Coming up with ideas for writing game scripts can be difficult, but there are a few things you can do to make the process easier. You can start by brainstorming, and then narrowing down your list of ideas until you find one that’s perfect for you. You can also get inspiration from other games, or from real-life events and situations. And finally, don’t be afraid to let your imagination run wild!
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1. Brainstorming
Write down all the ideas that come to mind, no matter how strange they may seem. Don’t ignore an idea because it’s not like what other people are writing. If you think of something good, go with it! Here are several effective ways to increase your brainstorming results:
Exercise
Come up with ideas while taking exercise, like running or swimming. You might need to do something vigorous, so don’t pick a sedentary activity! Pick something that will really tire you out and change your mood.
Watch movies and TV shows
Some of the most popular video games are based on movies – for example, “Total Recall” (Metal Gear Solid), ” L.A. Noire” (LA Noire), and “God of War” (Tomb Raider). Watch some movies or TV shows, then try to come up with ideas for the kinds of games you’ve seen.
Read books
Some game developers like using stories from anywhere – even books! If you want to tell a story but you don’t know where to start, try reading a book or short story. You could even get inspired by something that happened to you!
Look at art
Some video games are based on paintings – for example, “Splatoon” (Sailor Moon) and “Limbo” (Caravaggio). Try looking at some pictures and see if you can think of any games based on them.
2. Narrowing Down Ideas
Once you’ve written down all your ideas, it’s time to pick the one that most interests you! Here are some things to consider when you’re deciding which idea is best for you:
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Do a test run
First, write a brief outline of what each potential game could be about. Then try doing a test run and actually create a basic level, including all the features you can think of. Anything that doesn’t interest you now is probably not going to be fun to work on later, so cut it out and focus on one idea before moving forward!
Consider your resources and skills
Think about how much time and energy you have to put into a game project, as well as what skills you have. For example, if you’re a good artist but a bad writer, choose an idea that lets you focus on what you’re best at!
Consider other people’s feedback
Talk to some friends and family members about your ideas, or get feedback from other writers. You can also post your ideas online and ask for input from people who have been successful in the past.
3. Getting Inspiration from Real-life Events and Situations
You don’t always need to make up ideas for games – you can get inspiration from other games! For example, the game “Overwatch” (Team Fortress 2) is based on a group of people trying to stop an evil organization while also fighting each other. And the game “Portal” (The Stanley Parable) is about a test subject who finds out that they’re being used to test an intelligence-enhancing device.
There are also some games based on real life events or situations, Call of Duty, for example, is based on a first-world war soldier surviving through battles.
You can also think of ways to improve or combine existing ideas for new games. For instance, the game “Undertale” (Earthbound) has some RPG elements but with a focus on story and gameplay rather than experience points and grinding. Another good example is the game “Don’t Starve” (Spelunky), which has a focus on survival instead of fighting.
4. Letting Your Imagination Run Wild!
You don’t always have to come up with ideas based on real-life events, games or movies – you can rely purely on your imagination! You can create a character and start imagining what their story is, or you could make up an entire setting for them to live in. Just try not to get too caught up in details that might not be realistic.
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To help you come up with ideas, think about some of these things:
What’s your favourite movie or game?
What are the most important events in your life so far?
Who are your role models?
Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
Do you have any fears or anxieties?
What are some things you’re passionate about?
What’s something someone told you that stood out to you, and why?
Why do you think your answer to any of these questions is important?
Where are some places where you have never been before but would like to visit someday?
Answering any of these questions will give you lots of inspiration to start writing your own games! Answering some of these will hit you hard, which means it will trigger emotional responses that can be used to find new angles to look at things. All of this will help you to write great games.
5. What kind of stories would you like to tell?
People often think that having a creative mind and artistic skills is necessary for writing video game scripts, but that’s not true. You can be just as creative if you’re good at something else! And your lack of artistic skills doesn’t mean you won’t make a good writer – games like “Minecraft” (Terraria) are proof of that.
Also, you don’t need to have an excellent vocabulary or lots of time to be a good writer! There are plenty of games where the writers were not English language professionals – for example, “Uncharted 2” (Prince Of Persia: The Forgotten Sands).
The most important thing in writing is not the technical skills you have, but whether or not you can tell a story that’s exciting and interesting. You don’t need to spend years developing your skills either – as long as you love what you’re doing, you’ll gradually get better at it.
Writing for video games is fun because there aren’t really any restrictions on what your imagination can come up with. You can come up with anything, as long as it’s appropriate for the game you’re writing for – like trying not to make a game that’s too violent or sexual if the subject isn’t suitable for younger players.
It doesn’t matter if your first draft isn’t perfect or is slightly different from what someone else wrote – as long as you’re having fun and enjoying yourself, that’s what matters. And even if people don’t like it now, they might think your idea is great in the future!
You get inspiration by… allowing yourself to become inspired. So start writing down ideas and don’t be scared to follow that journey to see where they lead you!