Collaborative Worldbuilding for Video Games

Introduction Being in Awe

DOI: 10.1201/9781003345619-1

I used to be really intimidated by worldbuilding. I fall in love with worlds easily and effortlessly. The way certain authors identify and build on compelling aspects of how different worlds tick, and how the characters in these worlds respond to these political, geographical, and cultural differences has always had me in awe. Becky Chambers’s ability to create bountiful sci-fi worlds built on optimism and kindness versus expansion and fear or the way Jeff VanderMeer can crack open cosmos to create beautiful, unnerving, and unforgettable vistas is nothing short of magic to me.

And it is magic. It’s also craft, one you can (and will!) get better at with practice and experience.

I always ...