Video Game Script Writing – How It’s Done

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  • September 9, 2023
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  • 10 min read

Writing

Video game script writing is a fun and lucrative way to make money. And it can be an exciting process, too! However, it’s important to know what you’re doing if you want your script-writing project to be successful.

In this article, the Ghostwriting Founder experts will help you understand the steps of writing a video game script from start to finish. So, if you want to write a fantastic script, this article is for you!

Step 1: Identify your video game script writing project

The first step in creating a video game script is to identify what type of game you want to write for and its other characteristics. Following are some of the things that you might want to consider before starting your project.

Genre:

This refers to which type of story or genre you are writing for. For example, it’s best to choose a more peaceful setting if your game will be an adventure title with puzzle elements and no fighting (like The Legend of Zelda). For insights on crafting adventure stories. You can choose something like Hyrule rather than Westeros from Game of Thrones or Gotham City from Batman games. It is because these worlds have more violence than what would fit into an adventure title like Zelda.

Setting:

This refers to the world in which your game takes place. For example, If your game is set in Hyrule from The Legend of Zelda series, you should write a script that sticks with the style of those games. For guidance on scriptwriting, check out 8 Tips for Writing Short Film Scripts That Connect. (more passive). It would not suit if you write something like Dark Souls, where you must kill everything that moves and avoid dying yourself.

Characters:

This refers to the characters you create in the game. If your game has an ensemble cast of characters, then it’s best if each one has a unique personality and backstory. Learn more about character creation in Writing for Different Age Groups. This way, they wouldn’t feel generic or like carbon copies of each other.

Step 2: Define the overall story and gameplay elements

The next step in video game script writing is to decide on the general direction of your project. You should ask yourself:

What is the story I want to tell?

How much time do I have for this project?

Are there any limitations on what characters or settings can be used (for example, does your game need to occur in an urban setting)?

These questions are critical for defining how much time you will spend designing each element. It will also help you determine whether or not certain elements need further development at all.

Asking these questions early on will help ensure that every aspect of your game aligns with its core concept so that nothing feels out of place once completed!

Once you have a general idea of what the story and gameplay will be like, it’s time to start creating the world of your video game.

Step 3: Write a treatment of your game script writing project

Before you start writing your script, writing a treatment is important. A treatment is a detailed summary of the story and gameplay elements that will be included in your video game script writing project. A good treatment should be between 1-3 pages long and it should include:

  • The main characters and their motivations
  • The main plot points and how they will be resolved
  • Any major gameplay elements (such as puzzles or combat)
  • The tone and mood of the story
  • Any major themes you want to explore
  • The setting of your video game script writing project

Step 4: Research the market for your video game script-writing project

Now that you’ve written your script, it’s time to research the market for your script-writing project. You might find Tips on Writing Blog Posts That Rank on Google helpful for understanding market trends. This is an important step in the process because it will give you a better idea of what type of script would be successful in this industry.

First, check out the competition and see what is popular and not popular with gamers nowadays. Look at reviews and figure out if any trends are happening with video games recently or not so recently (like five years ago).

If you notice a trend, try to see if there is an opportunity for you to write something that will appeal to this group. If not, look at other genres of video games and see if any trends are happening in those areas as well.

For example, if you notice that sports titles seem to be doing well in the gaming industry these days, then it may be worth your time to look into writing one of those instead.

Step 5: Create an outline for your video game script writing project

Now, we’ll be creating an outline for your scriptwriting project. An outline is a blueprint for your game, and it can help you write the first draft by providing an overview of all its major plot points and character arcs. For more on crafting compelling narratives, see Exploring the Depths of Literary Fiction.

Remember that this document should be detailed enough to help with writing but flexible enough to allow changes during production. It should also be easy to update as necessary (for example, if there’s no time left in development). Finally, creating an outline must look good, too: make sure any formatting issues are resolved before moving on!

The first thing to do is to decide if your game is linear or non-linear. This will affect the structure of your outline and how you write it if your game has a linear plot (that is, there’s only one way for players to progress through the story). In that case, you should create separate scenes for each chapter in which they must make choices that affect their progress.

Step 6: Write the first draft for your video game script writing project

The next step is to write a first draft of your video game script writing project.

This is the most important step because this is where all of your ideas come together and become something tangible. Don’t worry about grammar or spelling, formatting and layout issues, or anything else. Just focus on telling the story as clearly and concisely as possible. If something doesn’t make sense during this phase, go back to Step 1 and figure out why before moving forward again!

When you have a first draft, go back and read over it. Ensure your story makes sense and flows well from beginning to end. If there are any major holes or problems, go back to Step 1 again and see if you can fix them before moving forward!

Step 7: Revise and edit your video game script writing project

Once your script writing project is complete, it’s time to revise and edit. This is where you’ll make sure the story is clear and concise. Consider utilizing Book Editing Services for a professional touch. You will also ensure that the characters are believable and relatable and the dialogue natural and engaging.

There are many ways to approach this phase of the process–You can use software like Final Draft or Celtx. For more comprehensive writing solutions, explore Content Creation Services. You can also hire an editor or do it yourself! How you revise your work will depend on your available time.

Once you have your final draft, it’s time to send it off to the publisher or client. You can do this by emailing them the script, attaching a copy of the document as an attachment (PDF), or uploading it directly into their submission system.

If you’ve hired a professional editor, they will likely walk you through this process. If not, ask someone who has done this before for advice on how to get your game script into shape for publication!

Step 8a (for a single-player RPG): Write dialogue for characters, NPCs and monsters — once, at least!

Once you’ve written the first draft of your script, it’s time to start thinking about what kind of dialogue you want each character to have. The most important thing here is that the words sound natural and make sense in context. If they don’t, it won’t be an enjoyable experience for anyone reading them (or playing through them).

When writing dialogue for characters, NPCs and monsters:

Use free-form writing style instead of formal prose or screenplay format — this will help keep things sounding as natural as possible!

Make sure each line has a purpose; think about what motivates each character before writing their lines to make sense of their overall goals/motivations, etc.

Keep things short and sweet. Try not to have any lines longer than 3-4 sentences.

Step 8b (for a multiplayer FPS): Write dialogue for characters, NPCs and monsters — again? Maybe even three or four times!

You’ve written the dialogue for your characters, NPCs and monsters. Now it’s time to do it again. And again. Maybe even three or four times!

You may wonder why you must write dialogue multiple times when it sounds good on paper (or in your head). It’s because many factors go into ensuring your writing is fun for players to read — including ensuring it fits both the character and situation.

Reading aloud is one of the best ways to get a feel for your dialogue. If you’re looking for professional assistance, consider Script Writing Services to refine your game’s script. This will help you catch mistakes that might not be obvious when you’re only looking at the words on the page (like missing punctuation, spelling errors, etc.) and make sure that it sounds natural and flows well.

Essential Elements and Detailed Insights

Step Key Considerations Tips and Advice
Step 1: Identify Your Project – Game genre
– Setting
– Characters
– Choose settings and genres that align with your game’s style.
– Develop unique characters.
Step 2: Define Story and Gameplay – Storyline
– Project timeline
– Character and setting limitations
– Align all game elements with the core concept.
– Consider market trends.
Step 3: Write a Treatment – Main characters and motivations
– Plot points
– Gameplay elements
– Keep the treatment concise (1-3 pages).
– Include tone, mood, and themes.
Step 4: Research the Market – Competition analysis
– Trend identification
– Explore different genres for opportunities.
– Stay updated with market trends.
Step 5: Create an Outline – Game structure (linear or non-linear)
– Major plot points and character arcs
– Ensure flexibility for changes.
– Keep the outline detailed yet concise.
Step 6: Write the First Draft – Story clarity
– Character development
– Focus on storytelling.
– Don’t worry about minor errors in the first draft.
Step 7: Revise and Edit – Story coherence
– Character believability
– Dialogue naturalness
– Consider professional editing services.
– Use software tools for refinement.
Step 8a/b: Write Dialogue – For single-player RPGs
– For multiplayer FPS
– Ensure dialogue sounds natural.
– Repeat the process for clarity and context.

Conclusion

So, there you have it! The eight steps to writing a video game script. It may seem like a lot of work, but if you follow these guidelines and keep your eye on the prize of creating something amazing, you’ll be well on your way to impacting this industry. Good luck!

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