A way with words: industry vets discuss writing in games

There are few examples of good writing in video games. The medium tends to tackle the same issues and genres, and only rarely steps outside of that comfort zone. At the recent Fan Expo in Toronto, a group of veteran writers and producers, with credits ranging from Too Human to Splinter Cell Conviction, discussed what makes a good writer and a well-written game.

The majority of the discussion centered on why games aren't yet at the same level as film or television.

The consensus seemed to be that two crucial qualities for the job are a love of video games and the ability to write well. “The most important thing [when it comes to a writer] is someone who understands the medium really well,” said Alex Parizeau, producer on Conviction and head of production on Ubisoft Toronto’s upcoming Splinter Cell game.