[News] Writer's Guild of America announces nominations for new "Best Video Game Story" award

Can we not turn this into a giant "my game deserves to be on that list cause it's awesome" circle jerk? Can we not do that? Can we all just calmly and rationally agree that the egregious oversight that is Madden 08 not being on that list is laughable and move on from there? Can we do that?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Mo0 actually hit the nail on the head when he said the WGA wants to get them unionized. They've been after that for at least two years now. I remember getting a newsletter with that in it when I was in 2nd year.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Look, ok. Clearly no one here wants to come out and say it. So I will.

At it's very best, video game writing is still hardly really writing, isn't it. There, I said it. Feel free to flame away, you hungry, hungry video game nerds. But it's the truth. This is something you will have to eventually come to terms with.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Rotorblade

If anything, the idea that "Game Writing" is special and different from any other kind of writing is pretty stupid to me. But... hey, whatever.

Ok, so I initially just looked up the criteria on the WGA site. Here, I'll post them for your viewing pleasure.

Quote:

To be eligible for entry, games must have been released between December 1, 2006 and November 30, 2007. The submission deadline is November 21, 2007 at 12 p.m. (Noon).
Work that was not produced under WGA jurisdiction may be submitted.
Submitted games MUST have separate credit for writing (i.e. Written By, Story By, Writer, Story Designer, etc.). Writing credits must be verified by their inclusion in the game manual. If writing credits are not printed in the game manual, the publisher must fax or e-mail screenshots of the game's complete writing credits directly to Melissa Gage at the WGAW, fax no.: (323) 782-4810 e-mail: Melissa Gage. Alternate proof of writing credit will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.
While there is no limit on the number of credited writers a particular game may have, credits not specifically tied to videogame writing are not acceptable (i.e. Lead Designer, Designed By, Produced By, etc.)
If more than one writer is credited (either through a shared “Written By” credit, or through separate acceptable writing credits as described above), all writers will be nominated as a unit. Note: Writers of source material are not eligible for awards consideration.
All submissions must be made in the name of the credited writer(s), and not the game itself. Only one entry form will be evaluated per game. In the case of multiple writers, a submitting writer must serve as the point person and complete a single entry form for consideration. All writers' names must appear in the Final Writing Credit(s) field on the entry form.
Scripts may also be submitted by the developer/publisher of the game, or by writer representatives (e.g., agents, managers and publicists.) Entries submitted by anyone other than the writer(s) must contain an entry form signed by the submitting writer.
At the time the script is submitted, the credited writer(s) of the game must be, or apply to become, a member of the WGA's New Media Caucus.
Scripts must be submitted in a reasonable approximation of a standard film or TV script format, and must clearly demonstrate a progression of the story. In addition to the script, a synopsis (1-2 pages) is required. The synopsis should describe the flow of the storyline and serve to clarify the game experience.
Submitted scripts should be no longer than 350 pages and printed on 81/2 X 11 white paper. Abridged submissions that maintain the integrity of the narrative are acceptable in order to comply with the maximum page limit. In the case of multiple story pathways, it is acceptable to choose a single path.
Any script consisting solely of random in-game dialog will not be considered.
The five nominated scripts will be retained at the James R. Webb Memorial Library.


THE JUDGING PROCEDURE
The preliminary judging will be done by panels of volunteer New Media Caucus and/or Guild members active in the field of videogame writing. The top rating per script per reader is five points, scaled down to zero. Each script will be read by a minimum of three judges during the preliminary judging, for a potential perfect score of fifteen. The group of final nominees will consist of not more than 5 scripts.
The final judging will be done by a special panel of writers from the New Media Caucus and/or Guild members who have been active in writing for videogames.
If fewer than three (3) script entries are deemed outstanding, no award will be given for that year.

This told me jack shit. So I called a buddy of mine who's a "member of good standing" in the WGA and votes on their film awards. I basically grilled him for a little more information on the criteria, and he said there was none. There's a pool of people who vote on it, and they're given no outline beyond the scoring scale. Read the script of the game, separate from the game itself, and rate it as stated above.

Also, he told me the reason the games nominated were the final ones offered. Almost no games were nominated. Most of the studios didn't bother, because I doubt they want their writers unionised, given that as it stands, they can treat them like, well... how pretty much everyone in the game industry is treated.

And most of the outsiders in the industry couldn't be bothered to go through the hoops of getting something recognised. If there was ever a decent set of awards for the gaming industry, then maybe people would bother.

How ya doing, buddy?

Like several of us said earlier. It's the WGA trying to drum up support for their guild during the strike. But don't tell them I said so.

I was speaking idiomatically.