https://www.ivacheung.
com/2018/05/michelle-clough-editing-and-writing-in-the-video-
game-industry-editors-bc-meeting/
(Editors BC meeting)
Michelle Clough has worked in the game industry for seven years as a freelance
writer, editor, narrative designer, localization specialist, and narrative quality-
assurance (QA) playtester.
introduction to the complex and competitive world of writing and editing for video
game studios
Clough contrasted AAA games�big-budget projects produced by major studios with
massive creative and marketing teams and characterized by realistic presentation
and a cinematic story�with independent games produced by smaller teams, which may
be more artistic and experimental or cater to niche audiences. AAA games usually
have a lot of dialogue and action that can require hundreds of thousands of words
to tell a story, but indie projects can still involve quite a bit of writing.
Writing and editing in different game genres
Some �wordy� game genres require more writing than others:
role-playing games: This genre comes out of the Lord of the Rings tradition.
The player takes the place of a hero in an immersive story, where the worlds are
often incredibly detailed.
interaction fiction: Players use text commands to control characters and
interact with their environment.
visual novels: Games of this genre became popular in Japan, and they are heavy
on graphical elements and relatively light on gameplay. Players move the story
forward by clicking on various game elements to make narrative choices.
point-and-click adventures: Players click to pick up objects and interact with
them, sometimes to solve particular puzzles or problems. This older genre is
enjoying a renaissance.
walking simulators: A genre where players use clues from diaries, audio
recordings, and other artifacts to piece together a story.
Other game genres, like sports games and first-person-shooter games, may not
necessarily have a story but must have clear instructions for the player.
