Welcome to Ed's Script Development Page
Our Lecturer Dave is a big burly guy, with a big red beard, and he knows his stuff.
On this page I will be going through all the different elements and aspects of script writing and story development as relevant to video games
-
Script Writing
We start with the role of the writer
Traditionaly writers sat on their own and wrote a story, with characters and plots, but with video games, often (not always) the story is just as important, but video games have interactivity. The user/player can make things happen, and become involved in the game. In a successful game the player will become immeresed in the game
-
What a video game writer does
The video game writer, is responsible for setting up the whole game world setting, the story, character developement and diaglogue and to provide context and feedback.
This is also known as 'narrative design'. It is as much a part of the game, as mechanics and different levels -
The Rules
No Rules
Engaging
Consideration -
Part of Team
C.I.A (communicate, innovate, advocate)
Understand everysone role, and the impact of your decisions
Time Management
Improvise , Adapt , Overcome -
Some Warnings
Writing is hard
Everything changes
You get better, but it does not get easier
Dont be precious
Disasters Happen
-
Some Useful Terms
Stereotype
Archetype
Cliché Trope & Motif -
Building Blocks of a Story
Story & Game
The story and game should support each other, and not contradict each other.
Writers should have a clear idea of elements like, genre, setting , theme , plot , tone and pacing, so they can develope the story -
Protagonist
This is the character, that goes through the story 'arc'. Types of hero are , tradational, rogue, comic, anti-hero, and tragic , for example
-
Conflict
Story is Drama, Drama comes from conflict. The main story should focus on one conflict, with sub plots focusing on another.
-
Types/Sources of conflict
Man - versus / man/ nature / god /society/ himself ... etc, which can cause inner/personal/extra-personal conflict
-
What are the Stakes
Whatever the stakes are, they should increase over time, what does the hero stand to lose ... life , love , wealth, happiness,
Usually your life ! -
Agency , Immersion , Emergence
Video games as stories
Video games are a way for people to become part of the story. To do this they must be able to interact with the game (Agency), which if good, will result in 'Immersion' and possibly 'Emergence'
-
Agency
The ability to affect the game. It happens at different levels.
Immediate : move, shoot , touch etc
Intermediate : having choices on the path or progress of the game
Extended : the ability to affect the outcome of the game (can be expensive to have multiple ending options) -
Immersion
This is when a player literaly feels he is part of the game It can be 'Diegetic : a love of characters, the world or story, or non-diegetic, a general love of the strategy that goes into the game.
-
Tyeps of Immersion
Spatial, a player feels like he is in the game, space.
Tactical : a player feels like he is in the action in the game
Stragetic : a player feels like he is involved in the longer term play strageties, (common in MMORPG)
Narrative : the player becomes emotionally involved in the characters.
Total : this is a mix of all of the above -
Emergence
This is when, situations emerge from the gameplay mechanics, that were not envisiged by the designer, and give an effect that is beyond that of the original design
-
Your Audience
Different Markets
Casual : mass audience, any genre, limited purchases,
Triple A: high budget, great art, high agencey
Indie: more niche -
Age
ESRB : Entertainment Software Ratings Board
PEGI: Pan European Game Information
Know your audience. Games for youth or older markets, will have different expectations. -
Gender
55% of gamers are Male, 74% of casual gamers are female
Female gamers like, characterful female characters (not male fantasy) and inter-personal stories, with justification for missions. -
Ethnicity
Avoid ethnic stereotypes , both negative and positive. Have a holistic approach
Accessibility
Consider and research how you plan to provide options for the imparied
-
Audience in Summary
Consider who your adience is, plan and do research, be inclusive, don't take shortcuts, or make assumptions.