Elysian Shadows

What are your personal opinions on how the video game industry handles writing?

http://www.igda.org/writing/WhereDoesTheWriterFitIn.htm
http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=2932
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_i ... tory=17902
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jdG2LHair0

Do you think that the industry has no need for writers and that they are a luxury, or do you think we are approaching a new landmark in the industry where story can no longer go ignored?

Dora wrote:What are your personal opinions on how the video game industry handles writing?

http://www.igda.org/writing/WhereDoesTheWriterFitIn.htm
http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=2932
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_i ... tory=17902
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jdG2LHair0

Do you think that the industry has no need for writers and that they are a luxury, or do you think we are approaching a new landmark in the industry where story can no longer go ignored?

I feel that story is something that has been too often ignored in the past 10 years. I am an RPG junkie so this of course is what defines the game. Interesting character backgrounds, exciting conflict, and a truly engrossing plot are what get me into a game for sure. I believe that every game development team should have at least a pair of imaginative writers to create this world that sucks the gamer in. This isn't to say that they need to be dedicated to this job. The writers of the game could very well be the programming team or the artists as long as they have the time to focus on the story, so its hard to say if the industry really NEEDS writers. Although, I would say yes.

Nice little vid



Ok, so what have we got here?

Insane fun without a story; Left 4Dead, Counter Strike,GTA(all except the newest),WoW(i don't see that one fun though), Saints Row, God of War etc..

VS
Linear gameplay with a storyline; Dark Messiah of Might and Magic,Half Life(all),Call of Duty,BioShock etc...

VS
Sandbox gameplay with storyline; GTA IV, Guild Wars, Prototype, Infamous etc...

Plus most linear games today have an online-mode.

Many new Linear games understand the features of an interactive environment(prototype- web of information) and integrate it into the story (Bioshock and Dark Messiah- multiple endings, aka "Choices"), they do it very well and the stories are well-written, they also get LOTS of good reviews and stuff because their stories are interesting, it's just like reading a book, and fat reviewers play these games instead of reading books.

No-story games
These amazing things are all about the fun, who needs a story when you can blow stuff up?

Sandbox(non-linear gameplay) with Storyline
As you follow the stoyline, your world changes, you can still roam it as you wish, but you know the background of the building you're about to blow up.


You can say story has evolved in video games, now you actually have choices that affect your gameplay... you have CHOICES.
Gamers want their story to be interactive, and most games just don't deliver, sure you can play through the game... do w/e and win but what if you killed that guy in the sewer and had to find another way out? what if you saved peter parker's father because you already know what happened and can choose whether you want it happen or not, THIS is what we want. THIS is interactive.

If you asked me three years ago I would have said that a great story is the most important aspect of a game and therefore great writers are an essential part of game development. But now, I really feel like I was being naive. My opinion now is that gameplay is by far the most important aspect. You can not have a great game without great gameplay. Although many games, RPGs especially, also need a great storyline. Games like Final Fantasy VI are remembered for their storylines and characters. But if it had a shitty battle system, then it would be remembered as a shitty game.

So to sum it all up, writing is important, but you can still have a great game without a great story.