ABSTRACT
This is the third edition of Character Development and Storytelling for Games, a standard work in the field that brings all of the teaching from the first two books up to date and tackles the new challenges of today. Professional game writer and designer Lee Sheldon combines his experience and expertise in this updated edition. New examples, new game types, and new challenges throughout the text highlight the fundamentals of character writing and storytelling.
But this book is not just a box of techniques for writers of video games. It is an exploration of the roots of character development and storytelling that readers can trace from Homer to Chaucer to Cervantes to Dickens and even Mozart. Many contemporary writers also contribute insights from books, plays, television, films, and, yes, games.
Sheldon and his contributors emphasize the importance of creative instinct and listening to the inner voice that guides successful game writers and designers. Join him on his quest to instruct, inform, and maybe even inspire your next great game.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
chapter |4 pages
Introduction
part I|28 pages
Background
chapter Chapter 1|7 pages
Equations
chapter Chapter 2|18 pages
The Story Remains the Same
part II|98 pages
Creating Characters
chapter Chapter 3|22 pages
Respecting Characters
chapter Chapter 4|22 pages
Character Roles
chapter Chapter 5|21 pages
Character Traits
chapter Chapter 6|30 pages
Character Encounters
part III|160 pages
Telling the Story
chapter Chapter 7|23 pages
Once Upon a Time
chapter Chapter 8|18 pages
Respecting Story
chapter Chapter 9|18 pages
Bringing the Story to Life
chapter Chapter 11|12 pages
Story Anatomy
chapter Chapter 12|20 pages
Editing
chapter Chapter 13|21 pages
The Roots of a New Storytelling
chapter Chapter 14|26 pages
Modular Storytelling
part IV|91 pages
Games People Play Today
chapter Chapter 15|16 pages
Game Types
chapter Chapter 16|25 pages
Game Genres
chapter Chapter 17|22 pages
Storytelling in Virtual Worlds
chapter Chapter 18|16 pages
Storytelling in Small Games
chapter Chapter 19|9 pages
Storytelling in Applied Games
part V|6 pages
Reflections