Writer's Guild of America recognizes game writing, announces award

19 Comments by Scott Jon Siegel Oct 4th 2007 3:30AM
Filed under: Culture, Business

Video game writing is a mixed bag, running the gamut from the thoughtful story and dialogue of Bioshock to "wizard needs food badly." Still, no form of writing should be without its accolades, and it's encouraging to see the Writer's Guild of America finally calling attention to the often-thankless field of writing for video games.

The Guild's New Media Caucus has officially announced the Video Game Writing Award, which will first be presented in Los Angeles at the Writer's Guild Awards on February 9, 2008. According to GamesIndustry.biz, the award has been introduced to broaden the Guild's repertoire of acknowledged writing fields, as well as promote awareness of game writing as a craft, and hopefully raise the bar on the quality of game writing as well. No words yet on the nominees, but we can probably make a few guesses.

[Via Gay Gamer]

Tags: awards, game-writing, gamewriting, writing

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

heckthor: Oct 4th 2007; 3:44AM

Hopefully after this we wont get any more games with cheesy dialogue... Resident Evil anyone???... That game had the cheesiest dialogue (writing) i have ever heard, just the thought of it right now gave me CHILLS... If any games is nominated for this Bioshock should get, and thank God that these Awards are not Hype-Driven otherwise Halo probably would end up getting it or Gears of War. (I love Gears of War but not the Dialogue)

Rubang B (NDF - Heart): Oct 4th 2007; 4:23AM

LET'S PLAY MONEY MAKING GAME!
IT'S A SECRET TO EVERYBODY!
DODONGO DISLIKES SMOKE!

unrelated...

A WINNER IS YOU!

Donald: Oct 4th 2007; 10:54AM

IT'S DANGEROUS TO GO ALONE. TAKE THIS.

Jack: Oct 4th 2007; 11:06AM

I am error.

ThornedVenom: Oct 4th 2007; 4:30AM

WOOT. But how come game writing gets acknowledged before game music composing?

ill trooper: Oct 4th 2007; 4:39AM

This could prove to be pretty interesting. Like Hecthor pointed out, it might be above the foray of a popularity/sales contest.

I'm not trying to ruffle feathers, but I thought the Halo 3 writing was pretty bad. Really bad, in fact. Any Cortana dialog was embarrassing. Thankfully the gameplay was fantastic; it kept the forgettable dialog easily forgotten.

Chaotic (FDF - Fry): Oct 4th 2007; 5:06AM

The winner is....

Planescape: Torment.

Geist: Oct 4th 2007; 4:52PM

Seconded. Shame they won't look at old games, it's my opinion that Planescape: Torment has the best story and writing of any video game I've ever seen.

Evan: Oct 4th 2007; 8:56AM

I'm suspicious of their motivation, that they want to encourage game studios and writers to go through them, just like television and movies.

skyrous: Oct 4th 2007; 9:23AM

And does this mean that when the writers guild strikes later this year as everyone seems to be predicting will it delay video games just like it's going to delay TV shows?

Jenny Talia: Oct 4th 2007; 1:55PM

I don't think it means game writers go on strike, since they aren't part of the guild, yet. I think it a way for the WGA to bring them in under the next contract after the strike.

blooh (CDF - Ass Ring): Oct 4th 2007; 10:47AM

bioshock vs mass effect

Guybrush Threepwood (Sega Defense Force - Infallibility Ring): Oct 4th 2007; 12:36PM

It's a shame this award wasn't around when Metal Gear Solid 2 was released. That game had better writing than about 95% of all movies ever.

Judging by the first two games in the series, I think Phoenix Wright 3 takes it this year.

Geist: Oct 4th 2007; 4:54PM

METAL GEAR?!

rytoid: Oct 4th 2007; 12:38PM

lol @ "game writing as a craft". The games with the best stories often have little to no writing in them, a la Ico. If Halo 3 wins an award for writing, the prize will have jumped the shark in its first fucking year.

Zach S: Oct 4th 2007; 12:57PM

A) Most game writing, even in good games, really isn't all that good.
B) Bioshock would probably win this, not only for the concept creation, but also for the dialogue itself.

A person: Oct 4th 2007; 1:44PM

Anyone else think that Hotel Dusk deserves this award all over the place?

Korova: Oct 4th 2007; 1:46PM

How about best gaming blog entry award and best gaming blog comment award?

40 Thieves: Oct 5th 2007; 1:19PM

All your base are belong to us!

Take off every zig!

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