Game Design: Where do I get started?

This is a question I've been asking myself since the start of this semester. Sure, the best place to start is to go to school. You have to know what you're doing before you can do it. But what about after, or even during your schooling? How do you get yourself out there and get noticed? Well, I asked my teacher the same question, and she gave me some good starting points:

99designs - A site where you can either commission a design, or you can answer to someone else's commission and actually GET PAID for it!

Women in Games International - A place for all of us women who are into game design.

Game Mentor Online - A place where you can go to get mentoring from people who are in the industry already, or who have had previous experience in the industry.

And, of course,

DeviantArt - A free place to post your artwork. DeviantArt has a large and active community who is willing to critique your art for you.

DeviantArt is also a great place to get links to other sites. There are groups that focus on anything and everything that you can join and share your artwork with, from simple sketches to photography to 3D character and level design. There's even a number of groups based on your love of Pokemon (because we know you love Pokemon. Don't deny it.) Thanks to a few of the groups I've joined on DeviantArt, I've managed to find these forums where you can post artwork as well:

Game Artisans

Polycount Forums

www.ConceptArt.org

All three of these sites have a section for your own online sketchbook as well, as well as job information, ranging from simple freelance work between forum peers to job openings in the industry, like Blizzard, for example.

The real tip at this stage is to just do some searching, and don't be scared to post something, even if you think it's terrible. Put yourself out there, and you're sure to get noticed. There are tons of people out there who are willing to help you reach your potential. And when you're asking for critiques, don't settle for a simple, "That's cool." or, "I can't do that!" answer. Ask them what they like and don't like about the image. Even if they're not artists, they can still offer you good advice.

While we're on the topic of getting ourselves noticed, you can go check out my DeviantArt page and send me commission requests!