Writing for Animation, Comics, and Games

CHAPTER   9

Writing vs. Design

I am frequently asked how one goes about becoming a game designer, because people still tend to think that designer = writer of the game. To add to the confusion, the two are often combined. However, as game production becomes more and more specialized, so do these two roles. Given the scope and complexity of writing for videogames, it’s important to understand the difference between design and writing. If you want to work as a writer, you need to understand how they differ and what a designer does, so that you’ll know when you’re being asked to be a writer or to go an extra step toward being a designer. To get some of the confusion out of the way, let’s deal first with the issue of being a game designer.

The Game ...