Long version: Games have slid so far into the tech sector that corporate leadership forgets that they're art. When you strip the human element out of your storytelling mechanisms, the humans who consume it won't enjoy it. You lose the bet. Short version: aaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA - ThreadSky

alexaray.bsky.social • 91 days ago

Long version: Games have slid so far into the tech sector that corporate leadership forgets that they're art. When you strip the human element out of your storytelling mechanisms, the humans who consume it won't enjoy it. You lose the bet.

Short version: aaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Reposted from Chris Kindred

but for real--reading the GDC State of the Industry report and seeing how hard narrative roles have been hit in the last year confirms how bleak the vibe has been for game storytelling

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lingo56.bsky.social•90 days ago

Is it that they forgot games are art, or more that they know more about games now so they’re less afraid of sticking their head in the kitchen and fucking with the recipe?

alexaray.bsky.social•91 days ago

The shrinking of narrative teams -- sometimes just one writer -- is the saddest thing right up there with a continued lack of junior and entry-level writing roles. I miss the days of six to eight strong writers rooms goofing and yelling to hone stories into fine points and furthering our craft.

exentio.sexy•90 days ago

It's so depressing, it's the kind of career I'm trying to pursue, but there are basically no openings whatsoever, especially for entry-levels. I'm looking into game and quest design too at this point, hoping to find a job somewhere, but I'm sincerely hopeless lol

michael0deon.bsky.social•90 days ago

Do you think this is caused by future plans to use AI in narrative more?

willmcneese.bsky.social•91 days ago

Learning that there's not really a *pathway* into my dream job was so freakin' depressing.

trickweekes.bsky.social•91 days ago

The best stuff I've written has been written as part of a team in a writer room having good bounce-around sessions with a good-sized writing team (including our editors) before going under headphones to focus. It's so important.

katsirae.bsky.social•90 days ago

I am lucky to have my daughter to have writing idea sessions with especially because I missed out growing up.

alanau.bsky.social•91 days ago

That's too many 'A's. Fewer 'A's please.

ewokthisway.bsky.social•90 days ago

Unfortunately i think the reason the industry cares less about storytelling is because the average gamer nowadays cares less about storytelling.

jadefae.bsky.social•86 days ago

GDC survey was more than 50% answered by people who described as "Solo developer or the primary worker of their company". This stuff is dire but the GDC survey is *not* the source for it.

bobberty.bsky.social•91 days ago

Also, by the looks of things, producers and artists... more organisational chaos, poor communication and AI slop.

cosettetape.bsky.social•90 days ago

Can you imagine Helldivers 2 being Helldivers 2 without the long-form narrative & deliberate training of the playerbase to engage with the roleplay? If it was just yet another enemy-mass horde shooter? That's what gets me about all this, even games that are 80% Skinner Box need that 20% context.

chriskindred.com•91 days ago

its a race to become the most Minimum Viable Interactive Content Product

yaboijaspy.bsky.social•86 days ago

Art speaks to our soul. Most people have a hard time explaining why certain games hit so hard, but its the same with any art.

I hate how much that has been commodified by hedge fund managers.

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