Deck 13: Writing for Video Games

Question 1

Listed below is the list of logical sequence of game development steps. Place in proper order.
_____ Postproduction
_____ Prototyping
_____ Full Production
_____ Concept
_____ Preproduction

Answer 1

__5___ Postproduction
__3___ Prototyping
__4___ Full Production
__1___ Concept
__2___ Preproduction

Question 2

A game treatment is the selling and pitching document offered to game developers.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

World Building involves

A) How the game's laws govern the physical and psychic space
B) How the game's society works
C) the game's colors, sounds, and style
D) the game's creatures and how they behave
E) the environment the player experiences while a character inside the game
F) all of the above

Answer 3

F

Question 4

Games are complex with multiple decision points that alter the possible paths through the game.

Question 5

Writing for video games is different because

A) Dialogue throughout the game is minimal
B) A game may only have one character that offers the needed info through many avenues
C) The writer has to develop alternate scenarios that result from player's choice
D) A writer may also be the designer, which can hinder the writing process

Question 6

Explain the chicken and egg situation in the beginning of game development
.

Question 7

Video game developers bid millions for the rights and then spend millions developing the game. In a paragraph, breakdown where the money is spent. (Use the back or another sheet of paper if needed)
.

Question 8

What year(s) did the educational games come out?

A) 1994-1995
B) Late 80s
C) Early 90s
D) 1992-1993

Question 9

A video game has to have all the things that writers are good at creating. What are the three things?

Question 10

Video games now rival __________in terms of______________.

Question 11

Characters in interactive media are developed differently. Explain the differences between characters in interactive media compared to characters developed for TV and movies.

Question 12

What are the types of scriptwriting for games?

Question 13

Writers of video games would seem to be closest in background and talent to ____________ and _________ scriptwriters.

Question 14

Most game ideas are developed from

A) Intellectual property of a nongame source such as a movie or book
B) Brainstorming with game players
C) Dreams and nightmares
D) Both a and b

Question 15

The most demanding form of game writing is narrative design. In a paragraph explain why.

Question 16

Many retail outlets provide video games on their websites, to create a "sticky" experience that keeps the surfers on the site.