Just to put a note out there for NSIers, the mentorships for all participants are almost fully assigned. We’re just waiting for final word from a few remaining participants before we can announce your mentors en masse. We’re hoping to announce this week as originally planned!
Archive for: General
Well, we told you we’d be turning to you for feedback–so here we are again!
We started by asking you folks what list of games successful candidates should be exposed to prior to bootcamp. That list will be sent out to winners as to provide them with their pre-boot camp ‘homework’.
Today we’re showing you the curriculum line-up–a syllabus of sorts–to get your feedback on what we have planned as well as your suggestions for what you would like to see! So let your voice be heard and help us shape the program you and/or your fellow community members will be taking part in.
These topic areas are courtesy the curriculum consultation sessions held with our studio sponsor representatives–a number of whom will be discussing these and other topics themselves at the boot camp.
Introduction to Visual and Non-Linear Storytelling
An introduction to the game medium, it’s limitations, affordances and the salient distinctions between linear media and the non-linearity of games in all of its various facets.
Storychanging: Guidelines and Restrictions
Jumping into the realities of changing your story at the script level whether it be the tone, the character count level etc. Dealing with the challenges of IP restrictions, localization etc. and how it impacts your game writing.
Exposition vs. Integration of Narrative in Design
Knowing when and where to deliver exposition (e.g. cinematics) in your game and when to integrate your narrative into your design via character interactions and exchanges, environment, artifacts etc. Narrative agency vs. passive engagement.
Environmental Narrative Design
Linking directly from the preceding topic, discussing environmental narrative design in some detail (e.g. looking at the philosophy and practice of environmental design approaches ranging from Need for Speed to Bioshock)
Non-Linear Options and Character Development
Applying your non-linear design to influence the development of player characters, NPCs and the overall story arc of your game. This includes work on conversational dialog, ambient dialog etc.
Prototyping Your Narrative Concepts
Taking your narrative game concepts and fleshing/testing them out using basic prototyping methods (pen/paper, hypertext etc.)
Working With the Tools: Using the Aurora Toolset
Taking your narrative/game concepts and re-creating them using tools and scripting (e.g. Aurora Toolset)
Effective Pitching and Communication of Design Outlines
Taking your successfully tested and fleshed out narrative designs, storyboards etc. and pitching them coherently to an audience.
As you can see, the projected arc of NSI playWRITE currently has participants moving from general lessons dealing with narrative and games, to working with very specific ideas and building and pitching those ideas.
So feel free to fire away!
Next post: Exercises and Homework
Announcement of the NSI playWRITE candidacy spots take place this week! With this in mind, we’re turning to you for your expertise and game knowledge to aid in the shaping of various facets of the NSI playWRITE boot camp.
We begin with the question: what playlist should NSI playWRITE participants have under their belts prior to coming to boot camp?
Are there games you feel are absolute ‘must-plays’ for aspiring narrative designers in the game industry? What games should be played solely because they present an example of a terrible game whose mistakes should never be repeated?
This is the first of a series of NSI playWRITE community feedback questions and like your NSI playWRITE votes, your voice on these matters will help shape the final look and feel of the NSI playWRITE boot camp–so pipe up! 
Just to repost from the Z2H blog to alleviate any confusion:
“Well, it’s been a few days since NSI playWRITE’s application date came and went…so we just want to keep you up-to-date on the latest happenings.
The jury process has officially commenced and applications are being scrutinized and evaluated by representatives of some of Canada’s proudest game studios. We will officially be announcing the winners of the training program spots on May 7th, 2008. If your application/pitch was in the mix make sure to check back and see if you’ve earned your golden ticket to the NSI playWRITE training bootcamp in Vancouver!
We will also have some more studio announcements for you on Monday so keep your eyes peeled. Details will continue to trickle through.”
Although it’s the not ‘game over’ by any means, today officially marks the end of NSI playWRITE’s application phase. We would like to thank all applicants to the program and all those members of the community who contributed their valuable commentary to the pitch creators!
We now find ourselves at the jury deliberation portion of the NSI playWRITE process during which studio representatives will spend the next week evaluating and ruminating over your finely tuned applications and personal pitches.
We look forward to announcing the winners by May 7th, 2008!
Speaking of the winners–what’s left to do if you weren’t one of the chosen few?
Although an unsuccessful application may be gut-wrenchingly disappointing, we still need you!
We will be turning to you–the community–to help shape the NSI playWRITE training event in terms of exercise ideas, thoughts on curriculum, mandatory ‘playLISTS’ for NSI playWRITE candidates and more. Even though you might be on the outside looking in, you can have a hand in shaping the experience for all those candidates who make it into the NSI playWRITE program–not to mention future generations of the training program itself.
So win or lose, remember to keep dialed into the Zeros 2 Heroes blogosphere where you can continue to make your voice heard. The game might be over for some, but now is the time to keeping playing.
This is it! We’re staring the deadline for NSI playWRITE directly in the eyes–there is only one week from today to get your application in to the NSI and get your personal pitch up on Zeros 2 Heroes!
If you have yet to fill out the paper application for the NSI playWRITE training program, time is running out–so get those applications in the mail before your window of opportunity evaporates.
Keep in mind that with the online community having a say in the outcome, it is never too late to populate and pimp your pitches. Over the last few weeks we’ve been sending out suggestions to help you generate successful pitches and we’re looking forward to seeing the final pitches this April 28th. You can re-visit those tips here at the NSI playWRITE blog.
And remember, even though the deadline for NSI playWRITE applications is quickly approaching, new announcements–like this week’s special partner announcement–will continue to arrive through the weekly newsletter and blog.
Well, it’s official, the new NSI playWRITE program has charged out of the gates and we are proud to be apart of yet another initiative which aims to give undiscovered talent the opportunity to ascend from ‘zero’ to hero.
Since we’ve just started, there isn’t much to talk about just yet in terms of updates. But we do want you to be comfortable and well-acquainted with the process as you start your climb towards game writing nirvana. Getting down and dirty with the application process can be a challenge, so in this week’s inaugural playWRITE newsletter we’ve started our ‘Tip of the Week’: suggestions one can follow in getting started with and keeping the momentum of your NSI playWRITE personal pitch.
We hope you enjoy the upcoming weeks as the playWRITE initiative goes into full swing! And good luck to all participants!
