Game and Storytelling Fundamentals
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Nonlinear Narrative in Games: Theory and Practice
by Ben McIntosh, Randi Cohn and Lindsay Grace
When it comes to writing for video games, there are a few decisions that need to be made before you even begin brainstorming about plot points, characters, or dialogue. Even if the genre and style has been determined, there is a bigger question about the story that must be answered: Will this be a linear or nonlinear narrative?
If you are a game enthusiast, you are probably already aware of the exciting complexities, depth, and robustness of nonlinear stories. However, if you have ever attempted to write a nonlinear story, you may have encountered several infuriating problems that are typical when trying to present the player with multiple options. This article will take a look at some of these issues as well as offer some thoughts on how to work through them. Why is nonlinear writing important to know? Because as more schools offer degrees in game design, the competition is greater than ever. In a world where some video games are outselling big budget movies, you have to put as many stunning bullet points on your curriculum vitae as you can to stand out from the crowd.
- Game Writing: Narrative Skills for Video Games
by Richard Dansky / Brad KaneWhatis game narrative? It’s a question that developers, writers, reviewers, and publishers have been trying to answer for years with only limited success. Like many other things in this still-young industry, narrative is an area where definitions are still being stretched, formulated, and tried on for size. It is crucial, however, to formalize a definition of game narrative before attempting to create one. Otherwise, you’re trying to hit a moving target with an entire development team waiting for you to make the perfect shot, with a limited chance of success.
- Understanding Game Type and Game Genre
by Lindsay Grace
Although sometimes used interchangeably in the industry, there is a distinct difference between game type and game genre in video games. When discussing game story, we distinguish game type as a description of game play, and game genre as a description of the narrative content of the game.
- Active Storytelling in Games
by Rafael ChandlerI’ve been doing a lot of reading about storytelling in games, about compelling narrative. However, I find myself wondering if this is really the correct vocabulary for the next stage of video game development. Is it worthwhile to tell a story with a game? Can it even be done? Ultimately, I believe the point may be completely moot, because games are interactive, not passive.
- Sam Lake
on Video Games
by Andrey SummersWhat makes for a great story in a video game?
Sometimes, with all the innovative development and cool graphics the actual story a game has to tell can get lost in the shuffle, or at least can seem to be an afterthought. When a game arrives on the shelves that presents one of the more engrossing stories we’ve seen in awhile, it’s worth noting. Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne has been recognized by many people with their heads screwed on straight as a benchmark in video-game storytelling. The 2003 sequel to the legendary Max Payne, this game exhibited a narrative depth that many contemporary offerings tend to lack. - Everything is Possible: Inside the Minds of Gaming’s Master Storytellers
by Greg Kasavin
You don’t need games. As much as they may seem like an integral part of your everyday life or even your thought process at this point, you could give them up if you really had to. And no matter how addicted you may be to the games you play, you’d have to admit that games are intended to be entertainment. They’re just for fun.
Game Plot and Characters
- The 25 Most Common Game Plot Premises
by Lindsay Grace - Game Plot Terminology
by Lindsay Grace - Fundamentals of Plot Construction
by Lindsay Grace - Tips for Writing Good Character Dialogue
by Lindsay Grace - Writing Game Levels with Story
by Lindsay Grace
Game Format and How To:
- The Art of Computer Game Design (Book)
Cris Crawford - Understanding the Game Concept Statement
by Lindsay Grace - Organizing and Formatting Game Dialogue
by Rafael Chandler - Creating a Great Design Document
By Tzvi Freeman - UML for Interactive Scriptwriting
by Lindsay Grace - How a Game is Made
Public Broadcasting companion site - Creating 3D Educational Games
C.C. Chamberlin
Editorial & Interview
- Halo’s Big Grunt: Joseph Staten on Storytelling for Halo
by Cathy Lu - Artists and Game Design Documents: From Interpretation to Implementation
by By Joshua D. Gordon
Academic Papers
- Writing for Video Games: Survey of Process and Technology
by Viviane Gal, Cécile Le Prado, Stéphane Natkin, Liliana Vega. - Game Design as Narrative Architecture
by Henry Jenkins - Video Games, Fiction, and Emotion
by Grant Tavinor - Teaching Software Engineering Through Game Design
by Kajal Claypool and Mark Claypool
General Mechanics:
- Ten Most Common Writing Errors Made By College Students
by Lindsay Grace - The Proofreading Pyramid for College Students
by Lindsay Grace
Controversy