Video game writing#Writers

{{Globalize|section|Western culture|date=June 2019}}

People who write video games are part of the design team, during pre-production,[http://www.gameindustrycareerguide.com/how-to-become-a-video-game-writer/ How To Become A Video Game Writer], interview with Darby McDevitt, posted on [http://www.gameindustrycareerguide.com Game industry career guide] and create the main plot of a video game but can also focus on the dialogue, the character creation and development or the worldbuilding.[https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/the-gamasutra-20-top-game-writers The Gamasutra 20: Top Game Writers], by Bonnie Ruberg on Gamasutra

During the game development process, the design may change, and a video game writer can also be asked to fix the eventual narrative issues.[https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/20/arts/video-games/gears-of-war-judgment-and-the-writing-of-its-narrative.html?pagewanted=all Building a Narrative That's Explosive], by Chris Suellentrop, published on The New York Times March 19, 2013

The importance of the plot can be minimized by some video game designers, for instance Harvey Smith of Arkane Studios claimed that "The world is very important. The characters are very important. The plot? It can be thrown away. Because each gamer will build his own story."{{in lang|fr}}[http://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2016/12/27/dans-un-jeu-video-le-joueur-s-inventera-toujours-sa-propre-histoire_5054442_4408996.html Dans un jeu vidéo, « le joueur s’inventera toujours sa propre histoire »] by Corentin Lamy , published December 27, 2016, on Le Monde website Moreover, according to academic and video game designer Ian Bogost video games can be much more than narrative media, by putting together, in a non-linear structure, elements of everyday life, as in What Remains of Edith Finch.[https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/04/video-games-stories/524148/ Video Games Are Better Without Stories] by Ian Bogost, published in April 2017, in The Atlantic.

One issue specific to the medium is that priority is given to interactive play mechanics over narrative[http://kotaku.com/5988751/what-in-the-world-do-video-game-writers-do-the-minds-behind-some-of-last-years-biggest-games-explain What In The World Do Video Game Writers Do? The Minds Behind Some Of Last Year's Biggest Games Explain.], by Phil Owen[http://pressxordie.com/2011/10/13/your-game-dialogue-is-bad-and-you-should-feel-bad/ Your Game Dialogue Is Bad And You Should Feel Bad] published October 13, 2011for instance the poor-quality of most video games ending : [https://web.archive.org/web/20160410103123/http://www.mtv.com/news/1540218/thats-it-graphics-improve-but-video-game-endings-still-come-up-short/ That's It? Graphics Improve But Video Game Endings Still Come Up Short], by Stephen Totilo which could lead to ludonarrative dissonance: a situation when ludic and narrative elements are opposed to each other, as Far Cry 2 director Clint Hocking defined the concept in his blog.{{citation| url = http://clicknothing.typepad.com/click_nothing/2007/10/ludonarrative-d.html| title =Ludonarrative Dissonance in Bioshock| first = Clint|last = Hocking| work = clicknothing.typepad.com}}{{citation| url = http://www.destructoid.com/ludonarrative-dissonance-the-roadblock-to-realism-235197.phtml| title =Ludonarrative dissonance: The roadblock to realism| first = Brett|last = Makedonski| date =September 26, 2012}}{{citation| url = http://www.thunderboltgames.com/opinion/ludonarrative-dissonance-we-still-need-to-learn-from-hocking| title = Ludonarrative Dissonance: we still need to learn from Hocking| first = Matt| last = Sawrey| access-date = September 27, 2018| archive-date = October 23, 2013| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131023142421/http://www.thunderboltgames.com/opinion/ludonarrative-dissonance-we-still-need-to-learn-from-hocking| url-status = dead}}

There is no specific training to video game writing and some video game writers – such as Tim Schafer and Sam Barlow – are also in charge of other game development tasks.

Video game writing differs from writing for other arts, due to the non-linear and interactive nature of most video games, and the necessity to work closely with video game designers and voice actors. There are many differing types of text in video games in comparison to stage shows or movies, including written text, foreign or made-up languages, and often situation-based information. Subsequently, more than one writer will often be used to create the game, split into different roles, with more specific job titles that can range from being a traditional writer, developing an overview of the story and how it reacts to the player, or creating a translation or localization.

A pitch writer specializes in writing pitches for video games to publishers.{{Cite book|title=Professional Techniques for Video Game Writing|url=https://archive.org/details/professionaltech00desp|url-access=limited|date=2008|publisher=A.K. Peters|isbn=978-1439875384|editor-last=Despain|editor-first=Wendy|location=Wellesley, Mass.|pages=[https://archive.org/details/professionaltech00desp/page/n30 21]–22, 55, 165|oclc=814380325}} They create collaborative pitch documents within a game studio that often contain design mockups or art concepts. The main parts of a pitch document, in order from first to last, are the executive summary, audience analysis, story, competition analysis, market analysis, gameplay, and budget and schedule.

With an increasing emphasis placed on game profitability, especially in the free to play model, the F.T.U.E. (First Time User Experience) and retention metrics have also become important parts of the pitch document.

Narrative designer is a hybrid role of video game design and writing that creates not only the story, but also how it is communicated to players and how the game mechanics work to reinforce that story. Bioware writer David Gaider described the role as "the person who shapes the game's narrative, as well as the one who writes all the words."

The script writer focuses on the dialogue said by characters and the voice over.{{Citation needed|date=April 2018}} The script's dialogue can be written in flowcharts to illustrate the various dialogue resulting from both decision and indecision.{{cite web|url=http://www.stormthecastle.com/video-game-design/writing-a-video-game-script.htm|title=Flowchart a video game script|website=Storm The Castle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922213346/http://www.stormthecastle.com/video-game-design/writing-a-video-game-script.htm|archive-date=September 22, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=September 25, 2017}} Generally, a script writer is less involved with the video game's mechanics, and is tasked with writing and working with voice actors.

Similarly, to screenplay script doctors, video game writers can be brought in to assist with writing-related tasks. However, the term is vaguer than in screenplays due to the wide variety of potential tasks needed.

Similar to screenwriting, it is typically a freelance profession. Writing roles may also be filled by other members of the development team.

Traditionally, game writers used simple tools like Word, Excel or just plain pen and paper. Some game writers also used tools initially designed for the film industry such as Final Draft. As the field has evolved and player agency started to play a bigger role, the need for professional game writing tools has emerged.

• Visual novel
• Narrative of video games, an overview of the historical importance and reception of game narratives

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Category:Writing

Category:Video game design