Creative Writing for Games

Jorge Miguel Ferrao Palinhos, lecturer, School of Public Management, Communication and Tourism, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Braganza, Portugal

Course Type: Design and Technology-focused

Keywords: Game design, writing, creative writing, fiction, Non-linearity.

University Department Level Credits Length Medium
Instituto Politécnico de Bragança School of Public Management, Communication and Tourism Bachelor 6.0 162 hours

Course Description

The syllabus contents of this course are adapted to the needs and objectives of the Design for Digital Games course. The curricular unit of Creative Writing for Games promotes the development of writing skills for digital games, including narrative, game world, dialogues, cutscenes, genres, etc.

Weekly Outline

  1. Historical and cultural perspectives on Creative Writing:
    • Creativity;
    • Writing, reading and oral expression.
  2. Introduction to the fundamentals of language.
  3. Plasticity of the written language:
    • Techniques of description;
    • Voice;
    • Text structure;
    • Figures of speech.
  4. Introduction to the concept of fiction.
  5. Short story.
  6. Graphic novel.
  7. Crime novel.
  8. Non-linearity and games:
    • Story vs. game;
    • Story immersion techniques;
  9. Dialogues:
    • Structure and development of dialogues;
    • The role of dialogue in the game;
  10. Games based on written components:
    • Paper & pencil RPGs;
    • Text-adventure games
  11. Critical analysis of texts.

Course Objectives ​

  • Display creative and technical skills for writing;
  • Apply theoretical and practical tools in the areas of description, narration and poetics;
  • Display specific skills for writing digital games, namely writing: game concepts; in-game and cut-scene dialogues; games based on written components;
  • Apply critical and analytical skills when reading.

Reading

  • Carmelo, L. (2005). Manual de escrita criativa. Mem-Martins: Europa-América. [ISBN: 9721055816]
  • Despain, W. (2008). Professional Techniques for Videogame Writing. Wellesley, MA: A. K. Peters. [ISBN: 156881416X]
  • Dille, F. & Platten, J. Z. (2008). The Ultimate Guide to Video Game Writing and Design. New York: Lone Eagle Publishing. [ISBN: 9781580650663]
  • Lebowitz, J. & Klug, C. (2011). Interactive Storytelling for Video Games. Burlington, MA & Oxford: Focal Press. [ISBN: 0240817176]
  • Mancelos, J. (2012). Manual de Escrita Criativa. Lisboa: Edições Colibri. [ISBN: 9896892296]

Viewings

  • Gatiss, M., Moffat, S. (2010) Sherlock
  • Payne, A. (2004) Sideways
  • Tarantino, Q. (1992) Reservoir Dogs. 

IDN Artifacts

  • Burns, M. S. (n/d) The Writer will do something – https://mrwasteland.itch.io/twwds
  • Gilbert, Ron (2009)The Secret of Monkey Island
  • Hines, A. Krankel S. (2016) Oxenfree
  • Kojima, H. (2008) Metal Gear Solid 4

IDE and IDN Authoring Tools

  • Twine – https://www.twinery.org
  • YoumeScript – https://youmescript.com

Major Assignments (being assignments whose value is of 25% or more)

Practical Work – 25% (Writing and rewriting of a narrative.)

  • Platform: Written assignment
  • Purpose: Develop writing skills in linear storytelling
  • Requirements:
    • Project Length: 2000 words
    • Project Size: 
    • Project Aesthetics: A short-story
    • Coding Proficiency: 
  • Evaluation: 
    • Interactivity: 
    • Story and narrative: 100%
    • Production values: 

Portfolio – 25% (Works presented and developed throughout the semester.)

  • Platform: Several short written assignments
  • Purpose: Develop writing practice with feedback
  • Requirements:
    • Project Length: weekly
    • Project Size: 
    • Project Aesthetics: several written exercises, done in class
    • Coding Proficiency: 
  • Evaluation: 
    • Interactivity: 
    • Story and narrative: 100%
    • Production values:

Projects – 25% (Writing and developing a pen and paper RPG.)

  • Platform: Written assignment
  • Purpose: Develop skills in writing non-linear interactive stories
  • Requirements:
    • Project Length: 6 pages
    • Project Size: 
    • Project Aesthetics: Writing a Tabletop RPG adventure
    • Coding Proficiency: 
  • Evaluation: 
    • Interactivity: 30%%
    • Story and narrative: 50% 
    • Production values: 20%

Projects – 20% (Writing and developing a text-adventure, using specific software.)

  • Platform: Twine
  • Purpose: Develop interactive storytelling skills in a digital environment
  • Requirements:
    • Project Length: 50 panels at least
    • Project Size: 
    • Project Aesthetics: Write an interactive text adventure
    • Coding Proficiency: Small
  • Evaluation: 
    • Interactivity: 40%
    • Story and narrative: 40% 
    • Production values: 20%

Course Best Practices

  • Prerequisites: Be fluent in Portuguese or English.
  • Contact Hours: 
  • – Content exposition, with the aid of different texts. 
    • Questioning, in order to develop critical skills. 
    • Active method, when the student solves exercises and develops projects. 
  • Non-contact Hours: 
    • Active method, when the student completes creative writing assignments and develops projects.