Kotaku: game writing

Tokyo Drift Writer Signs On For Wheel Of Time Games

Mike Fahey — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 09:40:00 MDT

Hollywood screenwriter Chris Morgan has signed on with Red Eagle Games as the story director for games based on Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time novel series.

Having written The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Chris Morgan is no stranger to wheels, and as the screenplay writer for Wanted, he has a fair understanding of time as well, so I'm going to go ahead and declare him the perfect person to pen games based on the beloved fantasy series. Besides, he's a massive fan!

"As a massive fan of The Wheel of Time series, and a lifelong gamer, I jumped at the chance to be part of the Red Eagle Games team," Morgan said. "The world that Robert Jordan created is so rich, the characters and storylines so varied and inventive, that I feel like a kid in a candy store. It's really a dream opportunity for me."

Along with this new gig, Morgan is also working on the big-screen adaptation of Gears of War, which is almost exactly the same thing as The Wheel of Time, only completely different.

Behind the WGA Nominees: Where Were Portal, BioShock?

Leigh Alexander — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:00:00 MDT

Though Portal and BioShock were largely the critical favorites among last year's crop of titles, earning numerous industry awards apiece, the Writer's Guild of America decided to bestow its newly-created Videogame Writing Award on Dead Head Fred. Nothing against that title, but many game fans were surprised that many other more obvious candidates didn't even make the list of nominees.

At 1UP, Lara Crigger shared the general puzzlement:

The list shocked gamers — not so much for what it included, but what it left out. Sure, The Witcher and World in Conflict were written well enough, and The Simpsons Game certainly had its fair share of good jokes. But how did Crash of the Titans — the 14th Crash Bandicoot game — and PSP no-name Dead Head Fred end up on the list when Portal and BioShock, two of the best-written games ever to hit PCs, didn't?

So what was the reasoning behind the awards?

The logic behind the list, explains Jacobs, is that writers had to be members of the WGA's New Media Caucus to be nominated. But few writers in the industry currently belong to the WGA, much less the Caucus.

Oh, eligibility. That makes sense. Do you think game writers will be rushing to join the association's Caucus in droves?

Has Game Writing Finally Comes Of Age? [1UP]

Video Game Writers Recognized

Mike Fahey — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:20:35 MDT

With video games becoming more and more a part of American life every day, the Writer's Guild of America has finally decided to recognize achievement within the field of video game writing with the creation of a Video Game Writing award. It's part of the guild's New Media Caucus, which seeks to bring writers outside of traditional fields into the organization.

"Writers are finally being recognized and valued in the video game industry. Both artistically and financially, video games matter - and video game writers matter to the WGA," commented WGAW New Media Caucus member Jay Lender.

Of course after the first year, award nominations have to be produced under WGA jurisdiction, which means membership fees and the like, but since the award will first be presented at the 2008 Writer's Guild Awards in February, any video game writing is currently eligible. I've personally played through some amazing stories over the years, so it is great to see the people behind the stories getting some recognition.

Writers Guild creates videogame writing award [GamesIndustry.biz]

Video Game Style Guide

Kim Phu — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 13:40:00 MDT

The Video Game Style Guide is actually a new book of "guidelines" for writing about video games, not the standard for graphics on any given game like you may have thought. Some of the big names in the community have gotten together and written themselves a little bible on how to appropriately talk shop if your shop is gaming.

Running to more than 100 pages, the book includes rules for usage, a guide to game criticism and historical timelines, plus advice from the International Game Journalists Association. It has been written by veteran journalists David Thomas, Kyle Orland and Scott Steinberg.

"OMG, Kim, you should totally get that". Yes. Ha ha. My sides are splitting. Well, it's available for free to all members of the game industry, whether or not you are a journalist, right here. I already got one, not to worry. Kim Phu

Pioneering Book The Videogame Style Guide and Reference Manual Ships, Writes New Chapter on Game Journalism

Gold Standard for Game Journalism FREE to Working Press and Industry Pros at www.GameStyleGuide.com

"A necessary part of moving game journalism, and games, to the next level."
- Dean Takahashi, Author, The Xbox 360 Uncloaked

Atlanta - (May 30, 2007) - In a groundbreaking moment for game journalism, P3: Power Play Publishing today announced the availability of The Videogame Style Guide and Reference Manual ($14.95) to industry professionals.

The first volume to definitively catalogue the breathtaking multibillion-dollar game industry from A to Z, the guide brings a new gold standard for writers, reporters and others working in today's most exciting entertainment biz. Critics from leading publications ranging from Playboy to Kotaku are already hailing the manuscript as "excellent," "long overdue" and "an essential read for journalists of any level."

Fitting neatly between The AP Stylebook and Wired Style, the book - penned by internationally-acclaimed writers David Thomas, Kyle Orland and Scott Steinberg - is a must-have for working professionals and aspiring authors alike. Featuring hundreds of rules for grammar, spelling, usage, capitalization and abbreviation, plus proven tips and guidelines for producing polished, professional prose about the world's hottest interactive industry, the guide offers veteran and amateur scribes alike everything they need to get started, or just step up their game.

For more info, see: www.gamestyleguide.com

The guide will be FREE for a limited time to all members of the press, developers, publishers and other game industry professionals. Sporting over 100 pages jam-packed with official International Game Journalists Association (IGJA) guidelines and formally endorsed by Games Press, the ultimate resource for game journalists, the book also boasts a foreword by Dan "Shoe" Hsu, editor-in-chief of Electronic Gaming Monthly.

Features include:

CLEAR RULES FOR USAGE AND STANDARDS
HUNDREDS OF IN-DEPTH ENTRIES
NOTABLE NAMES, GAMES AND COMPANIES
COMPLETE GUIDE TO GAME CRITICISM
HISTORICAL TIMELINES

"The Videogame Style Guide and Reference Manual brings long-awaited clarity to the amazing, fast-paced world of electronic entertainment," said co-author David Thomas. "From enthusiasts to editors, developers to publishers and even software retailers, armed with the information found within, we've all finally got the tools required to start speaking in a language everyone can understand."

About the IGJA

The International Game Journalists Association provides community resources, professional services and ongoing education to all members of the media who cover videogames. With the goal of improving the quality and professionalism of game journalism around the globe, the IGJA supports a variety of initiatives from hands-on training to formal events, social gatherings and roundtable discussions designed to help its members, and the journalistic community at large. The organization also provides sourcing services for media outlets seeking experts in the field of game journalism.

For more info see: www.igja.org

About the authors

David Thomas is a 20-year newspaper veteran and educator specializing in arts and technology criticism. For the past decade, he's covered games for The Denver Post. The founder of the IGJA, his gaming column is syndicated through King Features. He also teaches the history of digital media, critical videogame theory and other gaming/media-related classes for the University of Colorado.

Kyle Orland first started covering games when he founded fansite Super Mario Bros. HQ in 1997. Since then, he's written for numerous publications including Electronic Gaming Monthly, GameSpot, The Escapist, Next Generation and Joystiq.

Scott Steinberg is the author of Videogame Marketing and PR, and managing director of game industry advisory Embassy Multimedia Consultants. He's also gaming's most prolific penman, having covered the topic for 300+ outlets from CNN to the LA/NY Times, Playboy, Rolling Stone, and TV Guide.