GETTING INTO THE GAME

Description

GETTING INTO THE GAME
Interactive Writing for Videogames

Saturday, October 18 at the WGAW

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
(includes parking, lunch, evening reception, and raffle)

Television audiences are shrinking, while more people are playing videogames than ever before. What does this mean for writers? How can they use their storytelling skills in this burgeoning medium? What are the rules of the game?

PROGRAM

10:30 a.m. - Registration

11:00 a.m. - KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Dave Ellis (WGA Videogame Writing Award Winner)

11:15 a.m. - PANEL: PLAY THE GAME: WRITING FOR VIDEOGAMES
Leading videogame writers share their knowledge... How do you create effective story structure, character development, dialogue, and emotion in videogames? How do you integrate story into gameplay? How does game narrative differ from traditional narrative? What are the different videogame platforms and how do you approach writing for each of them? What's the future of story in game design?

12:45 p.m. - Lunch

1:30 p.m. - PANEL: RULES OF THE GAME: THE BUSINESS OF VIDEOGAME WRITING
What's the script format of a videogame? How do you pitch a videogame idea? Do you need a videogame agent or manager and how do you get one? What's the difference between a developer and a publisher? Who are the major developers and what are they looking for? How do you collaborate with the design team? How do you protect yourself legally? What are the top videogame conferences and award competitions?

3:00 p.m. - Coffee break

3:30 p.m. - PANEL: AHEAD OF THE GAME: ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERACTIVE WRITERS
Alternate Reality Games, Massive Multiplayer Online Games, Serious Games, Military Simulators, Theme Park Attractions, Interactive Movies and Novels... What are additional career opportunities for the interactive writer and how do you find them? What are the unique aspects of storytelling for each format?

5:00 p.m. - Time to Network: Wine & Cheese, Raffle Prizes

SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

Dave Ellis (WGA Videogame Writing Award Winner, Dead Head Fred)
Anne Toole (WGA Videogame Writing Award Nominee, The Witcher)
Jon Paquette (Medal of Honor series)
Deborah Todd (Author, Game Design: From Blue Sky to Green Light)
Jay Lender (Huxley, Destroy All Humans!)
Micah Wright (Chair, Videogame Writers Caucus)
Richard Thompson (Bloom Hergott Diemer Rosenthal LaViolette & Feldman, LLP)
Elisabeth Flack (Videogames Representative, WGAW)
Danny Bilson (VP of Creative Development, THQ Inc.)
Jenna Seiden (Agent, CAA)
Flint Dille (Author, The Ultimate Guide to Video Game Writing and Design)
Tim Langdell (Vice-Chair, Videogame Writers Caucus)
Larry Tuch (Head Writer, StoryDrive Engine Project at Paramount Pictures)
Carolyn Handler Miller (Author, Digital Storytelling, 2nd Edition)
Dean Orion (Show Producer, Walt Disney Imagineering)
Mike D'Alonzo (Interactive New Media & Editorial Manager, G4 TV)
Wade Beckett (Executive Producer, X-Play)
Adam Sessler (Host & Managing Editor, X-Play)

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Proceeds go to the Writers Guild Foundation Shavelson-Webb Library and other Foundation programs.

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