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Three Lessons for Narrative Game Design
Students
by Dan Cox on 04/15/19 10:31:00 am
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The following blog post, unless otherwise noted, was written by a member of Gamasutra’s community.
The thoughts and opinions expressed are those of the writer and not Gamasutra or its parent company.
AUDIO
DESIGN
I used to live in the middle of nowhere. Now, this isn’t technically true. We had all the expectations of
traditional suburban life. The various bigbox stores. A downtown. Even some local universities. But as it
PRODUCTION
came to game development, we didn’t have much. Sure, there were some makerspaces that would hold
events maybe once a year or have invited speakers talk about software development. But for anyone who
BIZ/MARKETING
leaned more into independent development or, gods forbid, wanted to work on or talk about narrative
games, we really were the middle of nowhere.
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The times I made the drive to the local game jam space (just two hours away!), I felt like I was finding
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people like me. Even though it was a long drive there, it was worth it to spend some time talking about
April 21, 2019 the games we were playing, what new tools we were using or learning, and what projects we were
working on at the time. We could share our struggles and celebrate our small victories together. It was
Insomniac Games like finally being around people who understood me.
Sr. Engine Programmer
Insomniac Games For about a year, I also used to make a fourhour drive to talk about interactive fiction once a month.
Mid to Senior Engine There was a group who had been meeting for years and, while surprised I would make the drive for it
Programmer (Tools)
every time I did, were welcoming to me. We’d play a new game every month and talk about it. During the
Remedy Entertainment meeting, which could last for up to three hours, we’d talk through the monthly game’s story, any novel
Software Developer for
mechanics, and then settle on what new things or projects we had heard about. We shared things that
DevOps
excited us about interactive fiction.
Paradox Tectonic
Senior PC/Console
As I’ve gotten old, I don’t always get to have those experiences anymore. I’ve had to move a few times,
Graphics Programmer
I’ve gotten older, and life too frequently keeps me busy or tired. But the lessons I learned in those groups
Embodied Inc. are still important, and they are ones I try to impart to others starting with independent development and
Junior Scripter
interested in making narrative games.
Disbelief
Junior Programmer,
Cambridge, MA
Join a community.
Basebuilding puzzler Make things.
"Puzzle Pelago" has...
HEROES & GENERALS Academics write. Developers code. People make. “What do you like to do?” is how I start conversations
WWII with people who ask me for advice on what to do next in their life. It might be that academia is not the
NOW ON DISCORD best for people. Or that it could give them the structure they need to grow to their potential. The point
Theatre Tales – a fairy always, regardless of place or situation, is to find at least one thing that you are passionate about. Maybe
tale game for children... it is writing about games. Maybe it is making them. I try to warn some students that not everyone can get
Ritual of the Moon Now paid for passions, but that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t find passion in their work or hobbies. The
Out Under the Ice only way, I’ve told game design students, to get better at game design is to do it. Professional writers,
Water... I’ve repeated to technical writing students over and over again, write every day. They practice and slowly
'Days Gone' Original improve their own work. You improve through doing.
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EditorInChief:
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Kris Graft
Burbank CA or Burbank CA or
Editor:
Durham NC, Durham NC,
Alex Wawro
California, United California, United Remedy
Contributors: States States Entertainment —
Chris Kerr Espoo, Finland
[04.19.19] [04.19.19]
Alissa McAloon Paradox Tectonic —
Sr. Engine Programmer Mid to Senior Engine [04.19.19]
Emma Kidwell Berkeley, California,
Bryant Francis Programmer (Tools) Software Developer for
United States
Katherine Cross DevOps
[04.18.19]
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