Let the Games Begin: Storytelling Extended

Something surprising has been happening in screenwriting courses around the world. Though they remain popular as ever, very few students are writing traditional screenplays. Instead, they’re writing for web, for interactives – and very often, for video games.

The core elements of storytelling are there in spades; games demand tightly constructed worlds rich with theme, character, plot, dialogue and implication. And for gamers, whose actions influence the storylines and outcomes of these worlds, connection to story is key. The expectation for most modern games is that the narrative will be appropriately complex; in some cases, they’re backed up by literally thousands of pages of lore.

In this talk, we look at the ways writers can seize on the creative and collaborative potential of games. Can great games rival great works of literature?

Presented in partnership with Victorian College of the Arts.