The Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago
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Course Title: Scriptwriting and Storytelling
for Games |
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Course Number and Section: GAD120 |
Term: Spring |
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Year: 2005 |
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Number of Contact Hours: 6 Weekly Homework Hours: 3-4 |
Time: Monday, Wednesday Section A: 12:00 – 2:50 PM |
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Place: 180
N. Wabash (Loop), Room 229 |
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Instructor: Lindsay
D. Grace |
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Office Phone / E-mail: LG3311@fac.aii.edu, LG3311@ameritech.net |
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Course Website: http://aii.lgrace.com |
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Office Hours: As
needed |
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Good games
are engaging. They are interactive experiences that encourage players to invest
time, energy and emotion. The traditional techniques of scriptwriting employed
by fiction and film fall short of the requirements for games. This course
endeavors to teach the fundamentals of writing good video game scripts.
Students
will learn the techniques of traditional storytelling as they relate to the
particulars of writing game scripts.
The class will complete exercises in analyzing video game storytelling,
creative writing, and the process of turning good ideas into a great script.
Although
this is mainly a writing class, students will have opportunities to produce
supporting visual material, including character sketches, environments, and
storyboards.
No text
required, handouts and supplements provided weekly.
Suggested
reading
Character Development and Storytelling
for Games, 1-59200-353-2
Creating
Emotion in Games, 1-5927-3007-8
Pause and Effect: The Art of
Interactive Narrative, 0735711712
Three-Ring Binder (2)
Notebook with Perforated Edge (1)
Pocket-sized notebook (1)
8.5” x 11”
sketchpad (1)
Pens,
Pencils, Markers (as needed for artwork)
Upon successful completion of this course, students should
be able to:
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Develop ideas for entertaining and successful
games.
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Develop a critical framework to analyze
existing examples.
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Understand how games differ from other
storytelling media.
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Understand linear, branching, and modular
systems in storytelling.
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Understand how authorial control can be
applied in emergent storytelling.
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Identify and evaluate when cut scenes are
necessary.
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Develop interesting and engaging
characters.
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Write convincing dialogue for characters.
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Understand character-specific dialogue.
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Write an effective plot synopsis for a
game.
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Script a cut scene.
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Script an interactive scene from a game.
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Use drawing as a tool to express ideas.
There will be a lecture and discussion for nearly every class session.
Many classes will involve workshop activities that seek to enhance your writing abilities through practice and guidance. Some workshop activities evolve into homework assignments.
All assignments must be handed in at the beginning of class.
Students should always keep a backup copy of their work.
No late assignments are accepted. Every
working professional is expected to provide their work on time. Failing to do
so reflects poorly on that person’s performance. Repeated failure to meet
deadlines often results in firing. It is best to learn to meet deadlines now.
In this course, each assignment will build on the
previous. Failure to complete the prior
week’s assignment will make each subsequent week more difficult. It is in your
best interest to complete each assignment on time and to the best of your ability.
Always hand in what you have, even if you want to revise it. Partial credit
is better than no credit at all.
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Point Score range |
Letter Grade |
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93 and above |
A |
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90-92 |
A- |
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87-89 |
B+ |
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83-86 |
B |
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80-82 |
B- |
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77-79 |
C+ |
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73-76 |
C |
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70-72 |
C- |
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67-69 |
D+ |
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63-66 |
D |
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60-62 |
D |
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Below 60 |
F |
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Assignments, Workshops, and Quizzes: 70%
Participation and Preparedness: 5%
Final Project: 25%
Students are expected to attend each class and arrive on
time. It is a student’s responsibility
to contact the instructor when they know they will be absent or have missed a
class session. Students should notify
the instructor of their planned absence as soon as they are capable. It is best to send an email.
Makeup exams and acceptance of late assignments will only
be granted in the following circumstances; Medical excuse, emergencies,
campus-sponsored activities.
All issues of attendance and tardiness will be handled as
school policy dictates and at the discretion of the instructor.
The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago has a special needs
coordinator, Jamey DiVietro, who organizes services for qualified students
requiring reasonable accommodations. Notifying the Illinois Institute of
Art-Chicago that you have a disability or special needs is optional and
confidential. However, in order for the school to accommodate your needs, we
need advance notice of the services you require. For more information please
contact Jamey DiVietro at 312-777-8616.
Any student that cheats or plagiarizes will be reported to
the academic standards committee and may be dismissed from the course.
All homework is to be completed independently (except when
instructed otherwise). Any student who is caught or suspected of working in
conjunction with any other student will be penalized.
Week 1: Chapter 1: Myths (pages 3-11), App. B Writing
Teams (453-455)
Overview
of Storytelling
Analyzing
Storytelling in Games
Week 2: Chapter 2: Story (pages 28-32), Chapter 15: Genre
(325-344)
Writing Workshop: Turning
your ideas to writing
Basics of Plot, Character, Perspective, Setting, Style and Theme
Assignment: Outline Your Game:
Concept
Week 3: Chapter 3: The PC (37-44), Chapter 4: Character
(70-85)
Developing Character and Non-Player
characters
Writing Dialogue and Dialogue Script
Assignment: Create 2 Character
Sketches and One Scene Dialogue
Week 4: Chapter 5: Character Traits
(87-112), Chapter 6: Dialogue (119-126)
Scriptwriting
Character
Advanced Character Technique
Assignment: Revise Character
Sketches and one Scene Dialogue
Assignment: Create NPC dialogue
list
Week 5: Chapter 7: Story (155-167) ,
Chapter 9: Story Arch (210-218)
Plot Scripting and Scenario Scripting
Assignment: Script a Simple Plot
Week 6: Chapter
8: (183-188), Chapter 9: Obligatory Cut (203-209)
Cut Scenes/Cinematic Sequences and the Language of Camera
Cut Scene Scriptwriting Continued
Assignment:
Script a Cinematic Sequence
Week 7: Chapter 7: Non-Linear Story (167-173), Chapter 14
(295-322)
Interactive Scriptwriting
Developing an Interactive Script
Assignment: Script 2 Levels of
Branching
Week 8: Chapter 18 (402-408), Chapter
19 (413-421)
Communicating Setting and Style
Final Projects Introduced
Assignment: Create an Introductory
Treatment for Final
Week 9: App B
(455-469)
Treatment Presentations and Peer
Review
Week 10:
Studio Work Week
Week 11:
Final Presentations
Final
Projects Due (complete and with full documentation)
*Schedule subject to change at the instructor’s
discretion.