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Imagine that the gaming magazine Edge was being published back in 1588, and ran an advertisement for scriptwriters on behalf of Ye Olde Core Designes.
A certain 24-year-old William Shakespeare may have replied, thereby totally changing the face of gaming as we know it. Instead of Summoner, you'd have Othello, instead of Onimusha you'd have Henry V, instead of Sim City 3000 you'd have Merchant of Venice and so on. These games would have compelling storylines, humour, drama, and worldwide audiences.
So I was wondering when mainstream authors such as Wilbur Smith, Terry Pratchett, James Herbert, Stephen King et. al. would get around to dabbling in game scripts. Famous musicians are already involved in gaming in a big way, especially with the announcement from EA that they are starting their own record label specifically to enhance the gaming experience. Famous actors have already dabbled in games, and sports stars are part of the norm nowadays.
But script writers? The only game that comes to note is The Fellowship of the Ring, but that's kind of off topic as it was penned by JRR Tolkien who didn't have 'direct' participation in the production of the game itself. There's a few other examples lurking about in games collections, DeathTrap Dungeon for the PSX had involvement from Ian Livingstone who penned the Fighting Fantasy book series, then there's Tom Clancy, famous for the Rainbow Six adaptations of his books, but did he have 'direct' involvement in the games from the start of the project or did he just have to sign a licensing agreement?
At present, I think most developers draw inspiration for their storylines from films they have seen or books they have read, and their inhouse teams of scriptwriters do a great job more often than not. But just how good would a storyline be if it was penned from the off by a master writer specifically for a game version instead of a book version?
I don't think it's as easy as just walking up to someone like John Grisham and saying: "Write us a storyline for a game". But it's something I'd like to see more of.
Perhaps the market isn't ready for these kinds of games. The reason I suggest this is that Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, was an immensely storydriven game, however it managed to retain some gameplay inbetween the large cinematic chunks where the player was left just watching the screen, joypad dangling limply between itchy trigger fingers. There has to be a balance, because some people just want to play, others just want to be immersed, and caution has to be taken so that your 'game' doesn't turn into an interactive movie where there isn't much involvement.
But I think that mainstream writers have a lot to contribute to gaming, they just haven't been approached in the right way as of yet. But when they are involved more the games we will be playing will have something extra added to them which can only go to enhance the gaming experience further.
A certain 24-year-old William Shakespeare may have replied, thereby totally changing the face of gaming as we know it. Instead of Summoner, you'd have Othello, instead of Onimusha you'd have Henry V, instead of Sim City 3000 you'd have Merchant of Venice and so on. These games would have compelling storylines, humour, drama, and worldwide audiences.
So I was wondering when mainstream authors such as Wilbur Smith, Terry Pratchett, James Herbert, Stephen King et. al. would get around to dabbling in game scripts. Famous musicians are already involved in gaming in a big way, especially with the announcement from EA that they are starting their own record label specifically to enhance the gaming experience. Famous actors have already dabbled in games, and sports stars are part of the norm nowadays.
But script writers? The only game that comes to note is The Fellowship of the Ring, but that's kind of off topic as it was penned by JRR Tolkien who didn't have 'direct' participation in the production of the game itself. There's a few other examples lurking about in games collections, DeathTrap Dungeon for the PSX had involvement from Ian Livingstone who penned the Fighting Fantasy book series, then there's Tom Clancy, famous for the Rainbow Six adaptations of his books, but did he have 'direct' involvement in the games from the start of the project or did he just have to sign a licensing agreement?
At present, I think most developers draw inspiration for their storylines from films they have seen or books they have read, and their inhouse teams of scriptwriters do a great job more often than not. But just how good would a storyline be if it was penned from the off by a master writer specifically for a game version instead of a book version?
I don't think it's as easy as just walking up to someone like John Grisham and saying: "Write us a storyline for a game". But it's something I'd like to see more of.
Perhaps the market isn't ready for these kinds of games. The reason I suggest this is that Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, was an immensely storydriven game, however it managed to retain some gameplay inbetween the large cinematic chunks where the player was left just watching the screen, joypad dangling limply between itchy trigger fingers. There has to be a balance, because some people just want to play, others just want to be immersed, and caution has to be taken so that your 'game' doesn't turn into an interactive movie where there isn't much involvement.
But I think that mainstream writers have a lot to contribute to gaming, they just haven't been approached in the right way as of yet. But when they are involved more the games we will be playing will have something extra added to them which can only go to enhance the gaming experience further.
No wonder most of us are conspiracy theorists when we here facts like that!
Well, at least it's confirmed one thing: that Digitiser are Devil Worshippers! :D
2/5 for Crazy Taxi 2 - I've never forgiven 'em. :)
Well, at least it's confirmed one thing: that Digitiser are Devil Worshippers! :D
2/5 for Crazy Taxi 2 - I've never forgiven 'em. :)
Strafex wrote:
> Pillage has been confirmed for the Gamecube, so something must be
> happening about it getting a publisher.
>
> Perhaps Digitisers ravings paid off.
Or perhaps they just paid Digitiser? Zed Two, the publisher and developer of the title, say it should be ready for release end of 2002 on all formats. However they said that back in April this year, things change. The scriptwriter for the game just happens to be a certain Paul Rose, who is a TV scriptwriter and what do you know? He's also a columnist for Digitiser.
Small world, isn't it?
> Pillage has been confirmed for the Gamecube, so something must be
> happening about it getting a publisher.
>
> Perhaps Digitisers ravings paid off.
Or perhaps they just paid Digitiser? Zed Two, the publisher and developer of the title, say it should be ready for release end of 2002 on all formats. However they said that back in April this year, things change. The scriptwriter for the game just happens to be a certain Paul Rose, who is a TV scriptwriter and what do you know? He's also a columnist for Digitiser.
Small world, isn't it?
Pillage has been confirmed for the Gamecube, so something must be happening about it getting a publisher.
Perhaps Digitisers ravings paid off.
Perhaps Digitisers ravings paid off.
Has Pillage got a publisher yet? Last I heard it was struggling. Developers make an original game and publishers don't want to touch it. I fear for the future of gaming.
On the subject of storylines: I'd prefer to have no storyline at all rather than have a tired old "heard it all before" plot. If professional script writers would improve the state of affairs, then bring em in.
On the subject of storylines: I'd prefer to have no storyline at all rather than have a tired old "heard it all before" plot. If professional script writers would improve the state of affairs, then bring em in.
Pillage is meant to have a storyline designed by a script writer.
Apparently, the storyline evolves with the Gameplay.
Should be interesting...
Apparently, the storyline evolves with the Gameplay.
Should be interesting...
If involving well-known writers meant better and more interesting storylines - then fine, but I suspect it would result in more cut-scenes and less gameplay.
For me, MGS2 was over-the-top in the cut-scene and storyline department. The gameplay and the flow of the game was constantly fragmented by the obsession to tell what turned out to be a rather muddled story.
I think immersion comes from intense and involving gameplay, not sitting back "just watching the screen, joypad dangling limply between itchy trigger fingers."
I must say that some games just DO NOT NEED storylines, especially Action games.
Why can't a game just be "a game"?
But instead we have terrible and cliched storylines attached to these Action games which add nothing at all.
I DO like a good storyline, but I don't like it when it takes centre stage (like MGS2) and the gameplay is fragmented.
For me, MGS2 was over-the-top in the cut-scene and storyline department. The gameplay and the flow of the game was constantly fragmented by the obsession to tell what turned out to be a rather muddled story.
I think immersion comes from intense and involving gameplay, not sitting back "just watching the screen, joypad dangling limply between itchy trigger fingers."
I must say that some games just DO NOT NEED storylines, especially Action games.
Why can't a game just be "a game"?
But instead we have terrible and cliched storylines attached to these Action games which add nothing at all.
I DO like a good storyline, but I don't like it when it takes centre stage (like MGS2) and the gameplay is fragmented.
Imagine that the gaming magazine Edge was being published back in 1588, and ran an advertisement for scriptwriters on behalf of Ye Olde Core Designes.
A certain 24-year-old William Shakespeare may have replied, thereby totally changing the face of gaming as we know it. Instead of Summoner, you'd have Othello, instead of Onimusha you'd have Henry V, instead of Sim City 3000 you'd have Merchant of Venice and so on. These games would have compelling storylines, humour, drama, and worldwide audiences.
So I was wondering when mainstream authors such as Wilbur Smith, Terry Pratchett, James Herbert, Stephen King et. al. would get around to dabbling in game scripts. Famous musicians are already involved in gaming in a big way, especially with the announcement from EA that they are starting their own record label specifically to enhance the gaming experience. Famous actors have already dabbled in games, and sports stars are part of the norm nowadays.
But script writers? The only game that comes to note is The Fellowship of the Ring, but that's kind of off topic as it was penned by JRR Tolkien who didn't have 'direct' participation in the production of the game itself. There's a few other examples lurking about in games collections, DeathTrap Dungeon for the PSX had involvement from Ian Livingstone who penned the Fighting Fantasy book series, then there's Tom Clancy, famous for the Rainbow Six adaptations of his books, but did he have 'direct' involvement in the games from the start of the project or did he just have to sign a licensing agreement?
At present, I think most developers draw inspiration for their storylines from films they have seen or books they have read, and their inhouse teams of scriptwriters do a great job more often than not. But just how good would a storyline be if it was penned from the off by a master writer specifically for a game version instead of a book version?
I don't think it's as easy as just walking up to someone like John Grisham and saying: "Write us a storyline for a game". But it's something I'd like to see more of.
Perhaps the market isn't ready for these kinds of games. The reason I suggest this is that Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, was an immensely storydriven game, however it managed to retain some gameplay inbetween the large cinematic chunks where the player was left just watching the screen, joypad dangling limply between itchy trigger fingers. There has to be a balance, because some people just want to play, others just want to be immersed, and caution has to be taken so that your 'game' doesn't turn into an interactive movie where there isn't much involvement.
But I think that mainstream writers have a lot to contribute to gaming, they just haven't been approached in the right way as of yet. But when they are involved more the games we will be playing will have something extra added to them which can only go to enhance the gaming experience further.
A certain 24-year-old William Shakespeare may have replied, thereby totally changing the face of gaming as we know it. Instead of Summoner, you'd have Othello, instead of Onimusha you'd have Henry V, instead of Sim City 3000 you'd have Merchant of Venice and so on. These games would have compelling storylines, humour, drama, and worldwide audiences.
So I was wondering when mainstream authors such as Wilbur Smith, Terry Pratchett, James Herbert, Stephen King et. al. would get around to dabbling in game scripts. Famous musicians are already involved in gaming in a big way, especially with the announcement from EA that they are starting their own record label specifically to enhance the gaming experience. Famous actors have already dabbled in games, and sports stars are part of the norm nowadays.
But script writers? The only game that comes to note is The Fellowship of the Ring, but that's kind of off topic as it was penned by JRR Tolkien who didn't have 'direct' participation in the production of the game itself. There's a few other examples lurking about in games collections, DeathTrap Dungeon for the PSX had involvement from Ian Livingstone who penned the Fighting Fantasy book series, then there's Tom Clancy, famous for the Rainbow Six adaptations of his books, but did he have 'direct' involvement in the games from the start of the project or did he just have to sign a licensing agreement?
At present, I think most developers draw inspiration for their storylines from films they have seen or books they have read, and their inhouse teams of scriptwriters do a great job more often than not. But just how good would a storyline be if it was penned from the off by a master writer specifically for a game version instead of a book version?
I don't think it's as easy as just walking up to someone like John Grisham and saying: "Write us a storyline for a game". But it's something I'd like to see more of.
Perhaps the market isn't ready for these kinds of games. The reason I suggest this is that Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, was an immensely storydriven game, however it managed to retain some gameplay inbetween the large cinematic chunks where the player was left just watching the screen, joypad dangling limply between itchy trigger fingers. There has to be a balance, because some people just want to play, others just want to be immersed, and caution has to be taken so that your 'game' doesn't turn into an interactive movie where there isn't much involvement.
But I think that mainstream writers have a lot to contribute to gaming, they just haven't been approached in the right way as of yet. But when they are involved more the games we will be playing will have something extra added to them which can only go to enhance the gaming experience further.