BioWare Hiring Writers by Contest

AsiNisiMasa writes "GamaSutra reports: BioWare Announces Writing Contest For Industry Jobs. For all of you with some modding experience with the hopes of breaking into the gaming industry, here is your chance. For you less confident modders, there is still hope. From BioWare's official contest page: 'When hiring writers, BioWare looks only at your writing; not the areas, not the special scripting, and not the combat. We evaluate only the characters, the dialogue, the plot, the non-linear structure, and the flow and pace of the story.'"

Comments

Short and sweet!

[Shadow Wrought]

It is a dark and stormy night. You are likely to be eaten by a wet Grue.

Game Promotion?

[Damana Mathos]

So do you think BioWare is motivated by trying to recruit someone, or is this mainly an exercise in promoting their games?

Given the popularity of working in the games industry and the coverage this would get, I'd imagine it's more the latter rather than the former.

Re:Game Promotion?

[demachina]

Why hire writers when you can get them to work for free under the guise of a contest :)

Re:Congratulations! You've Won!

[Jelloman]

Don't forget - you also get to relocate to balmy Edmonton, Alberta.

Other developers

[Psithe]

I hope more developers have contests like this, or like the Unreal one. Gives more incentive to make mods.

Geek version of "The Apprentice"...

[Chaffar]

This is truly an amazing thing Bioware is doing here. Disregarding the obvious promotional benefits they get by doing something like this, this lets people with nothing more than a fertile imagination break through and potentially land a job in the industry of their dreams.

I am a huge fan of Bioware and their games, the BG, NN, and NWN series are all breathtaking; It's things like this that remind me why I have so much respect them. Bioware have always sold games with virtually no eye-candy, just perfectly narrated stories with near-infinite replay value. It's really cool of them to turn to their fans for inspiration.

On a less optimistic note, I just hope they aren't doing this because they are running out of ideas and their company is sinking...

Re:Congratulations! You've Won!

[popo]

Oh, and you'll also get this t-shirt... signed by the guy who used to have your job!
He, uh, left for some reason.

Hey, wait a minute. He wrote something on the back. It says:

"Kill ... Me..."

I'm considering submitting

[PIPBoy3000]

Personally, I'm going for the Bioware wool cap. Jobs are overrated.

I've done a number of modules for NWN (Shadowlords, Dreamcatcher, Demon) and am currently working on a NWN2 campaign. I think I'm going to end up taking one of our sidequests and tweaking it slightly to fit the rules.

There's a few tricky parts:

• 3 NPCs + PC. That's not many people, especially if the PC has henchmen/companions.
• No combat. Conflict has to be handled in other ways (assuming there's conflict).
• 4x4 area. That's tiny. Most of the movement in the story will have to be short, possibly going over the same ground. Think of a medium sized house or a small cave.

That being said, I think we may have a side quest with an interesting premise. I think the competition will be pretty stiff, but it should be a fun exercise.

Re:I'm considering submitting

[modecx]

No combat. Conflict has to be handled in other ways (assuming there's conflict).

Yes, I agree, conflict should be addressed by no more than a heated discourse at afternoon tea. There shall be no throwing of crumpets, and absolutely no elbows on the table! The deadliest attack will be a gaze of consternation, such to cause the victim mild intestinal discomfort!

Passive aggressive people the world over will flock to your game!

Re:pfff

[Big_Al_B]

I would never acknowledge and participate in such a degrading method of showing my abilities.

Duly noted, Mr. Coward.

Employment not guaranteed.

[pcgabe]

From the FAQ:

So, if I win I start working for BioWare?
        No. The winning entries will be reviewed by BioWare senior staff James Ohlen and Kevin Barrett, but no employment is guaranteed.

So, you can 'win' and still be unemployed.

From the submission agreement (emphasis mine):

4. The Developer acknowledges and agrees that:

(a) BioWare is continuously engaged in an active research and development program in which BioWare has invested and is continuing to invest considerable time and money in the development of new multimedia products as well as improvements and enhancements to BioWare's existing products which may be similar or identical to the ideas, functions, features or other aspects of the Materials;

(b) other persons, including BioWare's employees or contractors may have originated and submitted to BioWare or to others, or may in the future originate and submit to BioWare or to others, products, concepts, ideas, functions or enhancements which may be similar or identical to the ideas, functions, features or other aspects of the Materials; and

(c) the submission of the Materials to BioWare and/or the receipt of the Materials by BioWare does not entitle the Developer to any compensation whatsoever where BioWare, independent of the submitted Materials, has produced or will in the future produce a product which may be, in whole or in part, similar or identical to the ideas, functions, features or other aspects of the Materials.

So, they can copy your ideas and not reimburse you in any way, as long as they claim that their development was independent from your submission.

I'm not saying they would, but they could.

That being said, I'm still going to submit something. ^_^ And you all should too. Competition is pressure, and pressure makes diamonds.