How To Sell a Video Game Idea?

fobsta writes "Do any Slashdotters have experience of selling video game ideas? I'm an artist who has programmed a rough-as-nails demo and animated a trailer to explain my concept. Obviously I think it's fun, it shows promise, and my friends think it's cool. Who should I pitch the idea to? Existing video games companies, venture capitalists, or what about those dentists who financed the Amiga? Are they still around? I've had a previous idea hijacked, and received no reward for it whatsoever; how can I prevent this happening again?"

To begin with...

[Anonymous Coward]

"Who should I pitch the idea to?"

Everybody. Put the trailer online, put up a download link for your demo. Make sure it says somewhere on the page that you want to make money from it, though.

"Having had a previous idea hijacked and received no reward for it whatsoever, how can I prevent this happening again?"

Don't show your idea to anybody. Just tell them you've got it and make sure they know that you want to make money from it.

I don't know, but...

[RingDev]

I've got this great idea for a movie. It's called "Vampirates 2: Vampirates in Space!" With the tag line "In space, everything sucks!" and it would be a continuation of the Vampirates vs Ninja Mutants saga that started in Vampirates 1. So if ya find anyone with resources to throw around, point them over my way when you're done with 'em, I want to see some hot Vampirate vs cat-man ninja action on the big screen!

-Rick

I don't have an answer, but here is another idea

[sjonke]

Put a talking point in it for McCaine, and at the very least you might win a toaster

Nintendo stole one of my ideas once...

[scourfish]

It was back in the 80's. And I was pitching a "mat," that you use to "Jump" to "conclusions." Nintendo blew me off. A few months later, they released the power pad, and I still haven't seen a dime.

Re:Don't post first

[gregbot9000]

Thats terrible advice, I'd think you would want to be first when selling an idea, what with the whole copyright thing.

I've got an idea that you all can have .

[TheLazySci-FiAuthor]

Sadly, Ideas are cheap - although ironically they are truly the most precious things we can posses.

I have zero experience in the game industry and I have no success in getting any idea of mine going big-time. Still, I have had ideas which later have been implemented by someone else (often because they were obvious due to some recent event).

I have come to the conclusion that the best ideas are the ones which you don't actually mind if someone else creates, because it means you get to use the creation.

My idea is for a video game called "Freeway Crash" or "Freeway Pileup" or something.

The game starts up with you getting on a freeway in random traffic. There is a countdown timer and at some random time in the countdown there will be an accident and you have to avoid it somehow - or avoid being caught-up in it.

The game would hinge on two things - one, it would need to be freely downloadable. two, it would need to have very good car models and crash physics.

The freeness would allow for mass download and play and the great graphics and physics would push for the pay (cheap 10$) version which would have the ability to playback the crash in slow motion and to create youtube-like vids a'la spore style and perhaps some other features like different cars and freeways or even an online component.

There. Free idea for the world.

Anybody want me as a game designer? I have 10 more concepts.

The 3DRealms Method

[cashman73]

1. Think up idea for a sequel to a popular first-person shooter game based on a popular selling title from the early 90s.
2. Spend ten years millions of dollars on its develop, and change your graphics engine 10 times prior to release.
3. During this time, hype up the game in every major gaming rag, and on every major website and blog on the internet. Don't forget to tell Slashdot [slashdot.org] and Netcraft [netcraft.com].
4. ???
5. Profit!

Re:I've got an idea that you all can have .

[CorSci81]

I play this game every day I drive to and from work, it's called Commuting in Los Angeles.

The Jack Thompson Method

[HannethCom]

I give no guarantees this will work.

1. Make a demo of the game extremely violent, sexual, or something that would really offend Jack.
2. Send him a copy of the demo.
3. Profit as he advertises it to the whole of the US.

Re:I don't know, but...

[Anonymous Coward]

It's called "Vampirates 2: Vampirates in Space!" With the tag line "In space, everything sucks!"

Well a quick google search has turned up that "Vampirates" has already been done. So change it to "Vampirettes" and turn it into a porno... you can keep the tagline though.

A gazillion ideas

[Provocateur]

and nobody has reminded the OP about the importance of booth babes?