How does one go about writing a story for a game?

[RoboGuy9000 103]

Say you want to make an RPG, one on par with Final Fantasy VI (III for SNES), how does one usually go about writing a story for a game, do they actually write is as a story or jot notes? How do they fit in the dialogue?

[Mephala 2,633]

I've poured a lot of time into my series (like, 800 hours or so) but I just went and wrote it. XD

For the idea I took notes, and I had ideas written and planned out, and then I just did it. I'm still doing heavy editing, but basically you just gotta plan it out and then go for it. Don't be afraid to make heavy revisions

Edited July 3, 2012 by PinkieDaShy

[RoboGuy9000 103]

So write it as if it was a novel? That's actually a good idea considering if this game I have brewing in my head fails I can turn it into a fanfiction.

[Mephala 2,633]

So write it as if it was a novel? That's actually a good idea considering if this game I have brewing in my head fails I can turn it into a fanfiction.

 

Er, I just wrote it like a script. But I had everything mapped out ahead of time.

[Espionage 113]

Games are just like writing novels if you're writing the story.

 

1. Make a tone. Is your game going to be tragic, comedic, deep, light, etc.?

 

2. Make your characters. At least the main characters.

 

3. Come up with a basic construct. When I'm writing a fanfic, essay, novel, or whatever, I always make a basic construct. Every time you have some free time, just come up with a part of the story. I wait weeks and months before writing a fanfic, just coming up with a construct. Maybe a few lines of text.

 

4. Details! Certain details like what event goes where and some details. You should add foreshadowing and other, more in depth literary devices here.

[WingMcCallister 368]

LOL I actually just did this a few months ago. I wrote the dialogue in a movie script format:

 

Char A: blah blah more talk

Char B: lalallala

 

Then I included about 3 pages per level detailing the environment and the overall purpose of the level. Games are interesting because it's not just a story you have to tell. You also have to weave the game play into the story you're trying to tell. The long story short of it is that I had to create the entire universe given the boundaries that came from the dev team.

[I Have Left MLP Forums 100]

Think out all your ideas, like, REALLY DEEPLY, write them down and draw pictures of them.

Do not write it like a novel. Write the story in sections and marry them together in your head.

If you write it like a novel, you'll skip and miss things and have an unsatisfying game. =/