Read on Twitter
Based on my inbox, today& #39;s a good day to dispel 7 common myths about game writing*.
Good for: people who want to make games; people who think they might want to; the morbidly curious. Let& #39;s goooo
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="âïž" title="Schreibende Hand" aria-label="Emoji: Schreibende Hand">
*this thread will contain fun gifs
Good for: people who want to make games; people who think they might want to; the morbidly curious. Let& #39;s goooo
*this thread will contain fun gifs
1. Game writers are like TV/film writers: hired for a project, then ascend back into writer heaven awaiting their next contract
This is almost never true. We generally work in a studio alongside artists, designers, etc, and are part of the production process like everyone else.
This is almost never true. We generally work in a studio alongside artists, designers, etc, and are part of the production process like everyone else.
Okay 2. Each game has âA WRITER,â again, like film/tv/books, who pitches and own THE STORY.
Sometimes... but rarely. Even if there is only one writer, many more people contribute to a game story: creative director (CD), game director, publishers, designers, artistsâŠ
Sometimes... but rarely. Even if there is only one writer, many more people contribute to a game story: creative director (CD), game director, publishers, designers, artistsâŠ
3. If you pitch a game studio your idea/script, it can get made!
I have never heard of this happening. Studios generate and circulate pitches internally; they don& #39;t take cold pitches. And if you send your cold pitch to a game writer, they legally canât read it. Pls donât do it.
I have never heard of this happening. Studios generate and circulate pitches internally; they don& #39;t take cold pitches. And if you send your cold pitch to a game writer, they legally canât read it. Pls donât do it.
4. Game writers have a say over what project they will be on and/or pitch their projects.
No, not usually. Game writers are brought on to help with production and MAYBE help figure out the game& #39;s flow; they usually have nothing to do with which projects get greenlit.
No, not usually. Game writers are brought on to help with production and MAYBE help figure out the game& #39;s flow; they usually have nothing to do with which projects get greenlit.
http://5.Game"> http://5.Game writing <<<< narrative design (or vice versa)
This oneâs tricky because different studios designate these terms differently. People have told me my job at Insom is closer to being a narrative designer since I help plot out gameplay/story/mission beats...
This oneâs tricky because different studios designate these terms differently. People have told me my job at Insom is closer to being a narrative designer since I help plot out gameplay/story/mission beats...
... but Iâve also known narrative designers who do way more implementation/greyboxing/coding than me.
Theyâre similar, and both require knowledge of storytelling, pacing, & gameplay mechanics (like a screenwriter should know how to use different cameras to tell a story)
Theyâre similar, and both require knowledge of storytelling, pacing, & gameplay mechanics (like a screenwriter should know how to use different cameras to tell a story)
6. Game writers just do, yâknow, the dialogue.
Ahahaha. Hahah. Hahahahahahaha.
There is a lot of text in games. Just, so much. Also: mission flows, action sequences, tutorials, characters, audition sides, advising during VO recordingâŠ
anyway, a lotâs going on.
Ahahaha. Hahah. Hahahahahahaha.
There is a lot of text in games. Just, so much. Also: mission flows, action sequences, tutorials, characters, audition sides, advising during VO recordingâŠ
anyway, a lotâs going on.
7. The only way to become a game writer is to start on small projects & work your way up.
You might stay on small projects all your life, and that& #39;s rad. Or not. Either way, there are lots of paths. I come from journalism; others I know came from books, film, TV, hypertext...
You might stay on small projects all your life, and that& #39;s rad. Or not. Either way, there are lots of paths. I come from journalism; others I know came from books, film, TV, hypertext...
... But to succeed as a game writer, you need some combo of:
-Good at dialogue/scene writing (and/or prose, depending on type of game)
-Great sense of pacing/drama
-Awesome at visual storytelling
-Understanding of interactivity & how it impacts narrative
-Good at dialogue/scene writing (and/or prose, depending on type of game)
-Great sense of pacing/drama
-Awesome at visual storytelling
-Understanding of interactivity & how it impacts narrative
Okay, those are my 7. Feel free to chime in more below, mon cherries.
