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]
Reader Comments (19)
Posted: Oct 4th 2007 3:44AM (Unverified) said
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)
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Posted: Oct 4th 2007 4:23AM (Unverified) said
LET'S PLAY MONEY MAKING GAME!
IT'S A SECRET TO EVERYBODY!
DODONGO DISLIKES SMOKE!
unrelated...
A WINNER IS YOU!
Reply
IT'S A SECRET TO EVERYBODY!
DODONGO DISLIKES SMOKE!
unrelated...
A WINNER IS YOU!
Posted: Oct 4th 2007 4:30AM ThornedVenom said
WOOT. But how come game writing gets acknowledged before game music composing?
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Posted: Oct 4th 2007 4:39AM hey buddy said
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.
Reply
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.
Posted: Oct 4th 2007 9:23AM (Unverified) said
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?
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Posted: Oct 4th 2007 1:55PM (Unverified) said
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.
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Posted: Oct 4th 2007 12:36PM (Unverified) said
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.
Reply
Judging by the first two games in the series, I think Phoenix Wright 3 takes it this year.
Posted: Oct 4th 2007 12:38PM (Unverified) said
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.
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Posted: Oct 4th 2007 1:44PM (Unverified) said
Anyone else think that Hotel Dusk deserves this award all over the place?
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Posted: Oct 4th 2007 1:46PM Korova Pamplona said
How about best gaming blog entry award and best gaming blog comment award?
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Posted: Oct 5th 2007 1:19PM (Unverified) said
All your base are belong to us!
Take off every zig!
Reply
Take off every zig!
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