Game Writing
"Game writing" is a slightly misleading term, as much of the work that gets done by a writer is done in collaboration with other team members -- producers, artists, sound designers, level designers, etc. -- rather than alone on a keyboard.
Depending on the game platform/genre and the point at which I become involved in the project, I may be doing anything from high-level marketing pitches and scenario outlines through to dialogs, cutscenes, in-game texts, and marketing materials.
My basic philosophies on game writing:
- The writer is one element in a long chain that includes management,
producers, artists, designers, marketers, manufacturers, and
distributors. His production must not only be good, but also on-time,
clear, and easy to integrate.
- Good characters and good dialogue can make an average game good, and a good game better. Bad characters and bad dialogue have the opposite effect.
- Inspiration can be drawn from games as well as film and TV.
However there is a rich history of storytelling that goes back
thousands of years, and some of the most compelling and timeless
characters come from legend, myth, and classic novels and plays that
span every conceivable genre. A game writer needs to be familiar with
all of this as well.
Please look through the sub-headings in this Game Writing section to get an idea of the kind of work that I can do.