Writing for the LCD: FPS games - bit-tech.net Forums

Tim S · 23rd Jul 2007, 12:58

http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2007/...d__fps_games/1

As part of a new series, Joe Martin has a chat with Rob Yescombe, screenwriter for Haze, and Martin Lancaster, writer for Crysis and Far Cry, about the process of writing first-person shooters and some of the problems involved.

Digg to share - thanks for your support.

[USRF]Obiwan · 23rd Jul 2007, 13:13

Well a good story makes a game more attractive. Like playing the first Half-Life. It was just plain amazing. I will always remember the "test-chamber" chapter. "test.. 1,2,3... ehm ehm.. freeman are you there?"

Da_Rude_Baboon · 23rd Jul 2007, 13:34

That was very interesting and well written article. Top work Joe.

GamingHobo · 23rd Jul 2007, 14:08

Don't forget you can always show the love via digg as well.

As for article, top job Joe.

However, I must take issue with your dismissal of episodic FPS games. I think it's fair to say that not everything has gone perfectly just yet, but in SiN and Half-Life Episodes we've still only had two examples in a burgeoning arena. It stands to reason that it would take time for developers to settle on a formula that works. Moreover, although Valve has failed to deliver on a suitable time-scale for release - I blame console development for this btw - I still think the the Episodes have/will benefit greatly from the narrative flexibility that was outlined in the article. For all its brevity, I felt Episode One was very entertaining and densely plotted compared to Half-Life 2 which, although still brilliant, did rather plod along at times.

On a related note, I do hope we see a return of the likes of Opposing Force and Blue Shift - expansion packs that actually build upon what happens in the main story via differing means. To me these are great ways to build depth into a franchise/story without detracting from the main thread of the narrative. For example, you mentioned Halo 2 and the Arbiter and Master Chief plots. I can't help but think that actually the way in which that was done didn't work that well, especially since the ending was such a damp squib. I'd rather see something like the Arbiter story fleshed out separately, probably as downloadable content. Microsoft has the infrastructure for this, and I'm sure Halo fans would love it too.

Saivert · 23rd Jul 2007, 14:19

That series title "Writing for the LCD" was clever.

GamingHobo · 23rd Jul 2007, 14:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saivert

That series title "Writing for the LCD" was clever.

Lol, there you go Joe. You're vindicated and I take everything back.

EDIT: About the name that is.

The_Pope · 23rd Jul 2007, 14:25

Haha - was there a big debate? It's like "Writing for the Big Screen" or indeed "Writing for the Small Screen" in terms of cinematic screenwriting vs TV, except we're talking about computer games.

capnPedro · 23rd Jul 2007, 14:37

I'd have to disagree that Duke spoke too much in Duke Nukem 3D. OK, so when he did, it may have made people feel like they weren't in control anymore, but so what, he was freaking hilarious. The one-liners were pure gold and the only time he really talked was during the end of game cutscene bit.

HugoB · 23rd Jul 2007, 14:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Pope

Haha - was there a big debate? It's like "Writing for the Big Screen" or indeed "Writing for the Small Screen" in terms of cinematic screenwriting vs TV, except we're talking about computer games.

What if I use a CRT? Or play on my Plasma TV? eh?

GamingHobo · 23rd Jul 2007, 14:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archangel

What if I use a CRT? Or play on my Plasma TV? eh?

Indeed. Btw Hugo, please change your sig or I'll give you a slap.

CardJoe · 23rd Jul 2007, 16:42

Yeah, Hugo Bojling. We all call him H.B in the office

HugoB · 23rd Jul 2007, 16:46

The surname is Swedish in origin btw in case your curious.

My TR forum profile

My brother

Ghys · 23rd Jul 2007, 16:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Pope

Haha - was there a big debate? It's like "Writing for the Big Screen" or indeed "Writing for the Small Screen" in terms of cinematic screenwriting vs TV, except we're talking about computer games.

ahhhhhh now I get the title haha

At first I thought it was going to be an article about LCD's that are good for FPS games or something...

oh and CRT's > LCD's

ChiperSoft · 23rd Jul 2007, 16:58

I'm surprised there's no mention here of Prey, which I thought used character voicing quite well. The main character talks all the time, and often says the same thing I'm thinking. It helped me, personally, to connect with the character.

Ghys · 23rd Jul 2007, 16:58

Yep the character interactivity was pretty good in Prey. Too bad the enemies and guns were so bad

CardJoe · 23rd Jul 2007, 17:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiperSoft

I'm surprised there's no mention here of Prey, which I thought used character voicing quite well. The main character talks all the time, and often says the same thing I'm thinking. It helped me, personally, to connect with the character.

Prey is mentioned, though not for that aspect. I thought the character responses in Prey were excellent (I AM CHEROKEEE! sent a shiver down my spine), but its an exception to a ussually steady rule IMO. I can't think of any other games which had character voicing like that which had such an effect.

Nature · 23rd Jul 2007, 17:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by [USRF]Obiwan

Well a good story makes a game more attractive. Like playing the first Half-Life. It was just plain amazing. I will always remember the "test-chamber" chapter. "test.. 1,2,3... ehm ehm.. freeman are you there?"

I liked "Surface Tension" as a chapter

CardJoe · 23rd Jul 2007, 17:37

Best chapter (you know its a good story when its a chapter, not a level. You know its trying to have a story when its an 'ACT', like in GRAW 2) was definitely Surface Tension. Just when you were bored of the labs then you got a chance to snipe from the cliffs. Excellent.

Tyinsar · 23rd Jul 2007, 17:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Pope

Haha - was there a big debate? It's like "Writing for the Big Screen" or indeed "Writing for the Small Screen" in terms of cinematic screenwriting vs TV, except we're talking about computer games.

LCD bit was unclear because LCD also = Lowest Common Denominator but that works too (depending on how you define that).

CardJoe · 23rd Jul 2007, 17:49

Thats what Tim thought I meant when he edited it, but frankly I'm just not clever enough to know more than one acronym...

23rd Jul 2007, 12:58	#1
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	Writing for the LCD: FPS games http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2007/...d__fps_games/1 As part of a new series, Joe Martin has a chat with Rob Yescombe, screenwriter for Haze, and Martin Lancaster, writer for Crysis and Far Cry, about the process of writing first-person shooters and some of the problems involved. Digg to share - thanks for your support. __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)

23rd Jul 2007, 13:13	#2
[USRF]Obiwan Ultramodder Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,220	Well a good story makes a game more attractive. Like playing the first Half-Life. It was just plain amazing. I will always remember the "test-chamber" chapter. "test.. 1,2,3... ehm ehm.. freeman are you there?" __________________ Mascleta: "The most accurate simulation of thunder, humans can simulate..." The answer is 42, so... whats the question again? If you know what 'Peek' and 'Poke' represents, then you are probably as old as me.

23rd Jul 2007, 14:08	#4
GamingHobo Minimodder Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bracknell Posts: 36	Don't forget you can always show the love via digg as well. As for article, top job Joe. However, I must take issue with your dismissal of episodic FPS games. I think it's fair to say that not everything has gone perfectly just yet, but in SiN and Half-Life Episodes we've still only had two examples in a burgeoning arena. It stands to reason that it would take time for developers to settle on a formula that works. Moreover, although Valve has failed to deliver on a suitable time-scale for release - I blame console development for this btw - I still think the the Episodes have/will benefit greatly from the narrative flexibility that was outlined in the article. For all its brevity, I felt Episode One was very entertaining and densely plotted compared to Half-Life 2 which, although still brilliant, did rather plod along at times. On a related note, I do hope we see a return of the likes of Opposing Force and Blue Shift - expansion packs that actually build upon what happens in the main story via differing means. To me these are great ways to build depth into a franchise/story without detracting from the main thread of the narrative. For example, you mentioned Halo 2 and the Arbiter and Master Chief plots. I can't help but think that actually the way in which that was done didn't work that well, especially since the ending was such a damp squib. I'd rather see something like the Arbiter story fleshed out separately, probably as downloadable content. Microsoft has the infrastructure for this, and I'm sure Halo fans would love it too. __________________ Andy Vandervell - Senior Staff Writer @ TrustedReviews

23rd Jul 2007, 14:19	#5
Saivert Multimodder Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Norway Posts: 204	That series title "Writing for the LCD" was clever. __________________ - I'm the troll who bumps page 2 topics -

23rd Jul 2007, 14:37	#8
capnPedro Deaf forever to the battle's din Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: North-East England Posts: 2,985	I'd have to disagree that Duke spoke too much in Duke Nukem 3D. OK, so when he did, it may have made people feel like they weren't in control anymore, but so what, he was freaking hilarious. The one-liners were pure gold and the only time he really talked was during the end of game cutscene bit. __________________ ASUS M4A785TD-M Evo \| AMD Phenom II x4 955 BE \| D-Tek FuZion 4GB Corsair XMMS3-10666 \| Corsair TX650 Point Of View 8800GTX \| EK FC-8800

23rd Jul 2007, 13:34	#3
Da_Rude_Baboon Ultramodder Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Aberdeen Posts: 1,386	That was very interesting and well written article. Top work Joe.

23rd Jul 2007, 14:25	#7
The_Pope Geoff Richards Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: UK Posts: 2,089	Haha - was there a big debate? It's like "Writing for the Big Screen" or indeed "Writing for the Small Screen" in terms of cinematic screenwriting vs TV, except we're talking about computer games.

23rd Jul 2007, 16:42	#11
CardJoe Player Character bit-tech Staff Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 7,975	Yeah, Hugo Bojling. We all call him H.B in the office __________________ this is joe's non-bit-tech blog

23rd Jul 2007, 16:46	#12
HugoB H to the U to the G to the O to the B Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: ThrustingReviews HQ Posts: 1,198	The surname is Swedish in origin btw in case your curious. My TR forum profile My brother __________________ TrustedReviews.com - things I write about for a job

23rd Jul 2007, 16:58	#14
ChiperSoft Minimodder Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Diego, CA, USA Posts: 46	I'm surprised there's no mention here of Prey, which I thought used character voicing quite well. The main character talks all the time, and often says the same thing I'm thinking. It helped me, personally, to connect with the character.

23rd Jul 2007, 16:58	#15
Ghys DUHHHH Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 2,587	Yep the character interactivity was pretty good in Prey. Too bad the enemies and guns were so bad __________________ Phenom X3 720 Black Edition @ 3.4Ghz - Asus M3N72-D SLI - 4GB PC6400 - MSI GTX260 216 - RAID0 37gb Raptors - 2x 500GB - Corsair TX850 - Samsung 2233RZ 120hz cheesecake - Windows 7 Ultimate 64Bits Kids ! The Samsung 2233RZ is the solution to all your problems in life ! That is, of course, if your biggest concern is not sucking at FPS games

23rd Jul 2007, 17:37	#18
CardJoe Player Character bit-tech Staff Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 7,975	Best chapter (you know its a good story when its a chapter, not a level. You know its trying to have a story when its an 'ACT', like in GRAW 2) was definitely Surface Tension. Just when you were bored of the labs then you got a chance to snipe from the cliffs. Excellent. __________________ this is joe's non-bit-tech blog

23rd Jul 2007, 17:49	#20
CardJoe Player Character bit-tech Staff Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 7,975	Thats what Tim thought I meant when he edited it, but frankly I'm just not clever enough to know more than one acronym... __________________ this is joe's non-bit-tech blog