews/

http://www.newgamenetwork.com/search/

https://theapplicantmanager.com/jobs?pos=fs210&src=indeed

http://www.londonfreelance.org/fl/1305game.html

http://gamejournalismjobs.com/?job=gamer-professionals-seeking-writers

Thanks

Kerosene · Jan 25, 2016

Honestly? Don't bother doing it if you want to make money.

I remember TotalBiscuit has talked about this quite often. Pretty much everyone and their dog want to review video games. It's an over-saturated market. Add on top of that, the higher-end of it isn't a dream job. It's a huge competitive field where getting your review out first means more views on it, so people are pushed to either complete a game within record time and write/record a review or doing all of that before the MDA is lifted. Outside of that you're reviewing rather unimportant games to just fill pages on a website and most editors don't care. There's very little, if at all, money there.

Because of all of that, I would suggest doing it out of pleasure. But then that spoils the whole getting a game magazine/website to put up your review, because why not just put them up on a blog or Youtube or both?

WriterFantasyNights · Jan 25, 2016

WillSauger said:
Honestly? Don't bother doing it if you want to make money.

I remember TotalBiscuit has talked about this quite often. Pretty much everyone and their dog want to review video games. It's an over-saturated market. Add on top of that, the higher-end of it isn't a dream job. It's a huge competitive field where getting your review out first means more views on it, so people are pushed to either complete a game within record time and write/record a review or doing all of that before the MDA is lifted. Outside of that you're reviewing rather unimportant games to just fill pages on a website and most editors don't care. There's very little, if at all, money there.

Because of all of that, I would suggest doing it out of pleasure. But then that spoils the whole getting a game magazine/website to put up your review, because why not just put them up on a blog or Youtube or both?

Thanks for the info, it did seem a bit depressing when I read about it. I'll have a look.

MLayton · Mar 1, 2016

It's possible to make money doing that, but you better have a distinct style or a different outlook.

Most people are moving to the video format now. GameTrailers disbanded a couple of weeks ago because they weren't profitable enough. It seems that in order to become truly popular in the review market today, you need to use video content. Sad, but true.

I would suggest trying to go for smaller independent titles if you want to do written content. There's not as much money there, but you would control a greater market share for information about those games.

Plan · Jul 9, 2016

Kerosene said:
Honestly? Don't bother doing it if you want to make money.

I remember TotalBiscuit has talked about this quite often. Pretty much everyone and their dog want to review video games. It's an over-saturated market. Add on top of that, the higher-end of it isn't a dream job. It's a huge competitive field where getting your review out first means more views on it, so people are pushed to either complete a game within record time and write/record a review or doing all of that before the MDA is lifted. Outside of that you're reviewing rather unimportant games to just fill pages on a website and most editors don't care. There's very little, if at all, money there.

Because of all of that, I would suggest doing it out of pleasure. But then that spoils the whole getting a game magazine/website to put up your review, because why not just put them up on a blog or Youtube or both?

I agree with Kerosene, game reviewing for a website is not gonna pay the bills, but you could make some money for yourself if you produce some high quality Youtube videos. Put it this way: Even the staff writers at gaming publications are making $35,000 a year. There's really no money in writing for someone else. But there are Youtubers making nice supplementary incomes, and Youtubers who make a lot more than that.

I don't know the secret to becoming PewDiePie though...if I did, I'd be busy drawing up architectural plans for my mansion.

mistri · Aug 19, 2016

I know this is an old post, but it is very hard to make money from games writing now. The chief reason being that, in the UK at least, so many games mags have closed or decreased staff numbers over the years that there are a lot of experienced games writers working freelance at the moment. And many of them know each other so offer each other the good gigs.

Saying that, there are still opportunities, but not many, and you sometimes have to be in the right place at the right time. Passion helps, and if you have a blog or other outlet (Youtube, a podcast), anything to show how eager you are to get out there, that will all help too.

Freelance video game reviewing?

WriterFantasyNights

Kerosene

Your Pixie Queen

WriterFantasyNights

MLayton

Plan

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mistri

Sneezy Member