Confession of a Microsoft Employee
I have a day job. I work at Microsoft Game Studios.
I write and consult for (and occasionally pal around with) some of the world's best video game developers.
Over the last six years I've worked on about two dozen games--some good, some not so...; some killed before they shipped, some dazzling smash hits. If you have to have a job, this is the one to have.
For all the HALO fans--no, I have not worked with Bungie on HALO 1, 2, or 3. They already have a great writer, Joseph Staten.
I’m currently involved with the amazing XBOX 360 game, GEARS OF WAR. If you don't know about this game you probably aren't living on the planet.
What am I working on next? Well, if you took all the best parts of your favorite games, and smashed them together at light speed with your favorite movies and books, you'd get something close to this. It's not announced yet, but as soon as Microsoft does, I can at least tell you the title, genre, and what particular thing makes this game goose-bump worthy. So stay tuned.
I write and consult for (and occasionally pal around with) some of the world's best video game developers.
Over the last six years I've worked on about two dozen games--some good, some not so...; some killed before they shipped, some dazzling smash hits. If you have to have a job, this is the one to have.
For all the HALO fans--no, I have not worked with Bungie on HALO 1, 2, or 3. They already have a great writer, Joseph Staten.
I’m currently involved with the amazing XBOX 360 game, GEARS OF WAR. If you don't know about this game you probably aren't living on the planet.
What am I working on next? Well, if you took all the best parts of your favorite games, and smashed them together at light speed with your favorite movies and books, you'd get something close to this. It's not announced yet, but as soon as Microsoft does, I can at least tell you the title, genre, and what particular thing makes this game goose-bump worthy. So stay tuned.
posted by Eric Nylund at 7:15 AM
12 Comments:
Yeah, I've heard of Gears of War. Isn't that the shooting game? When you say "What am I working on next," does that mean you haven't started yet; you're still working on GoW?
Sounds pretty hair raising...
*drool*
Man. That sounds crazy. I had no idea that this thing existed, and as such, I am totally blown away by the knowledge of its existence. Can't wait to find out what it is.
In the meantime, that sounds like a job that I would very much like to have in the future.
Would it do any good to have a degree in Philosophy, should I want such a job?
~Angel
Eric,
What a thoroughly modern writer's job you have there. Sci fi mixed with virtual reality.
I'm curious about your oppinion of games vs movies in a creative sense. Will we soon see the endings of games be variable? Many movies have their endings re shot when test audiences don't like the original ending. Of course, more and more these turn up on DVDs, but surely the game environment gives writers the freedon to write more scenarios and outcomes- what we haven't seen yet is these different options in the game. Despite the variation within the games, the core plot and outcome remains the same...
A Halo 3 ending where humankind is wiped out? I'd like to see that!
Thomasr
http://www.thomasr.org
I knew you wrote books based on video games (I've read the Halo novels multiple times), but I had no idea you made games too. That's really cool.
I've heard of Gears of War before, but now that I know you're working on it I'll be sure to play it! :)
mintz08-- I am on several projects at once, working on GEARS and this other project at the same time.
Angel - okay I may be using a little hyperbole about the light speed thing. Philosophy degree? Why not? I rarely use the dozen or so years of higher education I received on the job. :)
thr— good question.
Writing in games is a little counter intuitive.
Yes, writers have the freedom to generate multiple outcomes, but implementing those alternatives is very expensive. Multiple story paths mean generating assets that cost a lot of money, and burns designer and artist bandwidth—all for assets the player potentially will never see!
It takes about 2 years to make a first-rate video game, and along the way many parts get cut to make the project economically viable. Alternate paths are the first things to go. Cut scenes and additional story bits are the second thing to go.
As games only get more expensive to make, with a few rare exceptions, you’ll be seeing less flexibly in game stories. Alas.
Eric,
It seems like there are two diverging paths in games design right now. One is a path that is leading towards a more linear storytelling style, something a lot more cinematic.
At the same time, you have sandbox design, where games are being designed to be open-ended, and the storytelling seems more episodic-- a quest here, a quest there, with the player able to formulate an overall narrative for themselves. An example of this recently would be Elder Scrolls: Oblivion.
What do you think? Sandbox games on the way out too? Seems like they're not in too much danger of going out--but I agree, they definitely look expensive to produce.
Jeremy—
I love Oblivion. It does sandboxing better than anyone else. But even there, some of the production seams are showing a bit of strain.
Are sandbox games on their way out? I’m not sure. I don’t have the numbers on Oblivion, but I imagine that it cost a _bundle_ to make.
--Eric
To answer your question Eric, i don't know if they're on their way out, with games like World of Warcraft and Oblivion being such hits, but they are changing. Of course, I stay away from those games...they suck the life right out of you. Finding myself three days later in front of a television set, shaking from coffee, lack of food and sleep, and an incredible need to shave and shower as well as earn some money is not my idea of a good time. Well, afterwords at least.
As for making it, they don't cost more than any FPS or adventure game. The only difference is that they focus on gameplay more than graphics, for instance. Like Halo (for example) has stunning visuals and an excellent musical score, but Oblivion has mediocre graphics (for a 360 game, that is), and has an alright musical score as well. But the gameplay takes forever to do.
If anything, they pay more to make it only because they have to pay their developers for more time to work on it. Making long games take's time.
Gears of War, however, sounds like something awesome. Can't wait to see what comes out with it and the book.
I'm eagerly awaiting your "Ghosts of Coral" novel! No offense to William C. Dietz, but your "First Strike" and "Fall of Reach" were infantely more entertaining. I read these books several times each, constantly engrossed in the story while "The Flood" by Dietz kind of had the burden of regurgitating a lot of the plot from Combat Evolved and got tiresome at times. You said something about another possible Microsoft production. I was wondering if this was Halo related? Or is Ghosts of Coral the final chapter? The flashbacks of John training with Linda, Fred, Kelly and the others prior to augmentation were my favorite parts of your books. I know that you give Joseph Staten all the glory for his workings on the video game story, but the relivance of your novels is becoming notorious. After reading the Fall of Reach, I bought the trilogy. Again, the book you didn't write was a little slow, but all in all, it makes for one hell of a ride. I must have lent the books out to at least 5 people, who read all three and ended up buying copies for themselves. A lot of people want closure to the storyline Staten feeds them, I hear people advertising your book to others daily when on Xbox Live- or at least answering questions sourcing your books. Even if this closure comes in prequil form, it still gives us a sense of comprehension and continuity that we can't help but admire. I know that bungie gave you some creative rights in this novel, but I've been told that all in all, they are very protective with the content of this project. Everything seems very cohesive which is why, when we read these novels by you, concerning the number of Spartans that made it through augmentation, origins of John, character development and relivance to John 117 concerning Fred,Linda,Kelly,Halsey,ect. that we just take it as god-spoken truth as applicable to the video game storyline. Thus, I'm hoping Kelly or at least Linda somehow find their way into Staten's halo scripts and perhaps even Garlands. It would be a shame if they didn't as you did such a great job on these characters.
Its halo 4!!!
Gears of War is the greatest game for Xbox 360
Post a Comment
<< Home