Who make the story of a game?

[unundindur]

I was wondering who makes the story of sizable games. Is it an author, the head developer or do everyone just come together and draw down the story as a team.

 

Storytelling is an art, and an art I love.

 

Thank you.

[@\NightandtheShape/@]

Depends who the dev's want to write the story, some companies will higher a movie script writer, the main problem is writing a story for a computer game isn't the same as writing for a movie.

 

As for Obsidian... Who knows... I think MCA does alot of writing but I wouldn't say I'm too sure on that, though Torment was great.

[Darkwaters]

God bless that Chris Avellone guy!

[@\NightandtheShape/@]

God bless that Chris Avellone guy! 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Don't curse the poor bugger by blessing him with that perverse idea LOL.

[Phosphor]

Sometimes games have a writer dedicated to particular areas, and they write the story for their areas, making sure it fits in the theme and arc of the main storyline. One writer is not always responsible for the entire game.

It probably depends on what resources are available in terms of money and staff. Each lead designer probably has his own preferred way of working, as well.

[Faceless One]

I just hope that whoever is writing up NWN2 does a bette job than the original team. On that note, I too am curious if Wizards has any final say on the matter, since it's their product (DnD) and ultimately will reflect on them.

 

I remember seeing a "Baldur's Gate" novel after the game became a major hit. And I do think they included the "Bhaal" saga on the official FR timeline. That's no small accomplishment for a game.

 

Now, Neverwinter Nights' poorly developed main plot probably won't make it to the "novels" or the offical FR chronicles.

 

I would love to see a return to "Obsidian origins" with NWN2. I remember how the Golden Box series were all based on the great books TSR published back in the day. I would love to see an adaptation of a book, or a recounting of a famous official "novel" through the eyes of a different character. I would like to see Obsidian game writers use the material in Forgotten Realms so that we, as community developers, don't have to cringe at how game developers try to reinvent the wheel, introduce new characters, or twist completely organizations and characters that are already known in the setting.

 

I wish the best to whoever is dealing with writing the story of NWN2. Hopefully you won't pick where they left off in terms of "story". Both the expansions were weak too. I found myself playing the "side quests" and refraining from following the major plot, or otherwise distracted with the multitude of mini quests.

 

Follow ONE story. Follow the "official" occurrences in the FR setting. If there's need for side-quests (and there are) make them relevant, yet generic so all characters can experience them. And make them unique with scrips, so that the game experience changes if you play with different races, classes and alignments. The game will last longer if you can enjoy playing it again.

 

You are carrying the brand "Forgotten Realms", it should feel like you are in the setting. NWN made me feel like I was in a game that was based on FR, but did little to make me "feel" in the novels and campaign settings. I wish that to change in future games. I want to witness in-game what I read in the campaign setting. I want to meet the legendary characters, fight the epic battles, slay the greatest foes. Or at least try.

 

That's just an opinion of a community developer who had his time playing the original game and decided to create a PW where you could really feel like you were in the Realms.

[TentamusDarkblade]

well, writing on a game depends on the type of game. A FPS or an RTS would most likely not even have a dedicated writer. A MMP would most likely have 2-3 dedicated writers, depending on how story driven it was. Same would go for RPGs i'd wager. I've only seen the staffing for a FPS and an MMP, so those are the only one's i can really comment on.

 

I can say though that the parts you like of the story will generally be an amalgamation of a couple different writers. On the MMP i'm working on we have a couple writers. One is our lead writer, who is creating the arching storyline and the mini-story arches. We have our Content writer, who is filling in NPC dialogues for our mission specific NPCs and plot specific NPCs. Then we have the rest of the design staff, who all pitch in some writing. Like, the guy who creates the abilities systems also is doing the in-game descriptions and the text strings when the abilities are used. The mission designers are writing the mission descriptions, plotting the missions (using the details provided by the Lead story writer), and adding in random NPC comments and dialogues. Same would go for the item designers as well.

 

So, the writing in a game comes from just about everyone involved with the design. The most story intensive games, such as RPGs or MMPs will have a dedicated Story writer, but most other games will just rely on the design staff to put the details in under the guidance of the creative director/lead designer.

[Phosphor]

I'm sure NWN2 will have a much better story than the original; Obsidian have some veteran developers and writers in their ranks.

As for WOTC, they do have a pretty substantial say in the content, rules adaptations and so forth. BIS had a lot of problems with WOTC and IWD2.

[@\NightandtheShape/@]

I'm sure NWN2 will have a much better story than the original; Obsidian have some veteran developers and writers in their ranks.

As for WOTC, they do have a pretty substantial say in the content, rules adaptations and so forth. BIS had a lot of problems with WOTC and IWD2.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

WOTC is just a problem, it's kinda like saying here go buy something to a kid then giving them a penny. Naturally I mean this in terms of creativity, but I'm sure you folks know what I am poking at. *Poke* *Poke*.

[Crusader]

O.o im interested in Game Writing. i have the basics of a story lay out already. Fun to write stories preferably sci fi

[olop the dwarf]

God bless that Chris Avellone guy! 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Chris Avellone is by far my absolute favorite game designer/writer of all time. I will buy every game he ever creates and I hope some day to be as good as just a strand of hair on his head.

 

Other than that, "writing" of the script in the game industry really depends on the game and the developer. The initial seed is probably going to come from the guy with the money and end up in some vision doc. Probably a page or two. From there, an RPG may be scripted out in length, or again, may be summerized by area and then broken up into groups of writers.

 

In general, it's a very living document during the lifetime of the project. Much more similar to television sitcom writing than film writing, if you are familiar with those types of professional writing. In general, it's going to be written, put in place, tweaked to work, retweaked as various elements come together and then rewritten. And after that, someone is going to look at it, say it's crap and have some other guy rewrite it.

 

At least that's what I've heard.

[hillbillyLovechild]

the Undead lords would be honored to write a side quest.

 

Our guild is based on forgotten realms.

 

We have some great stories on our story boards.

 

And we are one of the oldest online guilds around (1993-94)

 

www.undeadlords.net