Wendy Despain has two previous books in game design with CRC Press (and one with New Riders), teaches game design at Full sail Unversity and is a sought after contract game designer. Her also writes for Gamasutra and is formewewer Chair of the IGDA's Game Writign SIG.

Chapter 1 ¿ Getting Writing Jobs in Video Games 1

Wendy Despain, NCSoft, Quantum Content, International Hobo

Chapter 2 ¿ Game Script Formatting 11

Wendy Despain, NCSoft, Quantum Content, International Hobo

Chapter 3 ¿ Documentation for Writers 21

John Feil, Paizo

Chapter 4 ¿ Writing Instructions, Helptext, Walkthroughs,

and Manuals: Text to Train the Player 37

John Feil, Paizo

Chapter 5 ¿ Writing Tutorials: Write "Start" to Start 53

Andrew S. Walsh, Guerrilla Games, Sony

Chapter 6 ¿ Practical Techniques for Productivity:

Getting the Work Done 89

Wendy Despain, NCSoft, Quantum Content, International Hobo

Chapter 7 ¿ Collaborating with Art, Design, and

Engineering 99

Anthony Burch, Santa Monica Studio

Chapter 8 ¿ Writing for AAA Games: Playing in the

Big Leagues 105

Marek Walton, Crystal Dynamics

Chapter 9 ¿ Writing for Indie Games 121

Wendy Despain, NCSoft, Quantum Content, International Hobo

Chapter 10 ¿ Game Writing Remotely: How to Pay the

Rent Working from Home 127

Tracy A. Seamster, Independent Contractor

Chapter 11 ¿ Game Writing On Staff 139

Samantha Wallschlaeger, Monolith Productions

Chapter 12 ¿ Keeping Localization in Mind: When Game

Narrative Travels Abroad 153

Ross Berger, Electronic Arts, Amazon

Chapter 13 ¿ Writers in the Recording Studio 165

Haris Orkin, Independent Contractor

Chapter 14 ¿ Writing for Existing Licenses 185

Heidi McDonald, Independent Contractor

Chapter 15 ¿ Writing for New IP 197

Rhianna Pratchett, Independent Contractor

Chapter 16 ¿ Script Doctoring 219

Richard Dansky, Central Clancy Writer, Ubisoft

Chapter 17 ¿ Writing Compelling Game Characters 235

William Harms, Narrative Director, Hangar 13

Chapter 18 ¿ Hiring Philosophies: We Can Do Better 243

Tom Abernathy, Studio Narrative Director, ArenaNet

Chapter 19 ¿ If It Works, Break It: Game Narrative Tropes

and Innovation 257

Maurice Suckling, Independent Contractor, Professor of

Practice, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

APPENDIX A ¿ CALL OF JUAREZ: GUNSLINGER SCRIPT

SAMPLE-SCREENPLAY FORMAT, 271

APPENDIX B ¿ BRATZ: FOREVER DIAMONDZ SCRIPT

SAMPLE-MODIFIED SCREENPLAY FORMAT, 289

APPENDIX C ¿ BARKS AND TASK SPREADSHEET, 291

APPENDIX D ¿ CASTING SIDES FOR CALL OF JUAREZ, 301