Game Writers SIG

International Game Developers Association

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FAQs What is a Special Interest Group (SIG)? How do I join a SIG? How do I establish a SIG?

The Game Writers Special Interest Group exists to promote game writing and writers as essential to the game development cycle. Given the established might of pens vis à vis the average sword, as a group of expert writers we are going to ultimately win this battle.

Contents 1 Overview 1.1 Objectives 1.1.1 Initiatives 1.2 Documentation 1.3 History 1.4 Membership 2 Organization 3 External links

Overview

Game writers include those in the video game industry who write dialogue scripts, construct overarching narrative structure, produce documentation and articles, and a myriad of other writing tasks. Sometimes, they are specifically identified as writers, and other times they find themselves picking up writing duties as an addition to their primary jobs. In either case, the craft and process of game writing, and the quality that good game writing brings to game development as a whole, have been undervalued for too long.

Objectives

For the big picture, please read the draft of our five-year plan (created in Aug 2007). In general, the Game Writing SIG focuses on:

• Building a community of people who write for and about games.
• Promoting the art and craft of writing to the industry as a whole.
• Fostering better writing in games.
• Educating game developers about writers.
• Educating game writers about game development.
• Identifying and addressing issues of importance to the community.

Initiatives

Specific projects and plans we have for achieving our objectives. The most active items are currently:

• SIG Quarterly
• FAQs
• Style Guide
• Whitepaper Revisions

For a complete listing, see initiatives.

Documentation

• GWSIG Monthly Meeting Minutes
• GWSIG Constitution note: discussion notes in the 'discussion' tab
• GWSIG Executive Duties
• How to: /write a SIG report, or /format meeting minutes

History

The Game Writing SIG was jump-started in 2002 by Chris Bateman and Raphael van Lierop. They realized there were a lot of writers working in the interactive space of games and wanted to create a community where they could come together. IGDA provided the perfect foundation. A mailing list was started and members of that list bootstrapped themselves into a functioning SIG with big-picture objectives and specific initiatives. Membership grew, and in 2005 a constitution was formed and monthly committee meetings started. Hilarity ensued.

Membership

Our membership includes writers, those who hire and work with writers, and those who want to be writers.

Organization

The SIG adopted a formal constitution in 2005. We are organized thusly:

• An executive panel (3 members)
• A committee (12, including the exec)
• General members (we're happy to have you on board)
• Volunteers (we always need more!)

Volunteers are always welcome. If you're interested in helping out, take a look at the initiative list to see who's spearheading the initiative you'd like to be involved in. Drop them an e-mail or post to the general list expressing your interest.

• A list of SIG leadership is available.

External links

• International Game Developers Association: Game Writing SIG