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Peter Boychuk,
Kim Sparks,
and
Andrew Gray
What is it like to work as a video game writer? How do you even apply for game writing jobs? Is it true that you might have to take a writing test?
Read more
What is it like to work as a video game writer? How do you even apply for game writing jobs? Is it true that you might have to take a writing test?
Read more
What is it like to work as a video game writer? How do you even apply for game writing jobs? Is it true that you might have to take a writing test?
This capstone course puts everything you’ve learned in the previous courses together. Each assignment has helped you produce writing samples that are suitable for a portfolio. Now we’ll show what to do with it.
We’ll explore what it takes to get a position as a video game writer or narrative designer, including how to get experience that will make you stand out. We look at what the hiring process is like, what sort of writing tests you may be asked to perform, and how to connect with people in the industry.
Verified learners who complete this course will receive feedback on their portfolio from the instructor. Verified learners will also access additional resources, including game industry interviews, assignments and discussion topics, connecting with a community of other writers and game enthusiasts.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/fxpprb/working
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What's inside
Learning objectives
- What hr departments are looking for
- What to include in a portfolio and resume
- Writing tests in the game industry and what to expect
- Getting experience: making games without knowing how to code
- Contracts, ndas and freelance work
- Volunteering, networking and conferences
- What hr departments are looking for
- What to include in a portfolio and resume
- Writing tests in the game industry and what to expect
- Getting experience: making games without knowing how to code
- Contracts, ndas and freelance work
- Volunteering, networking and conferences
Syllabus
Module 1: Portfolios and Resumes
HR requirements
What to include in your portfolio
Writing a resume
Read more
Syllabus
Module 1: Portfolios and Resumes
HR requirements
What to include in your portfolio
Writing a resume
Read more
Bios and why we need them
Module 2: Getting the Job
Interviews
Different paths to game writing jobs
Writing tests
Module 3: Getting game writing experience
Any experience is good experience
Make a game
Just keep writing
Module 4: You’ve got the job, now what?
Paperwork
NDAs
Freelancing
Module 5: Where to find game writing jobs
Job sites
Volunteering
Networking
Good to know
Good to know
Know what's good ,
what to watch for , and
possible dealbreakers
Takes a creative approach to game writing by focusing on items suitable for a portfolio
Covers what HR departments look for in game writing positions
Develops portfolio and resume writing skills, crucial for applying for game writing positions
Examines writing tests administered in the game industry
Teaches experience-building techniques in game writing for those without coding skills
Advises on industry-standard contracts, NDAs, and freelance work
Save this course
Save Working as a Game Writer to your list so you can find it easily later:
Save
Save
Activities
Be better prepared
before
your course. Deepen your understanding
during
and
after
it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered
in Working as a Game Writer with these
activities:
Organize your course materials
Show steps
Keeping your course materials organized will help you stay on top of your studies and make it easier to review material later.
Show steps
-
Create a system for organizing your notes, assignments, and other materials.
-
Review your materials regularly.
Complete the "Game Writing Crash Course" tutorial series
Show steps
This tutorial series provides a practical introduction to the basics of game writing, covering topics such as dialogue, character development, and world-building.
Browse courses on
Writing
Show steps
-
Watch the tutorial videos.
-
Complete the practice exercises.
-
Submit your work for feedback.
Complete the "Game Writing Prompts" workbook
Show steps
This workbook provides a series of writing prompts designed to help you practice your game writing skills and develop your creativity.
Browse courses on
Writing
Show steps
-
Choose a prompt and write a short story.
-
Share your story with others and get feedback.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Read and analyze "The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses"
Show steps
This book provides a comprehensive overview of the principles of game design and can help you understand the terminology and concepts you will encounter in this course.
View
The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses, Third...
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read the book, taking notes on key concepts and ideas.
-
Write a summary of the book, outlining the main points of each chapter.
-
Identify and discuss examples of game design principles in your favorite games.
Write a game design document for a simple game
Show steps
Creating a game design document will help you practice the skills of planning and organizing your ideas for a game, which is essential for any game writer.
Browse courses on
Game Design
Show steps
-
Brainstorm and define the concept of your game.
-
Outline the game's story, characters, and setting.
-
Design the game's mechanics, including gameplay, levels, and challenges.
-
Create a prototype of your game.
Volunteer for a game development project or organization
Show steps
Volunteering on a game development project can provide you with valuable hands-on experience and help you build your network.
Browse courses on
Game Development
Show steps
-
Find a project or organization to volunteer with.
-
Contact the organization and express your interest.
-
Contribute your skills and time to the project.
Attend a local game development meetup or conference
Show steps
Attending industry events is a great way to meet people working in the game industry and learn about job opportunities.
Browse courses on
Game Development
Show steps
-
Research and find a relevant event to attend.
-
Prepare an elevator pitch and practice networking skills.
-
Attend the event and introduce yourself to people.
Develop a portfolio of your game writing work
Show steps
Creating a portfolio showcasing your best game writing work is essential for demonstrating your skills and landing a job in the industry.
Browse courses on
Portfolio
Show steps
-
Select your strongest writing samples.
-
Create a website or portfolio document to showcase your work.
-
Get feedback on your portfolio from industry professionals.
Organize your course materials
Show steps
Keeping your course materials organized will help you stay on top of your studies and make it easier to review material later.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Create a system for organizing your notes, assignments, and other materials.
- Review your materials regularly.
Complete the "Game Writing Crash Course" tutorial series
Show steps
This tutorial series provides a practical introduction to the basics of game writing, covering topics such as dialogue, character development, and world-building.
Browse courses on
Writing
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Watch the tutorial videos.
- Complete the practice exercises.
- Submit your work for feedback.
Complete the "Game Writing Prompts" workbook
Show steps
This workbook provides a series of writing prompts designed to help you practice your game writing skills and develop your creativity.
Browse courses on
Writing
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Choose a prompt and write a short story.
- Share your story with others and get feedback.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Read and analyze "The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses"
Show steps
This book provides a comprehensive overview of the principles of game design and can help you understand the terminology and concepts you will encounter in this course.
View
The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses, Third...
on Amazon
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read the book, taking notes on key concepts and ideas.
- Write a summary of the book, outlining the main points of each chapter.
- Identify and discuss examples of game design principles in your favorite games.
Write a game design document for a simple game
Show steps
Creating a game design document will help you practice the skills of planning and organizing your ideas for a game, which is essential for any game writer.
Browse courses on
Game Design
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Brainstorm and define the concept of your game.
- Outline the game's story, characters, and setting.
- Design the game's mechanics, including gameplay, levels, and challenges.
- Create a prototype of your game.
Volunteer for a game development project or organization
Show steps
Volunteering on a game development project can provide you with valuable hands-on experience and help you build your network.
Browse courses on
Game Development
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find a project or organization to volunteer with.
- Contact the organization and express your interest.
- Contribute your skills and time to the project.
Attend a local game development meetup or conference
Show steps
Attending industry events is a great way to meet people working in the game industry and learn about job opportunities.
Browse courses on
Game Development
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Research and find a relevant event to attend.
- Prepare an elevator pitch and practice networking skills.
- Attend the event and introduce yourself to people.
Develop a portfolio of your game writing work
Show steps
Creating a portfolio showcasing your best game writing work is essential for demonstrating your skills and landing a job in the industry.
Browse courses on
Portfolio
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Select your strongest writing samples.
- Create a website or portfolio document to showcase your work.
- Get feedback on your portfolio from industry professionals.
Career center
Learners who complete Working as a Game Writer will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Game Writer
Game Writer
This course is designed to help you develop the skills you need to become a successful game writer. You will learn how to write compelling stories, create memorable characters, and build immersive worlds that will captivate players.
Narrative Designer
Narrative Designer
A narrative designer is responsible for creating the story and characters for a video game. They work closely with the game designers to ensure that the story is integrated into the gameplay in a meaningful way. This course will help you develop the skills you need to become a successful narrative designer.
Game Designer
Game Designer
Video game writers and game designers work closely together to create the story, characters, and world of a game. This course will help you develop the skills you need to write compelling stories and characters that will bring your game to life.
Technical Writer
Technical Writer
Technical writers create documentation and instructions for a variety of products, including video games. This course will help you develop the skills you need to become a successful technical writer, including how to write clearly and concisely, and how to use technical writing tools.
Freelance Writer
Freelance Writer
Freelance writers can work on a variety of projects, including video game writing. This course will help you develop the skills you need to become a successful freelance writer, including how to find clients, negotiate rates, and manage your time.
Copywriter
Copywriter
Copywriters create marketing and advertising materials, including for video games. This course will help you develop the skills you need to become a successful copywriter, including how to write persuasive and engaging copy.
Marketing Manager
Marketing Manager
Marketing managers are responsible for developing and executing marketing campaigns for a variety of products, including video games. This course will help you develop the skills you need to become a successful marketing manager, including how to develop a marketing strategy, create a budget, and track results.
Public relations manager
Public relations manager
Public relations managers are responsible for managing the public image of a company or organization, including for video game companies. This course will help you develop the skills you need to become a successful public relations manager, including how to write press releases, manage media relations, and crisis management.
Community Manager
Community Manager
Community managers are responsible for building and managing online communities for a variety of products, including video games. This course will help you develop the skills you need to become a successful community manager, including how to create and manage social media accounts, moderate forums, and organize events.
Event Planner
Event Planner
Event planners are responsible for planning and executing events, including for video game companies. This course will help you develop the skills you need to become a successful event planner, including how to choose a venue, negotiate contracts, and manage logistics.
Sales Manager
Sales Manager
Sales managers are responsible for leading and managing sales teams for a variety of products, including video games. This course will help you develop the skills you need to become a successful sales manager, including how to develop a sales strategy, recruit and train salespeople, and motivate your team.
Software Engineer
Software Engineer
Software engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and testing software applications, including video games. This course may be helpful if you are interested in a career as a software engineer in the video game industry.
Animator
Animator
Animators are responsible for creating the animations for video games. This course may be helpful if you are interested in a career as an animator in the video game industry.
Game Tester
Game Tester
Game testers are responsible for testing video games to find bugs and ensure that they are working properly. This course may be helpful if you are interested in a career as a game tester in the video game industry.
Customer Service Representative
Customer Service Representative
Customer service representatives are responsible for providing support to customers who have questions or problems with a product or service, including video games. This course may be helpful if you are interested in a career as a customer service representative in the video game industry.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/fxpprb/working
Reading list
We've selected seven books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Working as a Game Writer.
Provides a practical guide to narrative design for games.
Provides a framework for understanding the structure of stories, which can be helpful for game writers who need to create compelling narratives.
Save
Provides a comprehensive guide to story writing, with chapters on topics such as plot structure, character development, and dialogue writing.
Provides a broad overview of game design, including chapters on narrative design and storytelling.
Save
Provides a comprehensive guide to game design, including chapters on narrative design and storytelling.
Save
Provides a practical guide to learning new skills, which can be helpful for game writers who need to learn new tools or techniques.
Classic guide to writing style, which can be helpful for game writers who need to write clear and concise prose.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/fxpprb/working
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Effort
4 to 6 hours per week for 5 weeks
Level
Introductory
Via
edX
Institution
University of British Columbia
Instructors
Peter Boychuk
Kim Sparks
Andrew Gray
Language
English
Transcript
English
This course belongs to a
collection
called
Writing for Video Games. It's comprised of six courses:
- Video Game Writing Essentials
- Writing Video Game Characters
- Writing Video Game Scenes and Dialogue
- Worldbuilding for Video Games
- Interactive Narrative
- Working as a Game Writer (viewing)
Good to know
Takes a creative approach to game writing by focusing on items suitable for a portfolio
Covers what HR departments look for in game writing positions
Develops portfolio and resume writing skills, crucial for applying for game writing positions
Examines writing tests administered in the game industry
Teaches experience-building techniques in game writing for those without coding skills
Advises on industry-standard contracts, NDAs, and freelance work
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