"Everyone knows why we're here." This is Josh.
April 2, 2015 1:42 PM Subscribe
The Writer Will Do Something is choose-your-own adventure game set in the world of project planning. Stuck in a board meeting regarding the second sequel to the fictional Shattergate series, you will face horrors and insanity that only software development could provide.
TWWDS began from creator Matthew Burns' experiences working on the Call of Duty and Halo franchises. But is the final product itself a game, or an attempted formulation of a content-management? via
TWWDS began from creator Matthew Burns' experiences working on the Call of Duty and Halo franchises. But is the final product itself a game, or an attempted formulation of a content-management? via
I don't think this reflects what software development could provide as much as it reflects what game development is like. I'm in software development, and except for the occasional Project From Hell(TM), I like to think it's a rewarding and enjoyable job experience.
posted by surazal at 2:20 PM on April 2, 2015
posted by surazal at 2:20 PM on April 2, 2015
But is the final product itself a game, or an attempted formulation of a content-management?
It can be both a game and a statement! Dark Souls does something very cool along those lines.
posted by Iridic at 2:28 PM on April 2, 2015 [3 favorites]
It can be both a game and a statement! Dark Souls does something very cool along those lines.
posted by Iridic at 2:28 PM on April 2, 2015 [3 favorites]
Well the fools hired me back for the fourth online installment, so I definitely negotiated a nice fat paycheck for dealing with this insanity this time around. Fuckit, after this meeting I'm gonna take my Ferrari and speed up and down Palos Verdes to San Pedro. At least Josh's wife finally left him so he'll be a little more focused this crunch time. With his alimony payments, I'm probably the highest paid person in this room now. Let's turn those screws - it's time to make someone cry before they step out of this room!
posted by Nanukthedog at 2:57 PM on April 2, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Nanukthedog at 2:57 PM on April 2, 2015 [2 favorites]
Very minimally interactive...
But the writing was good!
posted by demiurge at 3:08 PM on April 2, 2015 [3 favorites]
But the writing was good!
posted by demiurge at 3:08 PM on April 2, 2015 [3 favorites]
You never finished the original ShatterGate and somehow didn’t play ShatterGate Strike: Scoured Lands, even though both games, still glisteningly shrink-wrapped, occupy the same space on your coffee table that they have for the last fourteen months.
It’s not really important how you wound up as the lead writer on ShatterGate. You did.
This was the point I knew I should quit my job and let someone who actually cares about writing for video games have it. But then I had to sit through an entire meeting before I actually could.
posted by mstokes650 at 3:19 PM on April 2, 2015
It’s not really important how you wound up as the lead writer on ShatterGate. You did.
This was the point I knew I should quit my job and let someone who actually cares about writing for video games have it. But then I had to sit through an entire meeting before I actually could.
posted by mstokes650 at 3:19 PM on April 2, 2015
It's cute how they think game developers have a position called writer, describing a person that is fundamentally distinct in their role as compared to the game's design team.
It's doubly cute that they think this imaginary writer person would have a seat at the table in a crisis-management meeting regarding a failing project.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:28 PM on April 2, 2015 [2 favorites]
It's doubly cute that they think this imaginary writer person would have a seat at the table in a crisis-management meeting regarding a failing project.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:28 PM on April 2, 2015 [2 favorites]
I assume this site is supposed to be some sort of avant-garde interactive thing, but if I have to guess if I click here now or wait, I click on the "close window" icon. Less meta, as soon as the "writer" stated he had't even bothered to play the previous games, I realized that despite the attempt to foist a POV on me, I had no sympathy for the narrator, and lost interest.
posted by Blackanvil at 6:05 PM on April 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Blackanvil at 6:05 PM on April 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
If your cursor looks like a little hand, you can click.
posted by RobotHero at 8:27 PM on April 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by RobotHero at 8:27 PM on April 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's cute how they think game developers have a position called writer, describing a person that is fundamentally distinct in their role as compared to the game's design team.
It's doubly cute that they think this imaginary writer person would have a seat at the table in a crisis-management meeting regarding a failing project.
I have a friend in the industry who does something a lot like what the lead character from the game does.
posted by Urtylug at 11:20 PM on April 2, 2015
It's doubly cute that they think this imaginary writer person would have a seat at the table in a crisis-management meeting regarding a failing project.
I have a friend in the industry who does something a lot like what the lead character from the game does.
posted by Urtylug at 11:20 PM on April 2, 2015
they think game developers have a position called writer, describing a person that is fundamentally distinct in their role as compared to the game's design team.
Designated game writers are definitely a thing, though apparently they're rare outside of AAA titles.
Designated game writers are definitely a thing, though apparently they're rare outside of AAA titles.
Consider yourself blessed if you have actually seen a game writer in the wild, for they remain one of those elusive, added-expense luxuries that many game producers -- their eyes always on their margins -- believe they can do without.posted by Iridic at 5:48 AM on April 3, 2015
[...]
However, if some form of narrative happens to play a design-critical role in your proposed game, it is vitally important to treat it exactly as you would any other design element, not as a separate discipline.
I've met two people who have worked as games writers for indie titles.
I expect the role they play, if any, is impacted a lot by the genre of game. I don't think a lot of match-three puzzle games hire writers, for instance. I'll buy it's a plausible scenario for Shattergate: Future Perfect that a writer would be at this meeting, given the references to cut scenes.
posted by RobotHero at 10:06 AM on April 3, 2015
I expect the role they play, if any, is impacted a lot by the genre of game. I don't think a lot of match-three puzzle games hire writers, for instance. I'll buy it's a plausible scenario for Shattergate: Future Perfect that a writer would be at this meeting, given the references to cut scenes.
posted by RobotHero at 10:06 AM on April 3, 2015
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"Praise the sun", you murmur back.
posted by boo_radley at 2:06 PM on April 2, 2015 [1 favorite]