Writer: The RedHeaded Stepchild of the Videogame World

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Writer The Red-Headed Stepchild of the
Videogame World

• Jess Lebow
• Content Director
• Flying Lab Software

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Goal

• To expand the boundaries
• To help us be perceived as more valuable to
  them

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Parts of Content Development

• Art
• Design
• Programming
• Sound
• Story/World

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What is a Videogame Writer?

• A storyteller
• A designer
• The Word Guru
• A marketer
• An ambassador

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Do You Feel Like This?
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What a Videogame Writer Isnt

• A walking dictionary or library
• An unlimited resource
• An unnecessary expense
• The most technical person in the company

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High Tech
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What does the Writer do?

• Creates a story outline
• Writes in-game text, voiceover scripts, ad copy,
  articles, etc
• Sets a tone for the world
• Acts as an ambassador
• Helps shape the marketing message

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Storyteller

• Entertainer
• Grasp of pacing, conflict, characters, and
  resolution
• 2 Stories (internal and external)
• Communicator

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Designer

• Story can drive mechanics
• Story should work with systems
• Story can influence look and feel
• Hybrid role

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The Word Guru

• Pictures Artist Words Writer
• Editor
• Character names
• Hint to programmers We dont care what you name
  your files

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Marketer

• Name of the game
• Advertising copy
• Catch phrases
• Online and print articles
• Interviews
• Spokesperson
• Resource

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Ambassador

• Internal story
• External story
• Share your vision
• Pull together the pieces
• Communicate between the teams

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How to Break In
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Challenges

• Communicating with the tech-heavy videogame world
• Maintaining a balance between ownership of your
  story and collaboration
• Isolation inside ones own company

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Challenges, Continued

• Youre the first one in, the last one out
• Sometimes you dont receive the credit you deserve

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What is the Value of Your Role?

• As an entertainer
• As a storyteller
• As an ambassador
• As a producer/visionary
• As a stabilizing force

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Looking Back