World Building on Forspoken, out now!

Forspoken, the long-awaited action role-playing game developed by Luminous Productions and published by Square Enix, finally hit the shelves on January 24th, 2023 for PlayStation 5. I am proud to have participated in an early worldbuilding phase of the project, contributing to the creation of the fantastical realm of Athia. I collaborated with a host of amazing writers from TV, games, and publishing. The actual writing team, including Gary Whitta, Amy Hennig, Allison Rymer, and Todd Stashwick, wrote the game itself.

Players take on the role of Frey Holland, a young woman transported from New York City to the tyrannical land of Athia. Equipped with magical powers, players must navigate the open-world and find a way back home. The game features a variety of enemies and bosses to battle, as well as the ability to upgrade equipment and craft new items.

As a PlayStation 5 console exclusive for two years, Forspoken offers players the opportunity to delve into a fully-realized world. It was a privilege to work alongside such a talented team, and I look forward to seeing players’ reactions as they explore the world we envisioned.

Horizon Forbidden West launches today!

HORIZON FORBIDDEN WEST launches today! Years in the making, the sequel to the acclaimed HORIZON ZERO DAWN proves to be, well, equally acclaimed. I had the privilege of writing for both games, and I’m looking forward to playing the latest installment put together by the awesome team over at Guerrilla. Although I contributed less to the actual game this time around (see: pandemic and comics), I’m no less proud to have been involved in such an awesome undertaking. This is what AAA can do!

“Sometimes you just have to sit back and think about what it took to make a videogame and quietly marvel at that. Horizon Forbidden West is a game that invites that sort of quiet awe. Like, Guerrilla games has 360 employees apparently. Obviously many more people will have contributed to this project than those 360. But let’s just say it’s like 1000 right. I still can’t understand how you align the work of 1000 people to produce something like this. … I don’t know man. I legit don’t know. It’s always humbling to play through games like this. It makes you realize what a remarkable accomplishment video games can be. So yeah, Horizon Forbidden West, it’s one for the books.” pulled from https://youtu.be/xdFGdR28Gp8

Continue Aloy’s adventure into HORIZON FORBIDDEN WEST on PS4 and PS5 starting today!

Writing on DAYS GONE

DAYS GONE, the PS4 exclusive survival horror game, came out last month. I had the opportunity to write some early content for this game, set in the exquisite mountains, high desert, and forests of Oregon. The people of Bend Studios did an amazing job on this game. I spent about three months up there and even enjoyed riding around on a bike in the Cascade mountains. Spoiler: It’s more fun in-game, partially because IRL I felt like I was going to fall off, and also because it was cold!

If you’re interested in environmental storytelling, immersive ambient conversations, and a cult at the end of the world, check out DAYS GONE. Also, if you like killing zombie-like freakers while riding a bike like a boss, check it all the way out!

 

Writing for games and breaking in at Long Beach Comic Con

If you are interested in writing for games, or how to break into writing, Long Beach Comic Con had the panels for you this month.

For the “Writing for Video Games: the Real Behind the Virtual” panel, I joined Tony Bedard (Agents of Mayhem), Jon Callan (Survios), Shawn Kittelsen (Injustice 2), and John Nee (Cryptozoic) to discuss the trials and tribulations of writing games, and how it differs from other media. You can check out a short write-up here.

“Writing for Video Games” panel at Long Beach Comic-Con

Afterwards, I joined Brandon Easton (Agent Carter) and Geoffrey Thorne (Librarians) on “The Writer’s Journey: Breaking in and Managing a Career in Hollywood.” Brandon puts on this panel at Comic-con, Wondercon, and LBCC, so you know it’s bound to be good. He gave people good advice on best books to read, including WRITING THE TV DRAMA, and WRITERS ON COMICS SCRIPTWRITING. I may have to check those out myself.

“The Writer’s Journey” panel at Long Beach Comic-con

Did you get a chance to attend either panel? If you did, drop a comment and share the best thing you learned!

Update: San Diego Comic-con panels, streaming and signing!

More panels! A signing! If you’re going to Comic-con — and even if you’re not — you have more chances to learn about writing, hear news from Comic-con, and pick up a kewl comic. Here’s what I’ll be doing:

Comic-con HQ Streaming Panel
Thursday, July 21st, 3-4pm
Log on to Comic-con HQ (free) and watch a panel of industry pros, including me, discuss the latest news coming out of Comic-con!

Writing for the Computer Gaming Industry
Friday, July 22nd, 5-6pm, Room 9
Add this panel to your schedule, or check out more deets here.

Signing Crystal Cadets!
Sunday, July 24th, 11am-noon, Lion Forge booth 2300
I’ll be live in person signing promotional materials for the Crystal Cadets graphic novel (hopefully they can get the second printing in time). Rumor has it I’ll be joined by the artist, Katie O’Neill. Fingers crossed!

Come on down and say hi, or catch me streaming on the interwebs!

Writing Great Video Games with Great Video Game Writers — at Comikaze

Comikaze is back at the LA Convention Center this weekend! If you want to learn about writing great video games, come on down for a panel with some awesome video game writers, and I’m not just talking about me 😉  The panel title is more than a prescription for creating great games — we’ll be discussing our own narrative toolbox. Join me, Chris Avellone, Haris Orkin, and Karen Strassman this Saturday to learn it all! Or as much as we can get through in an hour!

WRITING GREAT VIDEO GAMES with GREAT VIDEO GAME WRITERS
Saturday, October 31, 2015
2:30pm
Room: 518
The co-authors of SLAY THE DRAGON: WRITING GREAT VIDEO GAMES moderate a panel on video game writing with some of the best video game writers working today. Learn what goes into creating stories for games; what tricks and tools are in the video game writers’ toolbox. Hear how these game writers broke into a business and the need now for more narrative designers in this every growing world. Guests include: Anne Toole, The Witcher, Escape Dead Island;
 Haris Orkin, Dying Light, Call of Juarez;
 Karen Strassman, Til Morning’s Light, StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm;
 Chris Avellone, Pillars of Eternity, Fallout: New Vegas.

See you on Saturday at: