How to write a video game script

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Writing a script for a video game

There are two components to writing a script for a video game.There is a Flowchart that lays out the decision making of the game and shows the various logical paths the user can take and there is the prose script that describes what happens.

Let me show you a small example of each. I have written the script for a video game called "The Book of the Dead"..

Writing the Flowchart

Here is an example of the flowchart that lays out the decision making for part of the first chapter:

Let's take a closer look at the flowchart:

The flowchart helps the designer understand what happens in the game and what decisions need to be made. See the box in the upper left? "Click on Books Nadia carries"

A Message is displayed "Uncatalogued Books"

The next action available is "Click on Card Catalogue" From here several more options are available.

There is a standard for making flow charts complete with rules for decision making and different kinds of boxes for the different kinds of information. You can just make up your own flow chart. But if you want to learn more there are some great books on the subject of flowcharting.

Writing the script

The script for a video game is very similar to that of a movie. You describe the scenes, plan the dialogue, describe the mood and set the background music. Here is an example of the script from the video game "The Book of the Dead.".Go to sample page for script

There are three main points to the written script.

1. Describe the environment; what does everything look like -and what does it feel like?

"Opening Scene: Aerial long shot, dusk
Camera is looking across a river at an old New England city built on the hill along the bank of the river. One building is prominent in view. It is an old granite building with a bell tower on one end and an observatory on the other end. It is large as far as old New England buildings go: four stories high, and the size of a Newport mansion. Camera slowly moves in toward the building as if on a slow moving airplane. An open skylight can be seen in the top of the building. The camera heads directly toward this then enters.."

2. What is the accompanying material? Is there music? Sound effects?

"Soft background music starts at the moment we see Nadia. ("Chopin's Piano Concerto #2")"

"Writers note: We will refer to Chopin's Piano Concerto #2 as Nadia's theme."

3. What are the things that are going to happen? What decisions will be made? What rooms or areas are the decisions tied to?

"This chapter allows the player to get familiar with the library and how the game operates.Goal to completing Chapter: Shelf the uncatalogued books in the Tower Room

Programmers notes:There are five important rooms in this chapter:
The Main Hall
The Card Catalog room
The Tower Room
The Observatory
The Employee Lounge

Important Items in this chapter:
Key rack in Main Hall
Key to Observatory
Key to Tower Room
Sofa in Employee lounge
Books that Nadia Carries
Locked door to basement
Desk in Observatory
Card Catalog"

Video game making is very much like Film making. If you want t learn more about the art of scriptwriting you should check out these books

Writing Short Scripts is a very insightful book about writing short scripts.

The Author has included his perceptive comments about the structure of short film scripts, and has thankfully included the texts of the short film scripts that he writes about.

Writing Short Films: Structure and Content for Screenwriters