Thursday, 25 Jul 2024

A Year After Game Informer, I Made My Own Game

I had the incredible opportunity to intern at Game Informer, and while it was an amazing experience, it made me realize something important about myself. As much as I enjoyed writing for a publication with a large, passionate readership, I discovered that my true passion lies in creating my own stories and worlds. That revelation led me to embark on a new project with a fellow intern named Hershall, who had also experienced a similar revelation.

Months after our internship ended, Hershall approached me with the idea of collaborating on his second video game. I eagerly accepted his invitation, and together we embarked on an ambitious project that included multiple playable characters, multiple endings, branching dialogues, and a strong focus on a female lead. Little did we know the challenges that awaited us.

Writing a video game script was a completely different experience from writing a novel. I had to consider variables such as transformation mechanics and multiple timelines, which added complexity to the writing process. Dialogue became even more challenging, as I had to create two perfect lines for each response and ensure they worked seamlessly within the game.

Furthermore, I had to grapple with the question of whether my script would be fun and translate into compelling gameplay scenarios. Multiple revisions were made to make the narrative more playable, adjusting boss battles and quest designs to align with the capabilities of the player character. It was a labor of love, but seeing my characters come to life and watching players interact with my dialogue was truly thrilling.

Working on The Blind World was an unforgettable experience, made even more special by the fact that I collaborated with three talented artists who are also my closest friends. Together, we created something that we are proud to share with the world.

As our small team now focuses on promoting our game and soundtrack, we are also pursuing our individual ventures. If you enjoyed reading about my journey, I would appreciate your support on Facebook and Twitter (as my pen name, Neil Floyd).

None of this would have been possible without the Game Informer internship program, and I am immensely grateful to Ben, Tim, Miller, and all the editors who welcomed us into their team for those three incredible months.

Cheers to new beginnings and the power of following our creative passions!

FAQs

Q: How did your internship at Game Informer shape your career path?
A: My internship at Game Informer was a valuable experience that allowed me to understand my true passion for creating my own stories and worlds. It made me realize that being a journalist was not fulfilling the same way writing fiction was.

Q: What challenges did you face while writing a video game script?
A: Writing a video game script presented unique challenges such as considering transformation mechanics and multiple timelines. Additionally, crafting dialogue with branching options required writing multiple versions of scenes and responses.

Q: How did you ensure that your script would be fun and engaging for players?
A: We made multiple revisions to the script to ensure that the narrative translated into compelling gameplay scenarios. This involved adjusting boss battles, quest designs, and character motivations based on the capabilities of the player character.

Conclusion

Embarking on the journey of creating my own game has been a transformative experience. It has allowed me to fully immerse myself in the process of storytelling and witness my characters come to life. I am grateful for the Game Informer internship program, which played a crucial role in shaping my career path. I am excited to share The Blind World with the world and see where our individual ventures take us. Thank you for joining me on this adventure!