Deus Ex: Human Revolution Writer Slams US Guild
Says doesn't get the deserved recognition
Deus Ex: Human Revolution's narrative designer has said that the industry's recognition for game writers needs to improve.
The interview sees the newest in the Deus Ex series of games lead writer, Mary De Marle, explains that her frustrations at the Writers Guild of America's games writing award. She explains that being a part of the guild requires membership fees, meaning submitting writers for an award can only be done if they want to be put forward, otherwise they would not be considered.
She also vents her ire at how writers are treated - and how they behave - in the industy: "a lot of times people always think that all you have to do is sit in front of a keyboard typing and you'll have a dialogue in an hour. And that's not it," she explains.
"So, no (writing) doesn't always get the recognition from the other departments that it should. I think a lot of people think they're all writers and they're not, so there's that. But I also think that the writers often have to realise that they're not the only ones writing the story."
The lead writer added that writers should not view themselves as the sole voice in the game as this is brought together by everyone on the team, including the artists, level designers, animators and voice actors. She added that "The biggest mistake a game writer can make coming in is to say, 'they hired me as a writer to come up with the story so they have to listen to everything I have to say.' The truth is they don't, because other people have valuable ideas, they're the ones bringing it to life."
What do you think of De Marle's opinions regrading the recognition of games story writing? Any thoughts, feel free to post them in the Comments section below.
Source: Games Industry Biz
The interview sees the newest in the Deus Ex series of games lead writer, Mary De Marle, explains that her frustrations at the Writers Guild of America's games writing award. She explains that being a part of the guild requires membership fees, meaning submitting writers for an award can only be done if they want to be put forward, otherwise they would not be considered.
She also vents her ire at how writers are treated - and how they behave - in the industy: "a lot of times people always think that all you have to do is sit in front of a keyboard typing and you'll have a dialogue in an hour. And that's not it," she explains.
"So, no (writing) doesn't always get the recognition from the other departments that it should. I think a lot of people think they're all writers and they're not, so there's that. But I also think that the writers often have to realise that they're not the only ones writing the story."
The lead writer added that writers should not view themselves as the sole voice in the game as this is brought together by everyone on the team, including the artists, level designers, animators and voice actors. She added that "The biggest mistake a game writer can make coming in is to say, 'they hired me as a writer to come up with the story so they have to listen to everything I have to say.' The truth is they don't, because other people have valuable ideas, they're the ones bringing it to life."
What do you think of De Marle's opinions regrading the recognition of games story writing? Any thoughts, feel free to post them in the Comments section below.
Source: Games Industry Biz
Games:
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Read More Like This
Comments
Christopher von Bronsart 5 Feb 2011 22:49
1/1
" The truth is they don't, because other people have valuable ideas, they're the ones bringing it to life." …well…i think back in the 80s they called this…"t…"…errr…"teamwork". wow, what a heavy concept!