Sun, Jun 28, 2009 | 12:09 BST
Rhianna Pratchett feels gaming plots have become more important, but need less testosterone
Overlord and Mirror’s Edge writer Rhianna Pratchett has told That VideoGame Blog that development studios are starting to take the plot of the games more seriously than in the past.
“Writers and narrative designers are still relatively new positions on development teams.” she said. “This means there’s still a level of uncertainty about how best to use and integrate them. I know from talking to lots of fine people in my field that the writing process can often be done too late, without proper access to the team and under extreme pressure.
“Thankfully, things are starting to get a little better and more writers are being contacted in the first few months of a project’s lifespan, rather than the last few months … A little more variation in concept and content would be nice, as well, which is something writers and narrative designers can help with.”
She does, however feel that the “tuff-guy” syndrome is alive and well in the industry when it comes to gaming plots, and it needs to dump this sort of Hollywood mentality.
“A little more variation in concept and content would be nice, as well, which is something writers and narrative designers can help with,” she added. “Although they have their place and god knows I’ve enjoyed them on occasion, I could do with a little less ‘Gruff guy with super powers/large weapon kicks assss!’ tales.
“The medium has huge potential, so I’m not sure why there’s this constant desire to keep rooting around in Hollywood’s action-movie scrapheap.”
Via D’toid.
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Posted in: Development, Stuff
Tags: game storyline, game writing, gaming plots, rhianna pratchett
54 comments
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#51
David
28/06/09, 8:13 pm
I find it funny how everyone reacts to Shatners post’s. He might be a dick but dear god the rest of you just can’t seem to cope with him having a difference in opinion.
Not that I’m defending anyone I just find it funny 1 post from Shatner turns into 60+ comments trying to prove him wrong.
Funny but dear god tiring.
I agree with the news article I would definitely welcome less testosterone in games.
#52
Esha
29/06/09, 3:15 am
Has plot ever been out of the eye of gaming? I think what Rhianna might mean is that plots have become slightly more important to mainstream action videogames.
I remember I was playing interactive fiction on the ZX-81, more of an interactive story than a game, and an environment where plot was paramount, and when interactive fiction evolves into adventure games, plot and well-written dialogue continued to be important, from Loom, through the ages of LucasArts, Sierra, including gems like the Tex Murphy games, right the way up to more recent entries like The Longest Journey and A Moment of Silence.
This is also true of computer roleplaying games, as Ultima VII had some of the finest dialogue I’ve ever come across in a game, and it still has some of the finest dialogue out here, t hat hasn’t changed. Then we have games like Baldur’s Gate, Icewind Dale, Planescape Torment, through Anachronox, Neverwinter Nights, and up to more recent entries like Fallout 3.
I believe plot has always been as important as it is today, and it’s always been a paramount element of gaming, but I think it’s fair to say that mainstream gamers may be looking for more plot in their games today (perhaps because of all the cross-breeding of genres, which has allowed the stories of adventure games to intersect with action games and so on), is that a fair observation?
If Rhianna had been born a decade ago, and her plot writing skills were up to stuff (I’m not expressing an opinion either way here, so please don’t try to implicate one, that’s not what this post is about), then she would have easily found a place in LucasArts, Sierra, or working on one of the better written roleplaying games back then, she just would’ve been writing for a different audience than what she writes for today.
#53
Esha
29/06/09, 3:17 am
Oops, I was distracted for a moment there and made a misnomer which I can’t edit.
So I’ll just do this…
s/a decade ago/a decade earlier/
A simple slip, that one.
Oh, and post 69, that’s pretty fun!
#54
scratchy69
29/06/09, 12:39 pm
That photo’s had a fair amount of photoshop work by the looks of it.
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