Video Game Writing: From Macro to Micro, Second Edition by Suckling Maurice & Walton Marek

Author:Suckling, Maurice & Walton, Marek
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mercury Learning and Information
Published: 2017-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

FIGURE 9.7. Driver: Parallel Lines in-game dialogue sample.

Driver® Parallel Lines TM & © Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCRIPT EXAMPLE

Context

Contemporary FPS set in United States. Player has just escaped a strange military base and is on the run from mysterious robot captors who we fear are not far behind. They move through a deserted small town. At this stage, not much is known. Player has in his possession a military comms device on which a woman calling herself Clover contacts him to offer assistance, claiming to be a friend. She’s using the town’s numerous cameras to observe proceedings.

Black Text – CRITICAL PATH DIALOGUE

CAPITALIZED TEXT – GAME NOTES

Italicized Text – NON-CRITICAL PATH

ON LOADING SCREEN …

PLAYER MOVES THROUGH MALL PARKING LOT, TOWARDS MAIN SHOPPING STREET. IT’S NIGHT. THE DOORS TO THE MALL ARE SMASHED, BUT HAVE BEEN HASTILY BOARDED UP. SOMEONE’S SPRAY-PAINTED “WATCH THEIR EYES” OVER THE WOODEN BOARDS.

CLOVER – RADIO

I know you don’t trust me. Heck, I’d not trust me! But what choice do you have?

There’s no time to send a resume—you got out ’cause of me, that’s gotta count for something. Man, look at this place. From picture-postcard to nightmare in hours. It came out of nowhere, my men didn’t stand a chance.

PLAYER HEADS TOWARDS MAIN STREET, PAST SMASHED NEON SIGNS, SOME STILL VAINLY FLICKERING IN A SHATTERED PIZZA HALL AND DRY CLEANING SHOPS. THERE AREN’T MANY CARS, THOSE THAT REMAIN ALL HAVE THEIR ENGINES EXPOSED AND SMASHED.

CLOVER – RADIO

We need to get a message to my people, let them know what’s happened—that’s our only chance. Make your way east, to the gas station on the outskirts of town. It’s not quite what it seems. I’ll explain when you get there.

[SHORTER ALT VERSION FOR SAFETY]

We need to warn my people—it’s our only chance. Head east, to the gas station on the town outskirts. I’ll brief you when you get there.

DIRECTIONAL ARROW APPEARS ON PLAYER’S HUD.

IF PLAYER EXPLORES BEHIND SET OF PARKING LOT DUMPSTERS – THEY FIND A HUMANOID ROBOT SQUATTING THERE, COVERED IN DENTS AND PAINT. SLOWLY, IT STANDS.

CLOVER – RADIO

You had to get all adventuresome, didn’t you? Back off, it’s one of them.

ROBOT

I hunger!

CLOVER – RADIO

He’s faster than he looks! You’ve got two choices—live or die. Your call!

PLAYER DEFENDS HIMSELF SUCCESSFULLY.

CLOVER – RADIO

Good job. Now let’s get back on track.

PLAYER REACHES MAIN SHOPPING STREET. IT LOOKS LIKE A RIOT CHARGED THROUGH TOWN, THOUGH EVERYTHING’S EERILY QUIET. SHOP AND BUILDING WINDOWS ARE ALL DARK, MOST ARE DAMAGED IN SOME WAY. A STREET SIGN POINTS WEST TO I40. BENEATH IT IS ANOTHER SIGN, POINTING EAST, TO “HAPPY LARRY’S GAS STATION.”

CLOVER – RADIO

Stay frosty and keep to the shadows. This place still has plenty of shoppers, but not the healthy kind, if you get me.

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