How to Make a Story Plot for a Video Game
As video gaming systems become increasingly complex, so too are the stories they can tell. The gamer is also becoming more sophisticated and expects to be entertained by both the gameplay as well as the plot. Writing is an art---not a science. There is no way to guarantee that any particular piece will be a success, but there are a few tips and tricks that will help you make a story that is entertaining at the least and compelling at best.
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Instructions
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1
Determine the genre of the game you are working with. This helps determine which plots will work and which will not. Puzzle games, for example, generally don't need much of a plot---a tournament setting will do; first-person shooters need to have a clear opposing force and a motivation to fight back.
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2
Brainstorm the main goal of the game. Figure out whether your hero is trying to save the world, the girl or the wallet. A good goal is what Hitchcock calls the MacGuffin: an object all characters, heroes and villains alike, are seeking with fervor. Consult other video games of the same genre, or films, books and TV shows, for some good ideas---as well as a host of bad ones.
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Draw a rising action chart on a piece of paper. This is a roughly shark-fin shaped line---a long, steady slope, rising to a point, and then quickly dropping back down. Use this to guide your story from beginning to climax to conclusion. Along the sloping line, write several plot points that are increasingly intense. Also include brief moments of rest, when the tension is slightly relieved.
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Write down, at the top of your chart, the climactic battle for the goal of the game: the hero meets the big bad, and the fate of your MacGuffin hangs in the balance. This is also a good time to include a false-ending: perhaps the big bad is only a puppet for a larger villain, and defeating him only reveals this fact.
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Write down the falling action along the declining side of the chart. Many game developers use this time to include the credits, as well as show the aftermath of the hero's victory. For example, your characters can meet with various non-player characters who were in trouble but are now safe.
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Construct a rough flowchart of the game's progress. Begin with the point where you will introduce the characters, and end with the goal from Step 2. Remember that how a character is introduced is extremely important to the audience reaction: if a character is introduced as a jerk, people may eventually grow to like him, but the first impression will be very strong. Typically, heroes are introduced in idyllic settings unaware of their fate.
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Include branching moments along the plot. Not all games have them, making this step optional, but more sophisticated games give the player moments to make significant choices that could alter the game. This also allows you to have multiple endings.
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Edit the flowchart and action charts. Make second, third and even fourth drafts until you feel this is a compelling plot. Consult a trusted friend or editor, and gauge their reaction to the plot. Then, make more changes.
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Tips & Warnings
Ideally, you start plotting around the time you have a working build of the game's main system. For example, a fighting game should already have at least one basic level and two fighters built; an RPG should have the combat system and small portion of the world started. This makes it easier to visualize for writing, as well as nails down the genre of the game.
Remember that making an original story is extremely unlikely. Many stories have already been written over the course of history. Consulting a website like TV Tropes (see Resources) will lead to an ever-evolving database of stock images and characters that have been used before. This will help you add literary allusions and depth, and may even allow you to come up with new ideas for your characters.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit person writing image by Tammy Mobley from Fotolia.com
