Several months ago, I worked on an interesting project for a client looking to break into writing music for the video game industry. As the project progressed, I found myself fascinated with the art of interactive entertainment, and began to take "side notes" on what it takes to write for the gaming industry. I made a host of wonderful contacts and learned a great deal about how tough --- and rewarding -- it can be to become a part of the development of some of the most mainstream and high-tech forms of entertainment today. (One out of every three American households has a video game system and the fastest growing market for video games is in Europe. ) There are also many opportunities for freelancers to "break in" to the gaming industry through offline and "lower-tech" mediums.
Honing Your Skills: What It Takes to Make It
A common misconception about working within the video game industry is that workers are usually young, immature, and inexperienced. While this may have been true in the early days of Nintendo, the technology, interactivity, and the average age of "gamers" (the people that play the games) have matured at an incredible rate. The Playstation 2 has a host of games that are rated "M" for mature; the target demographic for these games are men -- and women -- over the age of 17. As gamers age, the complexity of both the plot and the theatric elements tend to resemble short skits along the lines of "Godfather," leaving the days of Super Mario Brothers long lost in the dust.
One skill that is crucial, besides writing ability, to success in the game industry is passion. If you don't enjoy games or are unfamiliar with the latest technology, then you'll find the gaming world unfriendly. If you want to learn more about video games, buy or rent a console and a few game magazines. Don't try to break into this industry if you're simply looking for work; most video game writers take the jobs , first and foremost, because they enjoy the work. A beginner's pay is, at best, enough to pay some bills. The "real money" comes with success and hard work , i.e. LATER!
Fantasy writers, science fiction writers, and scriptwriters all have an advantage in the gaming industry. Writers play many different roles in video game development, including:
Plot, Setting, and Character Development: Writers typically write the setting, character sketches, and general plot based on the game developer's idea. Many science fiction and fantasy writers have found success in video game development because of their ability to create new and complex worlds. Every word in the development of games should be chosen carefully and specifically. In-depth description is crucial for game designers -- writers need to be able to describe every element to allow the graphic designers be able to portray them accurately. In addition, the game manual should be able to guide the reader through the "How -to's" as well as the plot. The manual typically is created by the initial development writer.
Storyboards and Scripts: Depending on the game type, most have "cinematic" sequences that move the game along as the player progresses. ?A typical storyboard includes a rough sketch of each screen or level (done by the graphics department).?. (How will they look, act, move, and sound?? What, if any, interaction will each character have with other characters in the world?)?A brief explanation of every action should appear on each panel of the storyboard.
If this all sounds like Greek to you, you can find out more about the video game-making process at: mysmys@comcast.net
