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Storytelling For MMO Games Discussed

Posted by simoniker on from the playing-in-the-sand dept.

Thanks to GameRifts for its interview with television and videogame scriptwriter Lee Sheldon regarding the state of writing/story in online gaming. Sheldon, who has most recently worked on Cyan's URU: Ages Beyond Myst, is asked "Do you see good, even epic story lines, becoming a core feature of MMORPGs in the future?", and responds: "Yes, and sooner rather than later... The big question of course is whether [developers will] continue to spend all their money on high quality art and programming and treat the writing as a hobby anyone can do. Without the same commitment to quality as in the other elements that make up an MMORPG the writing will continue to fail miserably."

3 of 40 comments (clear)

  1. They all have the same story... by JavaLord · · Score: 4, Funny

    All of the MMO's lately have the same story..... 'we're cancelled before launch!' I hope one of them can break the mold sometime soon. I enjoy MMO's launchs, it's kinda like watching a car wreck.

  2. Re:Writing is crucial by JavaLord · · Score: 2, Funny



    INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S COCKPIT.

    Vader's targeting computer swings around into position. Vader
    takes careful aim on Luke's X-wing fighter.

    VADER: I have you now.

    He pushes the fire buttons.

    EXTERIOR: SURFACE OF THE DEATH STAR.

    The three TIE fighters move in on Luke. As Vader's center
    fighter unleashes a volley of laserfire, one of the TIE ships
    at his side is hit and explodes into flame. The two remaining
    ships continue to move in.

    INTERIOR: LUKE'S X-WING FIGHTER -- COCKPIT.

    Luke looks about, wondering whose laserfire destroyed Vader's
    wingman.

    INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S COCKPIT.

    Vader is taken by surprise, and looks out from his cockpit.

    VADER: What?

    INTERIOR: DARTH VADER'S WINGMAN -- COCKPIT.

    Vader's wingman searches around him trying to locate the
    unknown attacker.

    INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT.

    Han and Chewbacca grin from ear to ear.

    HAN: (yelling) Yahoo!

    EXTERIOR: SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR.

    The Millennium Falcon heads right at the two TIE fighters.
    It's a collision course. Then out of no where comes 'bluntbacca' in his weedwing fighter. He shoots down the millenium falcon, bumps luke out of the way and blows up the Death Starr

    BluntBacca: W00t pwage!!!!!!!!!!!! eye can't wait 2 show thiz to mah clanniez

  3. Immersion and storytelling by hoferbr · · Score: 5, Funny

    As long as we keep seeing users screaming "I l337! Looser! I am l337! You n00b!", i don't think there will be room for any type of immersion and storytelling.

    Party member: "Shall we attack the castle now?"
    You: "We shall rest here until darkness fall. We will attack after the darness has stroke."
    Party member: "Yes sir."
    Someone a mile away: "I l337! Looser! I am l337! You n00b!"