Writing For Games

                                                                                 

As I embark on a new phase in my school career, I have become afraid. The feeling of the "Unknown" has made me skeptical as to what comes next! I am four classes away from receiving my Master's Degree in Creative Writing. The next class on the list is WRITING FOR GAMES! Now, I must say that I like to play games, but i'm not a "gamer". Sure, it's a fun way to kill time and they come in many different genres.  If you were born or alive during the 80's especially 1984, that's when the great gaming device called the Nintendo was invented. I was born in 84, but I was about seven years old when I was introduced to Duck Hunt, Jaws, and Super Mario Bros.  The feeling that I felt playing the game was so unreal. I realized how addicting it was. I was able to be in another world that was my very own when I played the game.  Then Nintendo graduated to Super Nintendo, Sega, Playstation 1,2, and 3, Xbox, Xbox 360, Kinect, Wii, Wii U, and many hand held games like Nintendo DS. I will have to say that after Sega I was non existent to the gaming world until the Wii entered my life. It was SO different then the usual joy stick game that I played in front of my tv with my big bird chair when I was seven years old. But times have TRULY changed because now there are not many games that are that fun anymore. They now consist of shooting, being made from films, fighting in a war, and killing Zombies. Yea, talk about a big change in the game! Games have evolved from doing things as a game and acting them out in real life, especially with the violence and war games. It's hard to decipher what's a game and what's real life.  Let's not talk about arcade games!! Who remembers Pac Man, Tetris, and Ms. Pac Man? Classics, right? My brother B and I used to always play and I could never beat him!  In my opinion games aren't what they used to be. But in this class I'm going to design a game that is fun and will be epic! Who knows, you may even get a chance to buy it one day. I knew that this class was coming up so I bought a game that I used to love to play when I was kid. My favorite game was the orginal Super Mario Bros. I played this game every day until I was able to save the princess. When I was kid, I loved the competition that the game provided for me. Everytime I would die where i ran into a fish while swimming or unable to beat bowser I had to keep trying. When i would win a board the feeling of victory consoled me. Now that it's fifteen years later and I'm playing the same game but on a WII console instead of the Nintendo, I'm not so good. I keep dying, and can't get past the third level. But it's funny, I remember all the tricks that I learned when I played as child by myself and with my cousins. When i would play with my family I really tried to win all the boards so no one else could have a turn. But evenutally I would die. Playing the game when I was a kid up until now I still am able to feel that happy emotion and giddiness that over whelms me. I still enjoy playing and i'm now really going to try and beat bowser so that I can know I still have it after all these years! 


Books that I recommend: 


The Ultimate Guide to Video Game Writing and Design by Flint Dillie and John Zuur PLatten 


Writing For Animation, Comics and Games by Christy Marx


Until next time Writers, Write on! 

Krystol