ABSTRACT

Narrative designers and game designers are critical to the development of digital and analog games. This book provides a detailed look at the work writers and designers perform every day on game development projects. It includes practical advice on how to break into the game industry as a writer or game designer. Readers can use the templates and detailed instructions provided here to create lively portfolios that will help open the door to jobs in the game industry.

 

Key features of this book:

• An intimate look at the workings of AAA game development from someone who has spent decades embedded on teams at well-known companies.

• An insider’s look at the game industry, including advice on breaking into the industry.

• Detailed instructions for creating a portfolio to demonstrate narrative design and game design skills to prospective employers.

• Lessons and exercises to help students develop narrative design and game design skills.

• A how-to guide for college instructors teaching classes in narrative design and game design. Detailed assignments and syllabi are included.

 

Author Bio:

Michael Breault is a 35-year industry veteran who has contributed his writing and game design skills to over 130 published games. He currently teaches narrative design and game design courses at Webster University in St. Louis. The courses he creates and teaches are based on the tasks narrative designers and game designers undertake every day while developing games. These classes provide his students with a real-world view of the work they will be doing as writers and designers in the game industry.

chapter Chapter 1|7 pages

What Is Narrative Design?

chapter Chapter 2|7 pages

What Is Game Design?

chapter Chapter 3|8 pages

Story in Games

chapter Chapter 4|6 pages

Game Development as a Craft

chapter Chapter 5|10 pages

The Idea is Everything… and Nothing

chapter Chapter 6|6 pages

The Player’s the Thing

chapter Chapter 7|9 pages

The Team’s the Thing, Too

chapter Chapter 8|5 pages

Game Genres and Their Players

chapter Chapter 9|11 pages

The Game Development Process

chapter Chapter 10|6 pages

Writing and Design for Analog Games

chapter Chapter 11|8 pages

Writing Advice

chapter Chapter 12|10 pages

Teaching Narrative Design and Game Design

chapter Chapter 13|6 pages

Career Opportunities in the Game Industry