Writing for Games
Description
Playing games online and off is an incredibly popular pastime and an industry that’s increasing in size all the time. Whether via consoles, computers, mobiles or online, people can’t get enough of gaming as entertainment.
Writing for games is an often-overlooked career path, but it’s a great opportunity for writers who want to flex their creative muscles. It can involve plot development, script-writing, copywriting, dialogue creation, project documentation, humour writing, characterisation and character development and a load of other elements that exercise a writer’s abilities.
But how is writing for games different to other kinds of writing? How do you get into it as a job? What do games developers and designers look for when selecting a writer to collaborate with? At what stage of the process does a writer get involved? What exactly does a games writer do on different types of games? Is it a good way to get into other forms of writing like TV and film (or is it the other way around)?
Come if you want to:
- Write for games
- Find out more about getting into the games industry
- Meet other games writers.
- Feed your passion for games
Who's Speaking?
Katie Ellwood, Games Writer, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe www.scee.net
Katie Ellwood started her career in game writing in 2000 when she co-wrote The Getaway screenplay for Sony's Team Soho. She joined Sony Computer Entertainment as script consultant and assistant producer in 2001. Two Getaway games later she became the narrative producer and writer for the Getaway franchise, a role ranging from creating narrative concepts, to interactive story design and heading up writing teams. Her production role spanned the creative design, cinematic teams and external acting & directing talent. In 2006 Katie made a shift into film writing and directing - she is currently working on two feature film projects. Last year Katie set up her own company Ellwood Entertainment which continues to work on a number of next generation game titles with an associate team of UK-based and US-based writers.
Adrian Hon, Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer, Six to Start www.sixtostart.com
Adrian is one of the world’s leading alternate reality game designers, having been influential in the genre since its birth. Previously, Adrian was Director of Play at Mind Candy, where he designed and produced Perplex City, the world’s first commercially successful ARG. Some of the venues at which Adrian has spoken include TED, Google, GDC, Nordic Game and the Montreal Games Summit.
Naomi Alderman, is a novelist, games writer and journalist
Naomi Alderman's first novel Disobedience, published in 2006, won the Orange New Writers Award, the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year award and won her a place among Waterstones 25 Writers for the Future. She was the lead writer on award-winning alternate reality game Perplex City, and wrote the Secret Seventh Story for Penguin's recent We Tell Stories project. Currently finishing her second novel, she writes occasional columns for the Guardian: a recent piece in praise of computer games led one commenter to say "I want to buy her dinner and stand outside her house holding a boombox over my head," but Naomi has yet to see this promise made good.
Steve Ince is a games writer and designer via inceSIGHT www.incesight.co.uk
Steve is an award-nominated writer-designer with twelve years of game development experience. He has played a key role in the success of a number of critically acclaimed games. His various published titles - as well as speculative projects and pitch proposals - ensure that he is fully aware of the rigorous demands that a development schedule makes on all aspects of the creative process. His nomination for Excellence in Writing at the Game Developers Choice Awards 2004 followed three BAFTA nominations received for Broken Sword - The Sleeping Dragon: Best Game Design, Best PC Game and Best Adventure. It was awarded Game of the Year by the UK national newspaper, The Independent.
Katie Ellwood started her career in game writing in 2000 when she co-wrote The Getaway screenplay for Sony's Team Soho. She joined Sony Computer Entertainment as script consultant and assistant producer in 2001. Two Getaway games later she became the narrative producer and writer for the Getaway franchise, a role ranging from creating narrative concepts, to interactive story design and heading up writing teams. Her production role spanned the creative design, cinematic teams and external acting & directing talent. In 2006 Katie made a shift into film writing and directing - she is currently working on two feature film projects. Last year Katie set up her own company Ellwood Entertainment which continues to work on a number of next generation game titles with an associate team of UK-based and US-based writers.
Adrian Hon, Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer, Six to Start www.sixtostart.com
Adrian is one of the world’s leading alternate reality game designers, having been influential in the genre since its birth. Previously, Adrian was Director of Play at Mind Candy, where he designed and produced Perplex City, the world’s first commercially successful ARG. Some of the venues at which Adrian has spoken include TED, Google, GDC, Nordic Game and the Montreal Games Summit.
Naomi Alderman, is a novelist, games writer and journalist
Naomi Alderman's first novel Disobedience, published in 2006, won the Orange New Writers Award, the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year award and won her a place among Waterstones 25 Writers for the Future. She was the lead writer on award-winning alternate reality game Perplex City, and wrote the Secret Seventh Story for Penguin's recent We Tell Stories project. Currently finishing her second novel, she writes occasional columns for the Guardian: a recent piece in praise of computer games led one commenter to say "I want to buy her dinner and stand outside her house holding a boombox over my head," but Naomi has yet to see this promise made good.
Steve Ince is a games writer and designer via inceSIGHT www.incesight.co.uk
Steve is an award-nominated writer-designer with twelve years of game development experience. He has played a key role in the success of a number of critically acclaimed games. His various published titles - as well as speculative projects and pitch proposals - ensure that he is fully aware of the rigorous demands that a development schedule makes on all aspects of the creative process. His nomination for Excellence in Writing at the Game Developers Choice Awards 2004 followed three BAFTA nominations received for Broken Sword - The Sleeping Dragon: Best Game Design, Best PC Game and Best Adventure. It was awarded Game of the Year by the UK national newspaper, The Independent.
