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Stories are everywhere. Including in games. Have you ever considered writing for the game industry?
This week's Action/Adventure Newsletter is all about gaming, and how writing for games is not so different to writing a novel.
Kit of House Lannister |
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Do you enjoy playing computer games? Whether you do or not, there’s a big market out there. And games, often enough, need stories.
I remember the first computer game I got into. After eyeing up the computer for quite a while, somehow certain that it would crash or explode as soon as I touched it, I got into chatting to people and, through that, got into an online flightsim. Not much of a story to that game – it was basically a military strategy game – but it led to my exploring the gaming world.
The next game I got into was Alpha Centauri, and that had a bit of a story to it. When you play the game, you land on a planet and have to start your own society. You do research, you explore, and you interact with the other leaders/factions you come across. You might become allies or enemies. And all the while the world is responding to your presence. In the sequel, Alien Crossfire, you also have to deal with the aliens.
After Alpha Centauri I happened upon Final Fantasy VII, which is a game with rather interesting characters and a plot. Anyone who’s ever played it will remember Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith, Red XIII and, of course, Sephiroth as much as they would remember characters from a beloved novel. The same attachment is there. The same emotions are experienced at their fate. I guess that you can see this type of game as a kind of interactive novel, or movie.
And that’s where game developers need writers. Just as underdeveloped characters and clichéd plots will fail to satisfy readers, and make them stay clear of any novels by the same author, so they will fail to satisfy gamers. If you’re going to invest a lot of time and effort into something, it’s got to be worth your while. It’s got to be a good experience.
As with novels, you can create worlds. You can allow your imagination to run free. Of course, the gamer has to understand your world, just as readers do when they find themselves in a new environment. There has to be some kind of logic to it – a way for people to figure out how everything works, and why. Providing a sense of history to the place can be helpful.
And as with novels, it’s good to avoid blatant stereotypes. You don’t want to tell a story that makes people feel like they’ve been there and done that too many times already. You don’t want to offer them one-dimensional characters. It’s never easy to balance a comforting sense of familiarity with the new and interesting, but that is what we writers try to do with every piece that we create – we tread that fine line between potential alienation and staying true to our vision.
Research, as always, is key. What is out there? What responses do other games receive? What do you enjoy, and what do you dislike? Why? How do you feel that you can do better?
Who is your audience? There are many different types of games out there, attracting different types of gamers. Some enjoy fast-paced stories whilst others are happiest when they can roam around your world for hours on end, taking in the scenery, the feel of the place... they don’t need constant action.
Just as many readers enjoy a happy ending, or at least an ending that makes sense, so do gamers enjoy a sense of completion and – depending on the game – a sense of victory. If you would like to try writing for games, this is something to keep in mind.
What makes for a fulfilling ending to a game? It depends on the game, of course, but generally, in Action/Adventure, the Big Bad will have to be overcome, a big battle will have to be fought... good, through the player, will have to overcome evil. That may not be too original in itself, but it’s a common human need. And, as human needs go, it’s not such a bad one.
I wish you an excellent week filled with inspiration!
Kit of House Lannister
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Some contests that might inspire you:
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The Action/Adventure Newsletter Team welcomes any and all questions, suggestions, thoughts and feedback, so please don't hesitate to write in! 
Wishing you a week filled with inspiration,
The Action/Adventure Newsletter Team
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Action/Adventure: May 03, 2017 Issue [#8266]
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