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I'm sharing Can Androids Pray script pages every day until the game releases on Switch--April 16th.
IT'S AVAILABLE ON http://ITCH.IO :
https://itch.io/b/343/can-androids-pray
IT'S AVAILABLE ON XBOX ONE:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/can-androids-pray-blue/9p3rmsw1l3zn
PRE-ORDER ON SWITCH:
https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/can-androids-prayblue-switch/
LET'S GO
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IT'S AVAILABLE ON http://ITCH.IO :
https://itch.io/b/343/can-androids-pray
IT'S AVAILABLE ON XBOX ONE:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/can-androids-pray-blue/9p3rmsw1l3zn
PRE-ORDER ON SWITCH:
https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/can-androids-prayblue-switch/
LET'S GO
1/
After asking enough friends how game scripts are 'supposed' to be written, I realized there is no ideal.
We are all guilty.
CAP was written in Word (partially as an experiment!), so this page is foundation. I had to set up *how* this can function as a blueprint for the game.
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We are all guilty.
CAP was written in Word (partially as an experiment!), so this page is foundation. I had to set up *how* this can function as a blueprint for the game.
2/
Two interesting notes here:
1) Most folks don't realize our central character is black! They kinda assume a 'default' white character unless something else is explicitly presented, which is a unique challenge for games where identity is secondary to the story itself.
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1) Most folks don't realize our central character is black! They kinda assume a 'default' white character unless something else is explicitly presented, which is a unique challenge for games where identity is secondary to the story itself.
3/
2) ...Yeah, the only difference between the #CanAndroidsPray games is color grading. We kept trying to tell you. No one believed us.
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We're on page 2 of the script!
As I said before, this was supposed to double as a blueprint. That means formatting shenanigans alongside the typical writing and structure concerns.
In our case, that means the graphics settings are described before a single line of dialogue.
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As I said before, this was supposed to double as a blueprint. That means formatting shenanigans alongside the typical writing and structure concerns.
In our case, that means the graphics settings are described before a single line of dialogue.
5/
This is an interesting page. The long-take described here was supposed to convey a certain mood--but Natalie instead used a series of cuts blending environment and darkness.
It accomplished the same thing, but cheaper, easier, and better, so that's what we used!
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It accomplished the same thing, but cheaper, easier, and better, so that's what we used!
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Can Androids Pray had three drafts. The one that shipped--this version--was written in one night, right before GDC 2019.
The 'breakthrough line' where I figured out how to write the rest of the script, is the first option the player has:
"F#CK MY GIANT METALLIC BODY."
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The 'breakthrough line' where I figured out how to write the rest of the script, is the first option the player has:
"F#CK MY GIANT METALLIC BODY."
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After a set of branches had been dedicated to a topic, I ended them in such a way that they'd all segue (in a way that affected tone and journey) with the next mandatory chunk.
The page break helped us keep track of the distinct sections and evolutions of the story.
8/
The page break helped us keep track of the distinct sections and evolutions of the story.
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My apologies about the interruption - just ONE WEEK LEFT until we launch on Nintendo Switch!
In this page, I namedropped a mech model. 40-G9 Buckshot Hog was my bleary-eyed attempt to say
"THE MECH THAT KILLED YOU HAD A SHOTGUN. IT'S DEFINITELY THERE.
NO, YOU CAN'T SEE IT."
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In this page, I namedropped a mech model. 40-G9 Buckshot Hog was my bleary-eyed attempt to say
"THE MECH THAT KILLED YOU HAD A SHOTGUN. IT'S DEFINITELY THERE.
NO, YOU CAN'T SEE IT."
9/
...This is also where we start to lay out the full scope of the stakes facing our characters. Death is inevitable. Only beginning to introduce this AFTER the first stage is so important.
I can't make you care about the plot if you don't care about the humans in it first.
10/
I can't make you care about the plot if you don't care about the humans in it first.
10/
We continue to see how the Word-based formatting impacts the script. Lots of unexpected benefits (and expected readability issues to work around).
Also: the first implication that your character is an AI.
6 days until Switch release!
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Also: the first implication that your character is an AI.
6 days until Switch release!
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