Just looking for some advice... I will be coming up on my last year of college soon. I study Ancient Greece and Rome, Medieval studies, and some Java and 3d modeling. My forte is in writing and music production(don't think that matters). I have noticed the huge growth rate of the game industry, and I have played computer games since I was a kid. I have beaten almost every game I have played, evaluated them etc... Anyway, eventually I want to write games (story, dialogue etc...). Does anyone have advice for what I should do after I graduate? I have been looking into Game Design schools, but I don't know if this is a good idea. I have also thought about making my idea a novel. Is it possible to work in game developement without being an expert programmer or artist?

It's absolutely possible. Knowing some programming will help a lot with designing games that are practical to build and produce, but many industry designers do their jobs without "doing" programming or art.

I would suggest sticking to writing, especially if you enjoy it - games writing is definitely a good field. Doing some writing, and having some titles under your belt, will open up doors to design jobs over time, if that's what you'd like to move towards long-term (going by the thread title here). Music is also a viable option, although chances are your career would remain in music.


If you choose to go with writing, write a lot. Look for outlets for your writing. If possible, hook up with an indie team and write for them; a portfolio of game projects will go a long way towards getting you a slot in the industry. Novels are good, too, but aim for diversity as much as you can. The more media you can write for, the better; diversity is important, especially since games (as an interactive medium) have unique writing demands.

Once you've got some good work to your name, start submitting it to studios. Writing jobs aren't advertised often, by comparison to technical and graphical jobs, but there are openings out there. (Here's one just as an example.)


Best of luck!

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Original post by dfalcone Anyway, eventually I want to write games (story, dialogue etc...). Does anyone have advice for what I should do after I graduate? I have been looking into Game Design schools, but I don't know if this is a good idea. I have also thought about making my idea a novel. Is it possible to work in game developement without being an expert programmer or artist?

Yes, it is possible. However, if you want to focus on the more linear elements of game design, it is probably better for you to look into the linear arts first. Writing a novel, writing short stories, writing screenplays even -- these will help you get a firm grasp of the _craft_ of writing. Once you have proven your craftsmanship, then you will have a portfolio of your work to show potential employers.

If you get published as a novelist or have a screenplay produced as a film, even better. You may even prefer to keep on doing that.

However, don't walk away from a good game design course. While a good course is hard to find (and it really helps if you have an analytical mind to begin with), there's a hell of a lot more to games than snappy dialogue and cutscenes. Understanding the how and the why behind successful games is of great importance. Study it. You can always write stories in your free time.

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Games don't _tell_ stories. They _enable_ stories. This means many of the same skills a writer needs to write, say, a good Hollywood film can be applied to games, but the application is one step removed from screenwriting. You don't get to dictate the story: that's the _player's_ role. It's the writer's job to give the player _interesting roles and choices_, with which he can then create his _own_ tales.

It's a tricky mental leap to make and I've seen very few people able to do this consciously. Characterisation is still important in games, as are immersive settings and interesting situations. The problem is that you can't say "A loves B". You have to somehow get the player to realise "A loves B" without wresting the controls away from the player to show them a cut-scene.

This isn't to say that games can't have linear elements at all. Some players will be quite happy to play a game that is little more than a 1980s "Fighting Fantasy" book with moving pictures. However, this kind of game has historically had limited appeal. LucasArts' SCUMM-based games such as "Monkey Island", for instance, were only a few steps removed from the text-only ilk of "Colossal Cave". They had some success in the early '90s, but have long since faded into a tiny niche market no longer capable of supporting many mainstream publishers.

Games are about interaction first and foremost. Novelists and screenwriters can bring something to the table, but it is better if they are familiar with game design first.

Or you can break into the industry throu that music production you mentioned.

http://www.bioware.com/bioware_info/jobs/positions/writer.html

http://www.bethsoft.com/links/job_052605_questdsgnr.html

Thank you for the replies everyone. I feel encouraged to keep at it after reading what you all have said. I didn't mean to say linear writing either. A novel would be forced to be linear, but I am more interested in RPG and open ended play.

I still have a year to decide what to do next. I suppose working on mods/independent teams would be the best experience.

Thanks again,
DF