Video Game Storytelling by Evan Skolnick

     Video Game Storytelling is a fantastic read for anyone and everyone involved in video game development. Evan talks about a lack of respect for the narrative craft in the game industry. Video games take months/years to develop, yet narrative integrity is something that is often overlooked until late in the development process. Evan argues that for a game to feel whole, narrative design should be planned for and implemented from day one, because it is not just a game's writer that impacts the story but everyone on the development team.
     A well-rounded story is my favorite part of any entertainment medium: movies, books, tv shows, plays, etc. I scrutinize games even more than other forms of entertainment, because in games you aren't just witnessing the hero's journey, you are living it. A game can have great gameplay, but if the story doesn't add up then it will not resonate with me (see my write up of Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor). That is why I place games like Morrowind, Knights of the Old Republic, The Darkness, and The Legend of Zelda in such high regard.
     Evan does more than argue for the appreciation of the narrative craft in video games, he teaches you the basics of video game storytelling so you can develop better narrative in your games even if your team can't afford to hire writing professionals. Evan's first lesson is about conflict and how it is the fuel for any good story. This is an excellent starting point, and one that feels quite obvious after reading about it. Everyone in a story is trying to do something. What makes a story engaging is when someone is trying to do something and it interferes with the thing that someone else is trying to do. I will be sure to use conflict as the heart of my future games.
     I have a feeling that Video Game Storytelling will be kept in my arsenal of game design tools for years to come as a reminder that it is my duty to make games that are not only fun to play, but engaging to play through from a story telling perspective. Thank you Evan for sharing your knowledge.