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How to Write Good
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Weight	1 lb, 14 oz
SKU	GDC-03-031
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Description

How to Write Good "Bad Dialogue": Cramming Storytelling Into an Action Game,
431

Game Design, Lecture

Ryan Kaufman
Content Supervisor, LucasArts

Sean Clark
Director, LucasArts
Cookie-cutter villians… bland action heroes… why are action games so boring sometimes? Who is this Joseph Campbell guy I hear the eggheads talking about, and what the heck is dialogue "punch-up" all about? Adventure games and RPGs characters have the luxury of many lines of dialogue to express their personalities, but action games and shooters often get the short shrift. Mission objectives and transitional cutscenes need to be short and to the point. But can you still depict unique and memorable characters within these constraints?

Yhis lecture discusses strategies for writing good, interesting dialogue in action games as well as common writing mistakes and dead-ends committed by even the best games out there. sing examples from popular games, comic books, Hollywood action movies, and past Star Wars titles, we examine expository dialogue, character-building, one-liners, and other hyphenated writing trickery. Writing exercises are demonstrated to help game writers craft their characters, find a "voice" for each personality, and template out their dialogue for ease of reading. We also touch on the differences between writing an original game and writing for a licensed product.

Attendees learn how to identify and fix bad dialogue, and the difference between "good" bad dialogue and just plain bad dialogue. This lecture offers an insider’s view of the challenges of creating action heroes with real personality and why stories don’t always have to be about saving the galaxy.

Attendees learn to identify two-dimensional and uninteresting characters and use specific strategies to expand their notions of personality and compelling drama. They can apply editing techniques to dissect their own dialogue and enhance it using active verbs, punchy dialogue, and surprise twists. They leave with a better understanding of what it takes to create and keep afloat interesting characters and stories in the high seas of the action-game genre.

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