The games industry has long held an
aspiration to keep pace with film, moving beyond an emphasis on graphic realism
to developing more compelling storylines and characters to underpin the action,
so I read with interest Are Computer Games a Literary Genre? at the Guardian Mortarboard blog.
As with film, a bad script will let the production down. And games companies
are now increasingly recruiting writers with film and TV backgrounds. But
is it literature? In his book Writing for Video Games, games producer, designer and writer Steve Ince explains
that a writer does not usually come up with the original idea - initial
concepts are typically the domain of the games designer. The writer is brought
in to work with the team and game play is all. The writer needs to ensure
that story objectives match game play objectives.
So arguably with less control over the story, character, action and even genre
- how creative is it?
Very, according to Ince.
The challenges of non-linear storytelling and the opportunity to innovate
within a medium that 'devours ground-breaking ideas' is something to be
relished. 'Many facets of traditional storytelling: plot, character
development, conflict etc transfer over to new media, but need to be looked at
with fresh eyes.'
Whatever it is, it is certainly a lucrative and growing new market for writers
who are up to the challenge.
Jenny Ridout is the Publisher of Methuen Drama, Media and Reference.
Find out more:
Writing for Video Games, Steve Ince
IDGA, Games Writers Special Interest
Group