Striking writers could migrate to videogames
by Justin McElroy 
{ Nov 27th 2007 at 1:25AM }
Variety says that some of those scribes could make a little side money on video games, if the situation is right. With around $50,000 for six month's work, games may not be for every union member forced to sit out of Hollywood work. But if a few talented writers make the leap to games, TV and film's loss could very well be our gain.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MegatonPunchy @ Nov 27th 2007 11:52AM
Master of Unlocking, lol.
WiNG @ Nov 27th 2007 12:01PM
Goddammit plz don't add Michael Scott to the Metroid storyline.
Samus: Looks like I'll need to use my screw attack.
Michael: That's what she said.
mikeypop @ Nov 27th 2007 12:15PM
Because what video games really need is more crappy dialog, cliched situations and celebrity guest spots
Deozaan @ Nov 27th 2007 12:26PM
I don't like Hollywood in the movies and TV, why would I want it in the games?
killploki @ Nov 27th 2007 12:31PM
maybe its because i just woke up, or maybe i am a little stupid, but can someone explain the joke in the picture to me.....
Arlen @ Nov 27th 2007 1:08PM
It comes from the original Resident Evil. You get a lock pick from some dude, and he says (in what has become an infamous example of terrible videogame dialog), "Jill, here's a lockpick. It might be handy if you, the master of unlocking, take it with you."
killploki @ Nov 27th 2007 1:16PM
ok, good. im not stupid, just never played the R.E games.....
foreplayer action @ Nov 27th 2007 1:11PM
Seriously, I've never found "master of unlocking" to be unsuitable. Besides the mentioned "chief" and "boss", what better way of describing an elite lock-picker is there? "Elite Lock-Picker" would be stupid cuz its got a hyphen in between Lock and Picker, which would have probably lead to the "Elite ___-Picker" meme we would all know by now.
Catdroid @ Nov 27th 2007 1:42PM
I thought the line (and many others, such as Barry's "b-luh-ood!") was hilarious. However it's also completely unnecessary. Give Jill a lockpick. Say, "Jill, here's a lockpick. It'll do you more good than me." The player will get the point that Jill can pick a lock.
But honestly, the game is better for the horrible dialog/ voice-acting.
Arlen @ Nov 27th 2007 1:38PM
How about:
"Jill, take this lockpick; it might come in handy. I know you're a wizard with these things."
Kael @ Nov 27th 2007 1:58PM
Ah, don't they love being part of a union that ends up putting them all out of jobs, disrupting their lives and forcing them to take employment anywhere they can find it, even if it pays less than the job they were happy to have? Hey, if you're part of the strike willingly because you feel the executives were ripping you off, that's your gamble to make. I just don't see the positive side of the guild, of which membership is required, legally forcing every one of its members out of work. Seems like the polar opposite of what guilds were set up to do.
On the bright side, professional writers are definitely better at writing than most level designers. A bunch of unemployed Hollywood writers in desperate need of money sounds like a boon for video games if the strike lasts long enough to take advantage of.
ogvor @ Nov 27th 2007 3:27PM
50,000$ for 6 months work? 100,000$ A year!?!? I can see maybe a game like Mass Effect, with tens of thousands of lines of dialogue needing to be written that would justify that salary, but for Call of Duty 4? Even Assassins Creed, which actually had an original story for a change, all could easily have been written in a week. Maybe I'll try getting into the business...